Cutler on Bears' O-line: They played well

**JustAnotherBearsFan99** · 09-24-2012, 09:48 AM

They got better in this game. They will continue to get better each game now, if Tice will finally quit flip-flopping players around. I think Rachel is going to be better than Spencer at LG. All of the players need game reps now as a unit to improve. Carimi, in particular, should get a lot better as the season progresses. He's not much more than a rookie this year due to last year's injury.

LINK to the article

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Bears offensive line got on quarterback Jay Cutler’s good side on Sunday.

Following a loss to the Green Bay Packers when Cutler was sacked seven times, absorbed 12 hits and took his frustrations out on his offensive line, especially left tackle J’Marcus Webb, Cutler went as far as praising his line’s play in the 23-6 win over the St. Louis Rams on Sunday.

“The line played well,” Cutler said. “They had a little edge to them. You go into a game and you’re up in the third and fourth quarter and know you’re going to run the ball. Those guys came in when I needed it and opened up some holes. I thought the line played well.”

Cutler kept most of his offensive line comments to the general group afterward, but he did mention the play of left guard Chilo Rachal, who was making his first start this season.

“I think Chilo brings that edge to the offensive line, and he doesn’t take a lot of grief in there,” Cutler said. “He’s a big guy. He’s kind of a mauler and I feel comfortable with him in there.”

Rachal thought that sort of mentality was needed on the offensive line.

“It’s very important,” Rachal said. “We’re the nasties. We can’t expect the other positions to be nasty. As an offensive line, the team feeds off our energy. That’s just my style of play – play (ticked) off.”

Rachal also thought Webb came out with a purpose on Sunday after his recent difficulties.

“That’s my teammate, that’s my buddy on the left side,” Rachal said. “He comes to work and comes to play every day. Like I said, people make mistakes, you learn from them and you get back and fix them.”

The Rams got to Cutler occasionally on Sunday, but it was nowhere near the extent the Packers did. Cutler was sacked twice (both by defensive end Chris Long) and hurried six times by the Rams.

Bears coach Lovie Smith also believed the offensive line had improved.

“I thought we did some good things with the protection for the most part was pretty good,” Smith said. “Again, the line did a good job of opening up some holes.

“I was happy with the game. It’s pretty simple guys. When things don’t go well, we’re going to be really unhappy. But when you find the way as a football team to win the game, we are going to enjoy that first and then go back to the field and correct things.”

**Shark86x** · 09-24-2012, 12:21 PM

Carimi will be good, he is learning. I laughed at his flop trying to draw a penalty. He learned that from AJ Hawk last week, he just needs to practice it a little.

Definite improvement, but still, not good, overall.Too many pressures. Cutler is getting thrown around like a rag doll. That has got to stop. Hopefully, Tice leaves things alone now so these guys can start gelling. I actually think Webb can be okay, if he gets his mind in the game and off t-shirts and donuts.

(I said okay. Not good. not even average. just okay.)

**sead0nkey** · 09-24-2012, 12:38 PM

I was drinking heavily at a out of town sports bar that was showing all the early games so couldn't keep track...but it felt like we had a way to many false starts.

**mdbearz** · 09-25-2012, 07:59 AM

Rachal looked very solid when I watch the replay. In pass protection it was kind of odd. He took like 1 step back and then attacked his guy almost like it was a draw play, but he was effective at stoneing his guy most of the time. But what was odd was that the rest of the o-line just seemed to continue to step back. So Rachal was about 1yard back from the LOS, and the rest of the 0-line was about 5 yards back. He was doing well, but I'm not sure that a stunt coming through that gap would be able to be picked up.

I thought he looked strong, and MUCH better than Spencer, but it does concern me that he was possibly opening up a gap that could be exploited.

**4DaBERS** · 09-25-2012, 09:15 AM

Originally Posted by mdbearz

Rachal looked very solid when I watch the replay. In pass protection it was kind of odd. He took like 1 step back and then attacked his guy almost like it was a draw play, but he was effective at stoneing his guy most of the time. But what was odd was that the rest of the o-line just seemed to continue to step back. So Rachal was about 1yard back from the LOS, and the rest of the 0-line was about 5 yards back. He was doing well, but I'm not sure that a stunt coming through that gap would be able to be picked up.

I thought he looked strong, and MUCH better than Spencer, but it does concern me that he was possibly opening up a gap that could be exploited.

LOL, I NOTICED EXACTLY THE SAME THING MD! I too was surprised at how he handled his man all day long as I thought pass pro was his weak point and he was more of a run blocker. Maybe the technique that we picked up on was his way of getting better at pass pro, but you are also exactly right, that leaves two gaps wide open for stunts to come through unimpeded. If the Rams didn't pick up on it during the game, you can bet every team we play in the future already has. If a couple of knuckleheads like us can see it, you know they will. There were actually a couple of times that he was so far out in front of the rest of his O-Linemen that I thought he could get flagged for an "ineligible receiver down field", but it was likely just an optical illusion because the other guys were so far back.

I guess we'll see what comes to pass (pun intended).

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