Kromer Taking Stock of Bears Offensive Talent............
Kromer sizing up Bears' offensive assets
By Brad Biggs, Tribune reporter 3:41 p.m. CST, February 14, 2013
New Chicago Bears offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Aaron Kromer said Thursday it’s essential that he find a way to tailor his schemes to the strengths of the team's players.
Kromer met the media for the first time at Halas Hall, a little more than two weeks after the majority of Marc Trestman’s staff assembled to get to work. The coaching staff is working to install the offense and a playbook, starting from the basics of what they will call formations, movements, plays and every aspect of the system.
It’s a tedious process but enjoyable for them, and it has prevented them from fully completing an evaluation of the present roster. Kromer, who comes from the high-powered New Orleans Saints, worked with Trestman previously with the Oakland Raiders and envisions the offense being a hybrid of several systems.
“We had a lot of success there and obviously the New Orleans offense has been very successful lately,” Kromer said. “It will be a combination of a lot of things and you don’t want an offense to get stagnant so you are constantly researching and finding new things that you can add to your offense to make it better and more versatile.”
The key will be determining what the Bears have before deciding specifically what Kromer hopes to accomplish.
“It’s very important that you do it," Kromer said. "Sometimes ... you just have to do it. You don’t have a choice.”
It’s likely the Bears will introduce some new faces to the offensive line. There will be multiple options via free agency and then the draft, players Kromer can add to the mix.
“I think that we’re going to need a good offensive line and that comes from a lot of different ways of getting them, whether it is drafting them or whether it’s the guys you have,” he said. “When you start talking about an offensive line, you need a solid unit that plays well together and then you use their strengths to have the most success you can have.”
The Saints flourished up front as multiple linemen who were mid- to late-round draft picks became Pro Bowl performers. Having Drew Brees at quarterback, of course, doesn’t hurt. But the Saints became known for grooming young linemen.
“We’ve had a good history of finding guys that were not first- and second-round draft picks that had a lot of success,” Kromer said. “But like I said, when you’re talking about an offensive line, you really try to play to their strengths. What do they do well? What kind of run blocking is best for them? What kind of pass protection schemes are best for them and just know what they can do and use it to your advantage.”
When it comes to run blocking, the Saints used an inside zone scheme but also incorporated power elements. Kromer says the Bears will have multiple looks.
“If you watched us, we’re an inside zone; if you watched the Saints and what we did there and what was best for their personnel was an inside zone, and some outside zone,” he said. “It’s a lot of gap scheme. There was such a variety you couldn’t say you are one thing. We’re going to find what’s best for us and best for our linemen and our running backs and utilize that.”
bmbiggs@tribune.com
Twitter @BradBiggs
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