Thread: Where do we go from here with this pitiful oline?

Originally Posted by JustAnotherBearsFan99

That was before I witnessed the train wreck on Friday. The 1 yard per carry blocking (against the 1st team of the Giants).

I was in total denial. I've been there in past years too. I thought we'd be Super Bowl champs back when Orton was our QB. I thought Moose Muhammad was going to be "The Answer" to get us to the Promised Land & bring the Lombardi Trophy home.

But when I watched that Friday night game, I couldn't live in denial any longer. That oline is butt-ugly. No sugar coating it.

1 yard per carry isn't going to get you to the Super Bowl. Some thought the pass blocking was fine just because there were not sacks. I thought otherwise. Cutler was hurrying his passes - and looked pretty bad on many plays as a direct result.

Run blocking was an epic fail, no argument and no excuses.

Sorry my friend, but I must disagree with your last point though. Cutler was pressured not much at all considering. Esp. w/ Webb & Spencer in there. He was maybe hit once and scrambled once. Manning had just as many if not more hurries/pressures/scrambles. The difference wasn't receivers either. Nicks didn't even play and BMarsh/Bennett/Jeffery/Forte are just as good if not better a target set as what the NYG had out there. The difference was a few key drops and quite a few just plain blown passes by Jay. Simply put, Manning was cool & accurate and Jay looked spooked & inaccurate back there.

And that was most of the difference in the offensive output of the two teams 1st half.

Originally Posted by JustAnotherBearsFan99

We were playing a high quality team in the Giants, so I was eagerly expecting us to look like we "belonged" in that top-tier NFL group like the NY Giants.

No offense 99, but was that really realistic? We know we have the potential for an explosive passing game, but we all know we did nothing to improve the OL to allow that to happen. Some were relying on a change in scheme to be the magic bullet, but I think we always needed an injection of talent and/or a step up from some players. I honestly thought CW was going to do that (or hoping that Webb would). Also, the flashes of a really good defensive rush didn't keep up.

So being to compete with the elite teams probably is not a real possibility. Also Urlacher and Peppers being hurt is a killer. I am really starting to think we may missed the window of our opportunity with the defense we have been blessed with. Worst case scenario, this means adding yet another year or two of rebuilding by Emery - putting us 3 or four years out.

Given all that, I have changed my mind about the uselessness of our OL (although I will probably keep making fun of them). I think they will be ok. We have to be able to shore up the middle. I blame a large part of the regression I see on Tice. Although if Webb comes through, I'd have to credit Tice with that also.

Originally Posted by JustAnotherBearsFan99

I agree. Best to wait and see what happens. I was just really (bitterly) disappointed Friday. That 3rd pre-season game is where you showcase your team for the new season. The starters get extra playing time. We were playing a high quality team in the Giants, so I was eagerly expecting us to look like we "belonged" in that top-tier NFL group like the NY Giants.

We looked bad. Offense, defense, special teams. It all looked like a "wannabee" team playing a great team.

It was like taking a baseball bat to the groin for me. It hurt.

I'm a crazy fan. Sometimes I get over-the-top about the team. I really get bad when we lose. I'm new here to this messageboard, so I'll give you all a heads up. After a loss I'm a goof. Depths of despair. I can't help it. I'm a nut when it comes to the Chicago Bears.

(all the more reason to take any of my posts here with a "grain of salt" and not too seriously)

Your enthusiasm is compelling no doubt! I know you probably think I'm Mr. White-washer but I didn't think we looked all that bad. Doesn't mean that the shitty run-blocking and crappy Roach tackling doesn't have to improve big time. Doesn't mean that the OL isn't going to give us all heartburn all season long. It probably will.

But I do give allowance for the fact that Manning & Co. are going to have TD drives on lots of good defenses and Peanut is going to be dusted here and there too. I do credit the D for stiffening after a few rough plays and that bs 15 yd add on penalty vs Steltz by shutting them down and forcing a FG after 1st & 10 at our 12. I do like our O-weapons even though Jay missed several open receivers incl. one to Bennett that was probably a 6.

The main stuff that left a bad impression was the lack of a running game and that ridiculous blocked punt --> free TD right before half. Should have been a 14-10 Bears lead.

I guess I went into the game with a lot lower expectations than you did. I was fearing a 1st half composed of 2 false starts, 4 holding calls, 6 sacks, and Cutler writhing on the ground with his knee twisted grotesquely into an angle that God never intended for it to go.

I think he was too which would explain his jittery and off-target passing effort.