The Arguement For Jermon Bushrod

**WindyCity** · 02-27-2013, 09:31 AM

Let me preface this by saying that Bushrod is not a franchise LT and he is not a single saviour to the OL, what he is, is a competent starter that upgrades over Carimi/Scott.

What we have right now is 1 OT [Webb], 1 OG [Louis if healthy] and a veteran C that we are going to have a tough time replacing this season.

I break it down like this,

LT: ?
LG: ?
C: Garza
RG: Louis
RT: Webb, the position I think he is better equipped mentally to play.

This leaves us needing an OT and the way the LTs are climbing in the draft I think it is too big a risk to wait for the draft to fill that need.

This is why Bushrod makes sense and represents an upgrade over the OT play from last season.

1. Cost, The Bears with Peppers deal, Melton's possible franchise tag and Cutler's contract coming up cannot affor an 8 million dollar a year OT like Albert and Vollmer. They need someone in the 4-5 million dollar range that allows them to re-sign some of their many free agents. Bushrod will come much cheaper than Albert while still representing an upgrade over Carimi/Scott. Of the cheaper tier of OTs, Bushrod, Sam Baker, Gosder Cherilus, Bushrod is the most attractive too me.

2. Webb to RT, many people are saying that Bushrod is not much of an upgrade over Webb and I agree with them. But Webb is our best OLmen and while he may not stay at LT if Bushrod is signed he will be starting at RT where I think he will be more successful. This is where the real upgrade happens because while Bushrod gives us a similar player at LT, maybe more consistent, Webb is light years ahead of Carimi/Scott and we go from a turn style at RT to a competent player.

3. Familiarity, free agency is a huge risk with the amount of money that is being offered to players who have wear and tear on their bodies. Because of Kromer the Bears have intimate knowledge of how Bushrod fits in a locker room, how hard he works in practice and the offseason and most importantly how banged up or injured he is.

4. Health, Bushrod has an incredibly clean bill of health for an OLmen that has played more than 5 years in the NFL. The big name OTs have health issues Vollmer and Albert [back] and the 2nd tier OLmen have health concerns Baker [back] and it was reported this week that Cherilus was in Germany getting stem cell work done on his knee. The last thing we can have happen is to pay a guy to stabilize the OT spot and have him miss significant time. Bushrod has not missed a start in 4 years since he became a starter.

5. Versatility, Bushrod is a versatile player and while he has a ton of starts at LT, where I want him to play, with his physicality and run blocking he can play RT if Webb takes a huge step at LT this offseason. And if we draft an OT in round 1 to play LT at 6'5" 315lbs. Bushrod is the ideal size for a pass blocking LG. He allows the Bears to be flexible in the draft and to put the best 5 players on the field.

6. The NO Protection model, if we follow the New Orleans protection model of competent, but unspectacular, OT play paired with dominant OG play Bushrod fits the bill. The Bears are more likely to invest big money and draft picks in fixing the interior and by having Webb and Bushrod as your tackles you can invest still in the interior. If OG play is more important than OT play, as it was in New Orleans with Nicks and Evand and now Evans and Grubbs, then we need 2 competent not expensive tackles to free up resources on the interior of the line. If the Bears want a 8 million dollar LG he cannot be playing beside a 10 million dollar LT.

Bushrod is not a superstar, but he is another competent OT that can start for the Bears and we need 2 of them.

2012

LT: Webb 6/10
RT: Carimi/Scott 3/10

2013

LT: Bushrod 7/10
RT: Webb 7/10

I think the 2013 version is a big improvement and at a decent cost and gives us 2 stable, competent OTs that can allow us to build the interior OL and follow the NO model.

**JustAnotherBearsFan99** · 02-27-2013, 09:45 AM

Carimi will be our best RT now that he's healthy. I wouldn't rule out him at LT in the future either. I'm probably the "Lone Ranger" here on this one, but that's my feeling. I don't think we should bale on Carimi due to last year. They said he was playing hurt, basically playing starting tackle on one good leg. It was essentially his rookie season (he was injured very early in his first seaon, so '12 was somewhat like his rookie year).

One other observation. It's the norm for OL players to need some time to mature in the NFL. So, even if Carimi had been playing under ideal conditions (healthy and playing for a solid coach and OC), it's not panic time if he struggled his first season.

I not only think he'll start for us at tackle. I think he will eventually be a stud for us over the next several years.

**Riczaj01** · 02-27-2013, 09:48 AM

I wouldn't be concerned w/a signing of Bushrod. This OL needs all the help it can get, and it's not likely to find a starting T in the draft at 20.

But this is a bandaid not a solution, and they'll need to find a great prospect in latter part of the draft to replace at least 1 of them in the next 2 years. It allows the team to work on getting G/C/MLB and TE early in the draft.

**WindyCity** · 02-27-2013, 10:30 AM

Originally Posted by JustAnotherBearsFan99

Carimi will be our best RT now that he's healthy. I wouldn't rule out him at LT in the future either. I'm probably the "Lone Ranger" here on this one, but that's my feeling. I don't think we should bale on Carimi due to last year. They said he was playing hurt, basically playing starting tackle on one good leg. It was essentially his rookie season (he was injured very early in his first seaon, so '12 was somewhat like his rookie year).

One other observation. It's the norm for OL players to need some time to mature in the NFL. So, even if Carimi had been playing under ideal conditions (healthy and playing for a solid coach and OC), it's not panic time if he struggled his first season.

I not only think he'll start for us at tackle. I think he will eventually be a stud for us over the next several years.

Let me play Devil's Advocate on Carimi

1. It has been 15 Months since his intial injury [Week 2 2011] that amount of time is more than enough for the complete healing of a total knee tear like Peterson or Derrick Rose.

What makes people think he is going to get healthier?

2. 2 Years Ago Mike Tice was an OL guru and was going to fix the problems and now he is a bad coach. The fact is that Tice failed because his talent failed, Carimi included.

3. Carimi wasn't bad last year, he was down right uncompetitive and looked like a freshman playing against Seniors. The San Francisco game was one of the worst displays of OL play I have ever seen right up there with Winston Justice playing LT against the Giants.

We have 1.5 games of Carimi playing well and we have 14 of him getting destroyed and I tend to lean towards the latter sample because the knee is not getting any better at this point.

If Carimi did not get hurt I think he would have been a fine RT, but injuries happen and it cost us Carimi.

**soulman** · 02-27-2013, 10:38 AM

Windy I think you may be mis-estimating Bushrod's cost. His last deal averaged $4.9 mil per year so I think we might expect that following a Pro Bowl appearance NOLA will offer him something that's at least a little better than that.

I think it's a pipe dream to think we'd get him on a deal that's averages less than $5 mil per year and for the money he's likely to be asking he's just not all that much better despite his Pro Bowl nod. If we signed anyone we may be better off with Albert who could actually move inside to LG should Webb continue to improve. I really doubt there'll be that much difference in there asking price.

Beyond that I'm not sure I see spending the money for a LT as being all that worthwhile give the caliber of the prospects and their price tags. Beatty might be a nice pickup but I doubt he ever gets to FA.

**JustAnotherBearsFan99** · 02-27-2013, 10:43 AM

Originally Posted by WindyCity

Let me play Devil's Advocate on Carimi

1. It has been 15 Months since his intial injury [Week 2 2011] that amount of time is more than enough for the complete healing of a total knee tear like Peterson or Derrick Rose.

What makes people think he is going to get healthier?

2. 2 Years Ago Mike Tice was an OL guru and was going to fix the problems and now he is a bad coach. The fact is that Tice failed because his talent failed, Carimi included.

3. Carimi wasn't bad last year, he was down right uncompetitive and looked like a freshman playing against Seniors. The San Francisco game was one of the worst displays of OL play I have ever seen right up there with Winston Justice playing LT against the Giants.

We have 1.5 games of Carimi playing well and we have 14 of him getting destroyed and I tend to lean towards the latter sample because the knee is not getting any better at this point.

If Carimi did not get hurt I think he would have been a fine RT, but injuries happen and it cost us Carimi.

Those are all good points. And I'm certainly no expert.......so just take this as one fan's opinion (not worth much). But I'm not worried about the guy being anything less than a good starting tackle. Adrian Peterson did come back. But on the other hand, Derick Rose is out indefinitely. So, I just take that as a situation where everyone is different when it comes to injuries. I'm in a "wait and see" mode for this year.

I'm just a meatball fan, hoping the guy is completely healed now, and can come into training camp this year at 100%. And as old Lovie used to say, we'll take it from there

One related point though. Clearly Lance Louis is iffy for us going into the season. If he is unable to come into training camp at all, or is physically not ready health-wise, then he too could be nothing like what we've seen in the past from him. He could be a mere shadow of his former self for awhile.

It's not a "given" that he'll be able to perform well at the beginning of the season. And like you mentioned for Carimi, there's no guarantee that he will every be like he was. (heck that's true for Derick Rose too). Everyone is different. Let's hope Louis and Carimi BOTH come back like Adrian P. did. We need them both.

**Coolhandluke** · 02-27-2013, 10:55 AM

IF they even have the money to get a FA OL, I think I would rather opt for a very good G like Levitre or Vasquez
over the average Bushrod. Local insiders say that the Bears new regime likes Webb way more than the fans do
so I'm guessing he's the starting LT in 2013.

**soulman** · 02-27-2013, 10:56 AM

Originally Posted by WindyCity

Let me play Devil's Advocate on Carimi

1. It has been 15 Months since his intial injury [Week 2 2011] that amount of time is more than enough for the complete healing of a total knee tear like Peterson or Derrick Rose.

What makes people think he is going to get healthier?

2. 2 Years Ago Mike Tice was an OL guru and was going to fix the problems and now he is a bad coach. The fact is that Tice failed because his talent failed, Carimi included.

3. Carimi wasn't bad last year, he was down right uncompetitive and looked like a freshman playing against Seniors. The San Francisco game was one of the worst displays of OL play I have ever seen right up there with Winston Justice playing LT against the Giants.

We have 1.5 games of Carimi playing well and we have 14 of him getting destroyed and I tend to lean towards the latter sample because the knee is not getting any better at this point.

If Carimi did not get hurt I think he would have been a fine RT, but injuries happen and it cost us Carimi.

What makes you think he's not healthy? I think that remains to be seen. He was healthy enough to play last year but with little chance to work himself back into football shape and rebuild his lower body strength he struggled against most speed rushers and couldn't anchor against a bull rush.

He played a good 15lbs below his normal playing weight last year and his strength just wasn't there as far as pass blocking but his run blocking was pretty good. Let him rebuild his strength this offseason and get back up to his typical playing weight and then let Kromer's coaching and Carimi's competitiveness take over.

It was a serious injury but not career ending so far. It's too early to throw in the towel just yet.

**Riczaj01** · 02-27-2013, 11:14 AM

Jay Glazier on ESPN radio Chicago said he thinks that Carimi has to earn a spot in training camp; or he could get cut...said he didn't get a high grade from the coaching staff. Said he cannot see Garza coming back.

But really liked Webb and Brown, and Louis.

He also said that BU is all about money at this point, that the team wants him back, and BU wants to be back.

**VJ18** · 02-27-2013, 11:24 AM

Originally Posted by JustAnotherBearsFan99

Carimi will be our best RT now that he's healthy. I wouldn't rule out him at LT in the future either. I'm probably the "Lone Ranger" here on this one, but that's my feeling. I don't think we should bale on Carimi due to last year. They said he was playing hurt, basically playing starting tackle on one good leg. It was essentially his rookie season (he was injured very early in his first seaon, so '12 was somewhat like his rookie year).

One other observation. It's the norm for OL players to need some time to mature in the NFL. So, even if Carimi had been playing under ideal conditions (healthy and playing for a solid coach and OC), it's not panic time if he struggled his first season.

I not only think he'll start for us at tackle. I think he will eventually be a stud for us over the next several years.

Carimi is my bounce back player of the year in Chicago, and ive wanted him at LT. He did so much in Wisconson, lets play him at his position we intended to draft him at

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