Inside the Bears; Carimi's Mistakes Coming From Being Overaggressive.

Printable View

10-25-2012, 02:20 PM
soulman

Inside the Bears; Carimi's Mistakes Coming From Being Overaggressive.

Inside the Bears

'Overaggressive' Gabe Carimi just needs to dial it down

By Mark Potash on October 24, 2012 7:53 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

http://blogs.suntimes.com/bears/Gabe...n%20action.pngIs Gabe Carimi getting any better?

The former first-round draft pick who missed most of last season with a knee injury is leading the team with eight penalties, including two holding calls against the Lions on Monday night.

It's always difficult for us laymen to judge offensive linemen, but especially in Carimi's case. For one thing, what's the measuring stick? Should the expectations be high because he's a first-round draft pick? Or should they be low because he missed most of last season with a knee injury?

Asked to evaluate Carimi's performance this season, Bears offensive coordinator Mike Tice used 271 words to say five: ''He's a work-in-progress.''

''I told you when we moved Gabe to the right side [that] Gabe -- not to insult him -- is not the type of athlete I see that should be on the left side. When Gabe's plays are ugly, they're ugly because of that reason.

''And, he wants to kill guys. He gets himself so overextended over his feet because he's trying to knock guys out, that the second move -- on the [first] holding call, on the down block -- he was going to murder that guy.

''He gets himself out of whack because he's being a little overly aggressive. So, we're going to settle him down, make sure he brings his feet with him on some of these blocks where it does look ugly or he's getting those penalties. But he plays extremely hard. They're all playing hard right now, but he plays very hard. But his ugly plays are ugly.''

For what it's worth, Carimi's second holding call, which wiped out a 15-yard scramble by Jay Cutler to the Lions' 10-yard line, was bogus. Lions defensive end Willie Young jumped the snap and was offsides and Carimi was called for holding Young. That doesn't make sense that Young can entice Carimi to hold him by breaking the rules himself. If an offensive lineman jumps and entices a defensive lineman to cross the line of scrimmage, those aren't offsetting penalties. (One Bears lineman I talked to today told me the holding call on Carimi was bogus even without Young jumping the snap).

Whatever. Carimi said Wednesday he's paying the price for being an aggressive player. One he figures out where the line is, he'll be able to avoid the penalties that are casting the spotlight on him.

''I'm overaggressive, but I do a lot of good things when I'm overagressive, too,'' Carimi said. ''There are some times I need to just bring it back a little bit.

''I'm feeling pretty comfortable right now. There's just a couple of things I have to take care of, mostly with the penalties - that's what you guys see - so take those away, and guys don't hear my name.''
10-25-2012, 02:39 PM
bearsinhouston

I'm not worried about him. He'll be ok.
10-25-2012, 02:39 PM
soulman

Well I guess we can chalk up more of Carimi's mistakes as being typical of those a rookie would make. He's playing too much with his body and not enough with his head. The things he could get away with in college that are "technique related" just won't fly in the pros. The opponents are just too good.

But I think Tice makes a good point here. Some have suggested that Carimi should be tried at LT yet if he were we'd be seeing the same things from him that allowed JWebb to be victimized so may times. Big guys who play too aggressively find themselves off balance and lunging at the attacker. Once that happens they're and easy mark and Webb has certainly been that many times.

J'Marcus seems to finally be "getting it" and his pass blocking, while not exceptional, has definitely improved some. I'll take 3 sacks in 5 games (I think 3 in six now) as being one hell of a lot better than what we've been accustomed to seeing. He's doing a much better job of closing the inside rush lane and also taking his man behind the pocket on the speed rushes. Top that off with his run blocking and he's showing the significant improvement we'd all hoped for out of him.

Now if we can get Carimi to follow suit we may just have solved our OT issues for a long time to come. I don't expect it to happen tomorrow but at least Carimi and Tice have identified the problem which is 90% of the battle. You can't correct what you don't know is wrong. Carimi may be as good of an example as any of just how much better an OT needs to learn to play at this level than he played in college. After all he was the Outland Trophy winner his Senior year and there is no higher recognition of your skills as a college lineman than that.

One final point is that which I highlighted in green. Repeating what I posted before about this in my opinion the NFL needs to look at how they enforce a hold when a defender jumps offside. If the play isn't whistled dead and the blocker doesn't use whatever means he can to stop the guy then he has a clear path to the QB and he gets an unobstructed shot at him.

Even though it's a free play that may result in a big gain the QB still ends up being very vulnerable if he remains in the pocket and takes the hit. If they're not gonna whistle the play dead then I believe the blocker should be permitted to defend his QB any way he finds necessary and if that means holding the guy who got the edge on you because of a rules violation than so be it. The OT is almost forced to in that situation as Carimi was forced to in order to protect Cutler.

Now in both instances on Monday when Carimi was called for holds we have coaches and other players saying both were very "iffy" calls. I think there's also the probability that a rookie will get the benefit of the doubt less than an established vet. Let Carimi get a few years under his belt and some votes for postseason recognition and most if not all of those "iffy" calls will disappear. JMHO.
10-25-2012, 02:42 PM
jackiejokeman

He's not a rookie anymore,actually he COULD be a rookie this year.

Since he took his REAL rookie year off.

Shades of Chris Williams !!

Is that an Angelo thing ?
10-25-2012, 02:50 PM
gramster10

Well gabe will get better but the aggressive part is music to my ears add the two guards in and if they ever get webb in that gear that should be some offensive line
10-25-2012, 03:07 PM
JustAnotherBearsFan99

Quote:

Bears offensive coordinator Mike Tice used 271 words to say five: ''He's a work-in-progress.''

That's how I view our entire offense so far this season, including Tice. They are a "work-in-progress" and I think the finished product will be very special. But for now, it's a "week to week" opportunity for guys like Carimi (and several more) to just get better.

The ideal would be for everything to come together for the playoff run. Everything smooth as a Swiss watch.
10-25-2012, 03:12 PM
jackiejokeman

Quote:

Originally Posted by gramster10

Well gabe will get better but the aggressive part is music to my ears add the two guards in and if they ever get webb in that gear that should be some offensive line

I like aggressive if its for run blocking ... but offsides at the line of scrimage ... gimme a break.

Thats just rookie dumb and he will get past it.
10-25-2012, 04:10 PM
soulman

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackiejokeman

He's not a rookie anymore,actually he COULD be a rookie this year.

Since he took his REAL rookie year off.

Shades of Chris Williams !!

Is that an Angelo thing ?

From a standpoint of total NFL experience he's still a rookie jackie. Monday night was just the 7th game he's started in his NFL career. That's not even half a season of games at this level.

I also wouldn't call a dislocated knee cap "taking a year off". That was a pretty serious injury and yet he's back playing a year later. When Marc Colombo had that same injury it was three or four years later before he was playing regularly and that was with Dallas after we gave up on him ever playing well again.

I think Tice said it best when he said that when he makes an ugly play it's very ugly and they know why. It's not about talent and the lack of it it's about technique. That can be corrected a lack of talent can't.
10-25-2012, 04:18 PM
soulman

Quote:

Originally Posted by JustAnotherBearsFan99

That's how I view our entire offense so far this season, including Tice. They are a "work-in-progress" and I think the finished product will be very special. But for now, it's a "week to week" opportunity for guys like Carimi (and several more) to just get better.

The ideal would be for everything to come together for the playoff run. Everything smooth as a Swiss watch.

They do seem to be improving and with the exception of Garza this is a very young line. It looks to me like we finally have the right type of player at each spot now. Webb seems more comfortable pass blocking and with Rachal next to him now the run blocking to that side seems like it may improve. Those two can move big bodies back off the line and they showed it a few times on Monday.

Rachal can't pull well so now the trap plays will more than likely go to the left rather than the right. On Forte's long run on the first drive it was Louis who pulled into that gap between guard and tackle and made the key block that sprung Forte but both Webb and Rachal made the initial hole in the line for him to get through.

So far I like this combination better than what I've seen so far so hopefully they can all stay healthy and settle into playing with one another. I think the talent may finally be there so now it's all about coordination of efforts.