Thread: OLine - stay patient?

The bottom line here is that no matter who is playing whatever position on the line they better be able to run block and the fact is that they STUNK at that last season. I just do not see that happening with the same players this season so change MUST happen weather it be in FA or the draft. NO MORE STATUS QUO !

Originally Posted by mdbearz

The reality is that if a Starting Caliber OG is available in the first round then it would be hard to pass

I think there are two in the first in Warmack and Cooper who are sure things and in the same class that DeCastro was last year. Then the talent level drops quite a bit so if we want a sure starter at LG which is where both of those guys play then that's the pick we should make.

Originally Posted by 4DaBERS

I understand where you're coming from "G", and the premise is reasonable. I really just disagree with you on one area, but it's a critical area. We do have young players, but I do NOT believe they have the talent you suggest. I know everyone holds out hope for Brown, and there are guys (New Orleans Center for one) that go undrafted and become starters in the league, but the odds are soooo against that. There are so many linemen every year that were studs in college that do not even get a chance to sniff a training camp, and usually for good reason. I DO hold out hope for Carimi because I watched him in college along with his Wisconsin team mates, and he was a stud in a stud program, but he has to get healthy and "get it" soon. I am hopeful that our O-Line "guru" screwed some of these guys up and that Kromer can straighten some out, but many of these guys have just NEVER had the talent to be starters in the NFL and the thought of EWill being our starting center should scare the hell out of Jay Cutler.

I'm all for keeping a positive attitude and I'll do that, but Kromer can't fix all of this mess with coaching or schemes. We need some base talent and we need it badly.

How do we know what EWill can and can't do? I can't ever remember seeing him play even one snap at OC. You may be right but I don't think we have any real idea of what he's capable of there. If he's got the goods now would be a good time to show it because Garza is 34 and in the last year of his deal. This is his shot at proving he's the guy who can take it from there.

No doubt we need to upgrade our talent of at the very least create more competition between players for those starting spots. There was a lot of talk about that last year but like many things where Tice was concerned it was just that......talk. I don't see, and I don't think the rest of us see, anyway Emery can ignore the need to bring in more OL talent this offseason and I believe he will. Who, from where, and at what level is a little uncertain but there should be at least two or three OL still on the board at #20 who are worth that pick.

The only other possibility I see for that pick is a MLB and there are a couple of guys who fit around that same spot or a little later but I really believe Urlacher will be back in 2013 and unless they plan on playing a 1st round LB at SLB now then moving him to MLB after Urlacher hangs it up I don't see Emery spending a 1st on a guy who won't start somewhere.

Outside of the OL and MLB the only other glaring need is at TE and I don't think he'll spend the #20 pick on one. I think he'll look for a FA to get that done or maybe in the 2nd round. We should have a better idea of his plans after the Combine when they begin to offer contracts to the FA we want to keep around.

Originally Posted by billatter

Couldn't agree more, but I have a question, since my Bears knowledge is thin. In the Lovie years, were the Bears basically running a vanilla, predictable offence? If so, that puts a huge onus on the O-line as the D alway knows what is coming. If the O-line talent is on the thin side, they'll crumble. What I'm trying to say, is that with a less predictable, more complex offence, the D can't simply tee off anymore, which gives average talent on the O-line a chance to do a decent job. On the flip side, the O-line has more to learn and will have to become more versatile. That may prove to be the achillies heel here, hence my question about the downfield blocking.

Great questions. Our offense has been fairly predictable for years. Our last 3 offensive coordinators (Ron Turner, Mad Mike Martz & Tice) ran plays that most of us (and our wives and kids for that matter) could predict the upcoming plays. I got so tired of seeing some of them, over and over again. The players were not very talented to begin with (not just our OL but also most of our skill players stunk), and the execution was poor & the coaches were not very good (to say the least). The past regime of Angelo/Lovie didn't seem able to build an NFL quality offense. And I don't think they really cared much about the offense. It wasn't valued like the defense and special teams. It was the poor stepchild of the team.

It was embarrassing, and often painful to watch.

I'm hoping the new coaching will make a difference, along with the play calling. But I also want to see a premium put on the importance of that offensive line. I want to see an upgrade of at least a few rock solid OL players THIS year in the draft. I would like to see us pick up a solid LT in FA. This is the bare minimum. I would love to see them do even more with the ol this year, but I realize that is probably a pipe dream.

Then, if we HAVE to use some of the remaining players (and I realize that we will) then look over the remaining crap and try to cobble together something for this year. Maybe grab some of the "floaters" still swirling in the toilet, and for a year - try to make them look good & not completely stink.

But add some studs to the mix as well THIS year, and build on that foundation.

Originally Posted by JustAnotherBearsFan99

If this new regime of Emery/Trestman, fails to significantly upgrade the offensive line THIS year, then they are dead to me.

No change in OL philosophy means: Emery/Trestman = Angelo/Lovie = Fail

Exactly. Patience ended when they stood pat in FA and the draft. Starters are needed, depth is needed, competition and accountability is needed, and youth is needed. No more experiments, re-treads, and half measures for the basis for the nebulous concepts of "continuity" and "leadership". TALENT is needed period.

Originally Posted by mdbearz

Another Factor here is that Webb has always been touted to be physically talented but could not get down the mental aspect of the game.

Guess what, this is a totally new offense. Webb is going to fail, period.

And all this talk about how Getting the ball out Quick is the key. Well, hate to be the bearer of Bad News but Cutler is not that type of QB. He likes to see the route come open then throw the ball.

I am not overly optimistic about this working out unless we get a legit LT.

Yep. Tice's blocking scheme was simpler. I can't see Webb's football I.Q suddenly improving. We've all heard the "getting the ball out quicker" when Tice took over for Martz. And we all know how that went.

Originally Posted by mdbearz

Another Factor here is that Webb has always been touted to be physically talented but could not get down the mental aspect of the game.

Guess what, this is a totally new offense. Webb is going to fail, period.

And all this talk about how Getting the ball out Quick is the key. Well, hate to be the bearer of Bad News but Cutler is not that type of QB. He likes to see the route come open then throw the ball.

I am not overly optimistic about this working out unless we get a legit LT.

Well he hasn't been with the Bears but here he ran more of a WCO style offense and went to the Pro Bowl even though the team did no better than 8-8. I really think it's about bringing all of the offensive factors together and coordinating them the way successful offenses do. We've lacked an ability to do that for years and years.

I'd prefer that we get a vet LT in FA but I still thinks that's a 50/50 deal. The Giants just released Bradshaw, Canty and Boley to free up some cap space so my guess is they won't let Beatty hit FA. Long wants way too much given his injuries and declining play, Albert is a possible if KC drafts a LT and then there's Bushrod who may or may not be a better pass blocker than Webb depending on what stats you believe.

So whether they want another vet LT or not getting one may still be a challenge. I guess in this case I'm just preparing myself for any potential outcome there might be.