Thread: Patchwork O-line does the job for Bears

Carimi pressed into duty at guard after Spencer, Louis go down

By Vaughn McClure, Chicago Tribune reporter

6:54 p.m. CST, November 25, 2012
First went left guard Chris Spencer. Right guard Lance Louis followed.

By the time the Bears line up for their second possession of the second half Sunday, their demoted right tackle — Gabe Carimi — was in the lineup at right guard against the Vikings.

"It's the first time I've actually played guard,'' Carimi said. "I don't know. We'll have to see how I did on film. I know I wasn't doing everything right, but I got in there and didn't give up any plays, so that was huge.''

Carimi might want to get used to the position. The Bears could be very thin at guard moving forward.

Louis suffered what appeared to be a serious left knee injury after he was blindsided by Vikings defensive end Jared Allen following a Jay Cutler interception. Louis is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Monday to determine the severity.

"I didn't even think it was (Louis') knee," Carimi said. "I thought it was a concussion.''

Allen told reporters he was informed Louis injured his medial collateral ligament, although the information was not confirmed. The Vikings star defended his play.

"I thought it was a legal hit,'' Allen said. "He's running to make a tackle, so I just went to block him. I never intentionally try to hurt anybody.

"My condolences to him and his family.''

The Bears aren't exactly dead on the offensive line, but they are hurting. Spencer said he injured his left knee, although he felt he could have finished the game. He also is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Monday.

The line already underwent a face lift entering Sunday's game. Spencer returned to the starting lineup at left guard as Chilo Rachal — upset over his demotion — left the team. Rachal, whose emotional state concerned the team, is now on the reserve/non-football injury list and won't be back this season.

The other significant change was Jonathan Scott supplanting Carimi as the starting right tackle.

Then Edwin Williams entered the mix at left guard when Spencer went down Sunday.

"It's tough to overcome two starters going down,'' center Roberto Garza said. "And I think the job that Ed and Gabe did today stepping into positions that they hadn't practiced all week was a tribute to work that Coach (Mike) Tice and Coach Tim (Holt) are doing.''

The line held together rather well Sunday considering the circumstances. Cutler was sacked just once and only one false start was called.

J'Marcus Webb held his own against Allen, who did not record a sack. And Webb didn't appear to get much help. Scott did the same against Brian Robison on the other edge.

"They did a hell of a job today,'' Garza said of the tackles. "Obviously J'Marcus had a good night versus Jared Allen. And J-Scott, being here just a couple weeks and just learning the offense, he did a good job.''

If Louis and Spencer miss any time, Williams and Garza would be the only true guards on the 53-man roster with rookie James Brown capable of playing guard or tackle.

The Bears have had three different starting offensive line combinations this season and are destined for a fourth against the Seahawks. Garza was asked if the line could survive the rest of the season with so much change.

"As long as I can remember, that's always been a part of the league,'' he said. "That's part of this game: You have to be able to make changes. The guys in the backup positions have to think like starters.''




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