Do you think the Bears simply don't put a high value on blocking?

**JustAnotherBearsFan99** · 08-31-2012, 05:00 PM

Ric, it was "the last straw" so to speak. Everyone here knows I value the offensive line, part of the game. I enjoy watching a fine offensive line work (in recent years it's been other teams....not the Bears). But I admire how a great oline unit can work like a fine Swiss watch. Imposing its will on a defense. Moving opponent around like they were feed-sacks in a hardware store. Move 'em and dump 'em. March down the field. Score.

I keep waiting for the Bears to improve their oline. They understand it's bad. It's been rated as the worst or one of the worst olines in the entire NFL for a few years now.

So, I watch to see each year if they have gotten better. But it's been all talk.

The Clutts thing seemed to embody everything I've seen in the Lovie Smith era regarding blocking. It doesn't seem to be a high priority with him. If it WAS a high priority, something would have been done long before this season to put a better oline in place.

Can you imagine what kind of an oline we'd have if they invested even half the resources they have on the safety or dline positions under Lovie Smith? Even half?

One last point. I am not one to put much stock in what people (Bears) say. I watch what they do. Actions speak the truth. Rhetoric, is cheap. Just look at politicians.

We can agree to disagree on this, and that's A-ok.

**yttocs** · 08-31-2012, 05:03 PM

Originally Posted by Riczaj01

Jabf, if Clutts wasn't traded would you have made this thread? It might not have been the intention, but it was the result of.

EVERY HC values keeping his QB safe, want proof; Martz is no longer here, and the guy he believes can build an O Scheme around this OL is the OC. That's proof he and the team value blocking.

I love your posts, you're a lot smarter then you give yourself credit for, but the reality is this was a direct result of nothing more then Clutts being moved.

Yttocs, the coaches HAVE seen the HB's block. the Coches KNOW what the scheme is. Give them a little credit on knowing what it is and how the O will work. If it doesn't work out after 3-4 games, hell 1-2 games, then start complaining.

NP, I'll be watching and HOPING,. But don't forget the coaching staff thinks Webb is a starting LT so.........

**JustAnotherBearsFan99** · 08-31-2012, 05:09 PM

You know what would be heart breaking? If we (heaven forbid) have all of these wonderful new weapons in place this season, yet end up 3rd in the NFC-N again anyway - due to a crappy oline - again.

Can you imagine how that is going to feel?

I think about this. For a long time Bears fan, it's going to be like dying some horrible death. We finally have our franchise QB. We finally have "real" NFL-level WR's. But we can't use these weapons to their full potential because once again we failed to put a solid oline in place.

Man, I'm going to have an aneurism if this happens.

**Riczaj01** · 08-31-2012, 05:15 PM

JaBF, we have a 14th overall OT and another 1st round OT in the last 4 years. That's pretty good. Were they good, well one should be starting LG, and I hope before the end of the year they don't forget that. The other time will tell.
Could they have done more, sure, but you don't want to get to young to quick on the OL either, that can create a mess. You need a mix of youth and vet on that line. You also need to have coheasion; this is where I think Tice fails. You HAVE to have talent, but you cannot constantly move that talent around. Louis looks like a solid RG, Webb(right or wrong) needs to prove yes or no he's the LT, CWill proved he can be LG, and Carimi(right or wrong) needs to prove he can be LT.

Do I think they should have tried to create more depth, yes. I hated McClellin as a 1st pick. need OL more then a situation pass rusher, as imporant as the pass rush is. Could there have been more picks deeper in the draft, don't know about that. But we also got James Brown who was rated as a 4th rounder in UDFA, he needs work which proves he wasn't a 4th, but if and when Webb fails, next year hopefully Brown can show he's got it. If that's the case the OL might be better.

Oh I never listen to Lovie or upper management.

I just think people need to relax a little. The Clutts thing buried the other cuts in the cuts thread. He was imporant, but he was not 4-5-6 pages worth of posts imporant. Olsen was fretted over by fans last year too(I was one of them) but at the end of the day, it wasn't a horrid trade; Clutts wasn't as imporant as Olsen IMO. Kruetz was also, and he retired shortly after, again another good choise by the Bears. Got to give the pro's some credit. Same w/me and McClellin; lets see the first 1-2-3-4 games to see what he can do.

Over reactions are fun and entertaining, but at some point you have to realize what it's all about. And Clutts is not a key cog; therefore expendable.
IMO the keys are: Cutler, Forte, Bush, Marshal, Carimi, Garza, Ulr, Briggs, Peppers, Tillman. Everyone else is replaceable on this team.

**JustAnotherBearsFan99** · 08-31-2012, 05:20 PM

Ric, that makes sense.

Let's see if they can finally pull everything together this season and trust that they are telling us the truth about this oline this year. If they can't, and we have another bad season, then time to bring out the Emery broom and sweep some coaches out the door.

**A-11** · 08-31-2012, 06:00 PM

Which comes first the chicken or the egg?...

I don't mind getting the weapons in place before having all the players needed to make the best use of them. No team is perfect, and like some other games (like golf) there never was perfect to begin with. I can see where you'd be frustrated JABF, especially where you enjoy to focus your attention on the O Line. I am still a fan that is working towards "taking my eye of the ball," and I agree with your response to the question of this thread.

However, the answer we don't have yet is why Tice and Smith felt content to stand pat on the front line's personnel and why they decided to carry so many different tight ends. If they had a valid reason, I could see why they would hold off installment during preseason. Sixteen weeks is a long time in football years, and most teams look different towards the end.

"Hang in there folks," said the guy picking up the chair off the ground. "I'm not bi-polar, honest. I'm just frustrated. Haven't finished perfecting the unique machined iron snowflake that goes in the pixie dust yet."

**JustAnotherBearsFan99** · 08-31-2012, 06:09 PM

Originally Posted by A-11

Which comes first the chicken or the egg?...

I don't mind getting the weapons in place before having all the players needed to make the best use of them. No team is perfect, and like some other games (like golf) there never was perfect to begin with. I can see where you'd be frustrated JABF, especially where you enjoy to focus your attention on the O Line. I am still a fan that is working towards "taking my eye of the ball," and I agree with your response to the question of this thread.

However, the answer we don't have yet is why Tice and Smith felt content to stand pat on the front line's personnel and why they decided to carry so many different tight ends. If they had a valid reason, I could see why they would hold off installment during preseason. Sixteen weeks is a long time in football years, and most teams look different towards the end.

"Hang in there folks," said the guy picking up the chair off the ground. "I'm not bi-polar, honest. I'm just frustrated. Haven't finished perfecting the unique machined iron snowflake that goes in the pixie dust yet."

Excellent points A-11.

I'm ready to move on with this season and hope it's a great one.

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