NightLink: Frank Omiyale at Right Tackle

by Dane Noble on Mar 18, 2009 5:30 PM CDT

Omiyale was initially brought in to provide depth and/or compete for the guard position, but with John St. Clair signing in Cleveland, and John Tait being placed on the injured/retired list, a bigger need presented itself.

So much for Frank Omiyale lining up at left guard. The Bears new signee lined up at right tackle with the first unit during the second day of mini-camp Wednesday.

Omiyale was the second string left guard on Day 1. With John St. Clair gone to Cleveland, it wasn't a surprised to see Omiyale moved. But is the move permanent? We will see.

The upcoming draft will still provide opportunity to at least partially shore up the offensive line, but with Olin Kreutz adding another year to his long career, Roberto Garza not really making an impact, and Chris Williams still unproven, our potentially great duo of RBs might need to step it up another notch this upcoming season.

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Shocked!

I can’t believe they would shift him to tackle already. It just goes to show they try to fill holes with gum rather than caulk.

"I'm not so mean. I wouldn't ever go out to hurt anybody deliberately - unless it was, you know, important, like a league game or something." - Dick Butkus

by propheteer on Mar 18, 2009 6:13 PM CDT reply actions

OL through draft

I’d like to see Bears sign Kevin Shaffer, but here’s a thought if they’re looking to rebuild a starting OL lineup with just the draft and the Omiyale signing, as well as few other ideas on picks.

1st Round Pick: Eben Britton, RT, Arizona – If we don’t sign Shaffer before the draft, I don’t see how they can’t look at Britton or Beatty in the first.

2nd Round Pick: Phil Loadholt, OG, Oklahoma – More effort to get the line younger and give a solid addition the running game. Should be able to take over for Garza sooner rather than later.

3rd Round Pick: Lawrence Sidbury, DE, Richmond – might be the fastest DE in the draft. Could instantly add some pass rushing help to the rotation.

Compensatory Pick: Jason Williams, LB, Western Illinois – Sleeper pick not even invited to the combine, but is steadily climbing up draft boards after a great Pro Day and Shrine game.

4th Round: Sherrod Martin, FS/CB, Troy – Will be an older rookie than most (25 by opening weekend), but from most accounts has the talent to be a starting FS. David Bruton would also work here.

5th Round: Marko Mitchell, WR, Nevada – It’d be great if the Bears would sign Torry Holt and get atleast two solid years out of him, giving a sleeper w/ potential like Mitchell just about the right amount of time to develop into a starter.

After this draft, we’d have a potential lineup of Williams, Omiyale, Kruetz, Loadholt and Britton by later in the season. (Beekman could also develop into Kruetz’s replacement – not this year, but down the road). Yeah, that would mean no experience w/ each other, but they’d instantly turn an ancient line young, with alot of potential and a solid foundation going forward. It’s not like the front office looks like they’re interested in the Super Bowl this year anyway, might as well look ahead…

by Cru Jones on Mar 18, 2009 6:14 PM CDT reply actions

I really like your...

first three rounds, don’t know much about the other players you have on the list so I can’t comment.

by chase17 on Mar 18, 2009 8:50 PM CDT up reply actions

Britton in the 1st

is not a bad pick, though I like Oher better. He probably would have been available to the Bears, but because Andre Smith sucked it up at the combine and pro day his stock fell. I like the Williams pick … but think Patrick Chung, safety, Oregon — would be a steal in the 2nd or 3rd.

by junkhorse on Mar 18, 2009 9:56 PM CDT up reply actions

agree, Chung would be solid

I’m not sure the picks I had there are really what I hope happens, just a thought on revamping the line from this point if just the draft were used. I think I’d much rather see Shaffer & Torry Holt signed as FAs to get a little more freedom w/ picks and then take at a FS earlier than the 4th. If we had those two and our picks at FS and DE were solid prospects, I’d be fairly optimistic about the season. Not holding my breath on those signings though. Good call on Chung, I’d be more than happy to see him or Delmas taken in the 2nd or 3rd.

by Cru Jones on Mar 18, 2009 10:34 PM CDT up reply actions

What the heck is JA doing?

Our line has not been working out. Either that or JA is bringing in kids to play a mans game. Forte and Jones are dead if you ask me.

Kick it to me... I'm open!

by #23 on Mar 18, 2009 7:50 PM CDT reply actions

expected

i like Omiyale at RT. Harvin or DHB at #18. Then Duke Robinson, Herman Johnson or Loadholt in the 2nd.

by No It All on Mar 18, 2009 9:39 PM CDT reply actions

I'm Hopeless

This is totally besides the point… when I saw the picture of the kids above I actually said out loud “Go Get EM BEARS!”

How sad is that?

by sabbath999 on Mar 19, 2009 9:41 AM CDT reply actions

It would make a change from the ageing Bears OL!

by Spongie on Mar 20, 2009 7:07 AM CDT up reply actions

The compensation pick

will most likely be at the end of the 4th rd not the end of the 3rd.

by Mike Mueller on Mar 19, 2009 10:13 AM CDT reply actions

Meant to reply to Cru Jones post

by Mike Mueller on Mar 19, 2009 10:17 AM CDT up reply actions

It doens't make sense toput Omiyale

at RT. He can’t play RT. If he could, Carolina wouldn’t have traded up to get Otah last year. If he could, when Otah missed a game, they would’ve put Omiyale there (they didn’t-they put Gross at RT and Omiyale at LT).

All they are doing is jerking him around, slowing his development as a guard, and proving that the GM and the head coach are not on the same page. They are going to sign or draft someone to be the starting RT, then Omiyale will go back to guard. Is it that important to have a good RT for minicamp that they’d take away Omiyale’s reps at guard?

Stupid, stupid, stupid.

DEJESUS!!!

by tomas21 on Mar 19, 2009 12:39 PM CDT reply actions

Well, with CWilliams penciled in at LT

hopefully we draft a RT in the 1st round, and have Omiyale as a utility back-up for T and G.

what they you use lame AOL speak

by Dane Noble on Mar 19, 2009 12:41 PM CDT up reply actions

Dude, we're six months away from the regular season

if this were July, i’d definitely think they’d be hindering his progress. just calm down.

OH! STEWIE!! GET OUT THE WAY BOY! GET OUT THE WAY!
-Stacey King

by ifuwannacrownem on Mar 19, 2009 2:26 PM CDT up reply actions

Then why have minicamp?

Don’t tell me to calm down.

DEJESUS!!!

by tomas21 on Mar 19, 2009 3:10 PM CDT up reply actions

it's three days. they don't practice in pads, there are no reps.

who gives a crap where he’s lining up right now. there’s no contact. quit blowing things out of proportion. you act like their doing something drastic.