Thread: Oline failure: Is PART of the blame Emery's?

Personally, I'm a long way from thinking Cutler is a cancer. The situation has got some real potential to turn ugly, but I don't think it will. Emery knows how a team can implode and I think he has got some really good leadership skills. I think this will get managed. Cutler is not the greatest shmoozer or even leader. I think he knows that. I don't have a problem with his getting on people as long as there is respect from his end, there will be mutual respect. This last weekend he didn't show class or respect and it affected the whole team.

I think this has been addressed by now and am looking forward to next week. If this becomes a systemic issue, then I would have to agree that something needs to be done with Cutler. I think he will be ok, and I think he is a gifted QB. How the team responds will determine the future direction. If the media would just let it lie and let it take its course, it will be ok. If they continue to tell the players how they should not put up with it, then it could continue to create discourse and ultimately the caner you are concerned about.
I say lets see how it shales out. Usually nothing is as good as you think and nothing is as bad as you think. So lets see where it lands.

Cancer?
I honestly think that the Cutler/Webb thing is only a big deal to everyone but the Bears themselves. If you listen to the JD More interview the reporter kept the questions coming until he got comments out of JD he could use. JD didn't sound pissed or concerned about it but when you take his comments and put them in print or repeat them with a different tone they take on a whole different meaning.

Originally Posted by Dagan81

I can't say that I honestly blame Emery for any of this because he was going on what his coaches were telling him to procure as far as talent goes. I think Emery looked at tape over the past two years of how the line progressed as the seasons wore on and thought, "Hmmm, ok. Lovie, Martz, and Tice managed to scheme and make this offensive line work better through chip blocks and more intensive teaching efforts, so it's possible that I can put this on the back burner and go fill the holes at the other positions such as WR, DE, DT, RB, and TE that are direly needed. This offensive line is going to take a while to rebuild, and I want to see what it's going to be like with Carimi back in the fold."

I think it's probably that simple, as crazy as it sounds. I doubt seriously that he ever listens to Tice again when it comes to concerns about the offensive line during the offseason. I wouldn't be shocked if Tice is fired this offseason if his incompetence leads to greater failures. That being said, it might also bring the era of Lovie Smith down with him.

Thank you, Dags. You pretty much nailed it there in all points. The only thing I would add is that last year was a very thin, weak collegiate class for OTs coming out into the draft and there was a dearth of FAs at the position as well (besides the injured and over the hill types). There was some help available at LG (Grubbs, Nicks, DeCastro, Zeitler) but...

A) the first 2 were very pricey and would have precluded us getting other players like Marsh & Bush (tradeoff there!) and...

B) we couldn't have drafted either of the second 2 without forgoing Shea or AJ (tradeoff there!) and...

C) we had a solid experienced LG coming back from injury that Tice has utterly mis-used thus far this season for reasons known not even by God and...

D) Tice was telling everyone that Webb was going to step up in his 2nd year at LT and play up to what his considerable physical talent level would otherwise predict and new "scheme" calls would help him along. (note that NEITHER of this happened last week)

Originally Posted by JustAnotherBearsFan99

Angelo left a mess that couldn't be cleaned up in one off-season. It's as simple as that. They rolled the dice on this oline, and it is now like that old Hoosiers movie where the coach says "This is our team"....

I'm watching the game right now on the DVR. Even with max protection they couldn't protect Cutler. It wasn't just Webb. The wheels came off. We looked in total disarray on offense. The team wasn't ready for this game.

I haven't rewatched the game but I had the impression that pressure came from the left gaurd more than the left tackle. Perhaps that explains the switch at LG that was announced.

True about Angelo leaving a mess on the roster. He also damaged the Bears reputation with the draft day trade debacle with the Ravens. Believe me, that type of crap lingers just as long as a bad roster.