Bears Want Orlando Pace At Left Tackle
by Adam T on Apr 1, 2009 7:19 AM CDT
77 comments
A Bears Den will be coming later, but I wanted to get this story up and my apologies if somebody dropped this link in one of the comment sections that was going crazy last night.
I thought the Bears had backed out of the Oralndo Pace sweepstakes considering he is insistant on staying at left tackle. The Bears had seemed comfortable with the idea of Chris Williams getting that spot.
According to this article that isn't the case:
The Bears have made signing Orlando Pace a priority and intend to leave him at left tackle if he joins the team, according to an NFL source.
Pace, who played 12 seasons with the St. Louis Rams before becoming a salary-cap casualty last month, visited Halas Hall on Monday. Agent Kennard McGuire said Pace "had a very good and productive" visit.
McGuire declined to discuss specifics in relation to a contract offer. Pace reportedly has an offer from Baltimore.
0 recs |
77 comments
|
Email
Print
Comments
Yeah it doesn't make sense.
I hope they are is no guarantee for a starters position with anyone they have signed this off season.
"I guess I can’t do anything if you’re just irrational, but to point it out and move on."
- fundamentallysound
thought so
this confirms my suspicions that the Bears are not comfortable with Chris Williams’ ability to play Left Tackle
Adding Pace would be a great move! He is a pro bowl LT, not a rookie with potential (applies both to Williams and a rookie LT they might draft). Let CW and Shaffer battle it out for RT and the odd man out spells at both tackle spots to prevent injuries and substitutes when they happen.
I've continuously panned
Williams, and I agree, this confirms that Williams may be a bust-in-waiting.
Is it a little concerning that we went after Shaffer, and now Pace, after the mini-camp? A little.
It is also nice that the team saw how badly the o-line needs upgraded.
Sign Pace, trade for Cutler, bring Santa Claus early to Chicago.
ahh
I second that….
"I want to be remembered as the guy who gave his all whenever he was on the field." Walter Payton
by NOR CAL BEAR on Apr 1, 2009 11:00 AM CDT up reply actions
If we do get Pace
I’m really worried about what happens when Pace (inevitably) gets hurt.
I'M A MAN! I'M 22!
I'm still confused
as to what is really going on with Williams. Is his back completely screwed and now we’re going to find whatever we can to fill the LT spot? Like ChiFan I’m concerned on Pace’s durability as well.
If things came easy, then everybody would be great at what they did, let's face it.
Mike Ditka
Catch Phrase of the day: YAAAAAAAY! <---- Courtesy of ChiFan13.
Because the internet is the best place to assault a religion and a country. Sir, if I ever meet you in the real world, expect a thorough beat down.- Special thanks to bs.uf15bosox9bears23
Exactly
I mean, going after Pace is fine. But now this is starting to look like a disaster waiting to happen.
I'M A MAN! I'M 22!
Yup
Pace would be good to help bolster the line add depth and experience. What happens if Pace and then Williams both go down, who do we have for the left side now?
If things came easy, then everybody would be great at what they did, let's face it.
Mike Ditka
Catch Phrase of the day: YAAAAAAAY! <---- Courtesy of ChiFan13.
Because the internet is the best place to assault a religion and a country. Sir, if I ever meet you in the real world, expect a thorough beat down.- Special thanks to bs.uf15bosox9bears23
The problem, like you and No it All said
is why the Bears are willing to move C-Will. That really puzzles me.
I'M A MAN! I'M 22!
And you
know they aren’t going to tell us. I still can’t believe they drafted him with his known back issues.
If things came easy, then everybody would be great at what they did, let's face it.
Mike Ditka
Catch Phrase of the day: YAAAAAAAY! <---- Courtesy of ChiFan13.
Because the internet is the best place to assault a religion and a country. Sir, if I ever meet you in the real world, expect a thorough beat down.- Special thanks to bs.uf15bosox9bears23
Angelo
has a penchant for drafting injured guys. I guess he thinks that their injuries have kept them off of other teams radars so hes gonna be getting a steal. What a bonehead. Yeah these kids might have talent when healthy. And might have been on other teams radars if they were. Instead Angelo things he knows something everyone else doesnt. Unfortunately he doesnt know what everyone else does, that injury prone players stay injured.
"Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it. "---George S. Halas
by Halas is God!!!!! on Apr 1, 2009 10:00 AM CDT up reply actions
And my problem is
why draft a player when that you’re not comfortable with? We missed out on Otah….that already hurts.
I'M A MAN! I'M 22!
its not a lot lotal idictment of CW
the guy is virtually a rookie. If we have a pro bowl LT (Pace) then switching CW to RT which is apparently the easier position (maybe somebody can explain that?) may give him the perfect opportunity to shine. Since he has more to prove than anyone on the team maybe simplifying his role in the short term (until Pace is gone or gets injured) allows him to thrive. CW might actually learn a thing or 2 from Pace. Shaffer and Yale give us would give us crazy depth and flexibility on the OLine behind CW and Pace.
Pace was a salary dump who can flat out play. the fact that he is still around in FA makes JA signing him an actual possibility and I’m thrilled they made an offer. Pace will more probably than not be better throughout his contract than any rookie tackle (especialliy at 18). That’s even assuming he misses games due to injury. signing Pace is such an overall improvement to the Bears woeful line (and even not “woeful”, no doubt the better the OLine, the better the Bears will be) that it will actually improve the outlook on the Bears investment in CW.
It could be
we dont really know that. Pace coming in to play LT could mean that williams isnt healthy and therefore wouldnt slide over to RT. I dunno to be rushing to do something after minicamp speaks volumes of what they think about williams in my opinion.
"Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it. "---George S. Halas
by Halas is God!!!!! on Apr 1, 2009 10:23 AM CDT up reply actions
i agree with no it all
bring in orland friggin pace
by SamuraiMike50 on Apr 1, 2009 10:27 AM CDT up reply actions
Right tackle
How can CW be versatile enough to play the right side? I thought he was strictly a LT, who isn’t a traditional mauler in the running game. I don’t mind bringing Pace in, it gives them very good depth across the line.
What happens if Pace and then Williams both go down, who do we have for the left side now?
What if the world comes to an end right now? History doesn’t dictate the future.
"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
No history
doesn’t dictate the future, but it does tend to repeat itself. If the world ends right now our conversation would be over and none of this would matter. Why you have to ask what if the world ends when I just posed the question as to our depth on the line, not the apocolypse.
If things came easy, then everybody would be great at what they did, let's face it.
Mike Ditka
Catch Phrase of the day: YAAAAAAAY! <---- Courtesy of ChiFan13.
Because the internet is the best place to assault a religion and a country. Sir, if I ever meet you in the real world, expect a thorough beat down.- Special thanks to bs.uf15bosox9bears23
by Ditkavsworld on Apr 1, 2009 11:48 AM CDT up reply actions
It's a stupid statement...
because it’s the same as asking what happens if Orton, Hanie, and Basenez get injured? Who will play QB then? You can’t plan that far down.
To answer your question I would guess Frank Omiyale
Basically sums it up
Ditkavsworld- you can’t predict injuries, so it’s pointless to try and prepare for it. You’re right though, Pace does have recent injury concerns. CW might not be hurt at all…JA is just doing his homework and adding depth to a team weakness.
"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
the main reason LT is harder
at LTs have to block a right-handed QBs blindside on passing downs. His backside. Many defenses put their best pass rushers at RE because it gives them the advantage of “sneaking up from behind.”
Also, I believe footwork and natural body movement plays a role in the right side being easier…like in baseball where for many batting on one side of the plate is natural for, while the other side takes some time.
I like it, but
doesn’t Pace have a history of injuries and isn’t he 33 years old? It’s OK – if it’s a one or two year deal – signing old guys for more than one or two makes absolutely no sense what so ever.
"The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt." - Bertrand Russell
As long as the
contract is not front loaded with too much guarentee money he can be cut at any time.
Agreed..
You don’t wanna throw too much money on a +30 year old, injury prone tackle..
There is no "I" in "TEAM" but there's "ME"
by BearingDown21 on Apr 1, 2009 8:27 AM CDT up reply actions
Desperation
This is it for Dumbass and crew(aka lovie and crew) and hopefully Angelo. They don’t make it this year to the playoffs, many people will loose thier jobs. There backing Orton and have to give him as much protection as they can, thier jobs depend on it. I for one am willing to sacrifice this year and hope we go 4-12 so we can get rid of some diseases on the team. Make it or Break it year for many people.
A question for WCG and crew.
Are you in contact or have any relationship with the guys who run St.Louis’ blog? What do they think of Pace? I did not watch 1 Rams game last year except when they played the Bears. Pace did not play in that game. Does Pace have anything left?
man
good thing they didn’t draft otah last year.
i would hate to be in the position of having a rookie LT this year or have to find one off the scrap heap. Nice work JA.
Yeah so...
Williams is a bust so instead of finding someone who can anchor the line for the next ten years. Lets sign a tackle whos on his last legs. If williams was in the plans at left tackle and we moved pace to right tackle then Im all for it. But if bringing in Pace means that williams is out, then I sure do hope we address this in the draft and dont be content cause we now have Pace.
"Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it. "---George S. Halas
by Halas is God!!!!! on Apr 1, 2009 9:43 AM CDT up reply actions
I still think they go OT in the draft
if they ink Pace. I don’t know what’s going on with Williams. Is he hurt? Is he moving to RT? A lot of questions that need to be answered. I think it’s a decent move because Pace was at one point an elite tackle, but I agree that this is a band-aid move.
maybe a "finesse" guy
can move around the line a bit.
Another John St. Clair?
Jerry could give up a bunch of early picks and pick up JSC Jr. in the 5th round. lol
I'M A MAN! I'M 22!
No More 1st round
Picks for Angelo. He sucks at them. From now on if he wants to keep his job, he should trade any 1st rounders we have for proven talent. ie Cutler. If williams is hurt and isnt in the plans for the future Id really hate to see what undersized Tackle with knee problems Angelo picks as his replacement. Has any GM had more first rounders that havent panned out. I mean even Millen got it right with Calvin Johnson.
"Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it. "---George S. Halas
by Halas is God!!!!! on Apr 1, 2009 10:19 AM CDT up reply actions
if pace is healthy
he is a pretty damn good LT. he was pretty damn good last year, on a crappy rams team. so long as its not for an exorbitant amount of money, i think this is a great move. i think the idea is to give williams more time, more than anything else. let him practice as a swing tackle (because pace does have injury issues). if he’s better than shaffer at RT, give him that spot, but otherwise, let him learn behind pace for a year and sub for him if/when pace gets hurt. i doubt this says anything about williams, as much as it does about the potential to get a veteran great-when-healthy LT for a reasonable price for 1-2 years.
I could see them kick Williams...
Inside to LG this year of they sign Pace.
"I am Kyles mom , I support him but I don't believe in him"- GeauxBears
Couple thoughts
It is concerning that the Bears are looking at Pace AFTER minicamp, when they saw Williams play, and that they are looking at him as a LT. That does not speak well for Williams.
Williams does not project well as a RT. He is a finesse blocker. He probably would not be any better than Shaffer at RT, and could be worse.
Maybe Angelo is looking at Pace as a way of making this year’s first round pick expendable. He was planning to draft a OT in the first, if he can sign a guy that can play OT at a decent level for a year or two, then he can potentially use his 1st round pick for something else (like a trade).
If the Bears sign Pace, someone is going to be a well-paid bench player. Omiyale will move to left guard, and Shaffer and WIlliams will duke it out for the RT spot. I suppose the loser could play RG, but I doubt it.
DEJESUS!!!
I don't get it
Pace has had injury problems the past three years – season ending ones in 06 and 07, plus missed three last year. And Pro Bowl left tackles don’t usually come cheap.
Didn’t Shaffer spend time at guard at some point in his career?
WOW.....
Really, JA must be hopped up on red bull or something so quite all last month now hes making moves…
"I want to be remembered as the guy who gave his all whenever he was on the field." Walter Payton
You have to understand that we only have ONE left tackle under contract.
Bringing in Pace would be huge for us. Williams is basically a rookie so I don’t think this is saying that he is a bust. This would be a very wise move.
Passion For The Game, Loyal To The Name, Chicago Bears, I Trust In Thee, Standing Strong Since 1983.
Ugh... Chris Williams at Right Tackle
It’d be a horrible idea. The right tackle needs to be a good run blocker as well as a good pass protector. Chris Williams is a finesse Left Tackle. He needs work on his run blocking, and if the Bears sign Orlando Pace to play LT, it would hurt Williams’ development. And to me, it’d be a waste of a 1st round pick if they drafted him to play LT, only to move him to RT because of a Free Agent signing.
However, Chris Williams would be learning from a HOF LT.
by Chicagosportsfan on Apr 1, 2009 11:39 AM CDT reply actions
some people were pissed about starting a rookie LT last year
when we drafted williams. now, being that he’s essentially still a rookie (albeit with some game experience, and a year of learning the offense, etc.), people are now considering him a bust if we sign a future hall of fame LT on the cheap? really? come on. this is a smart move. shaffer at RT, pace at LT, williams gets to learn under one of the best in pace, and he’ll probably play some, anyway, given pace’s injury history. it’d be an indictment of williams if we went after a young LT who would cost a ton of money. it’s not if we go after pace.
Orlando
Pace will not come cheap. He’ll want starting, HOF caliber left tackle money. Or close to it. If the Bears are willing to make that kind of commitment and move Chris Williams to RT, I think we should be worried about him being a bust. If the team felt CW was the answer at LT, and they drafted him to be just that, I doubt we’d even be having the Orlando Pace conversation.
CW a bust?
Um no…so he had surgery on a herniated disc doesnt mean he is a bust. tackles take a little while to be proven a bust or not. they have to develop and actually play. we will see this year on how he does. remember Coloumbo? we cut him and now he is a starter at dallas way to freakin go. as for Pace, why not? worst case scenario we have to sit out CW for a season so he learns from a probowl caliber player at LT or we move him into LG for a year not the end of the world. BEEF UP THAT LINE FOR MY MAN FORTE to kill
yes, he is more a bust at this point
1. Columbo was a bust for the Bears…not for the Cowboys, but as you say, the Bears got no significant or productive use out of him. If it takes five years for a 1st round pick to have success, and it doesn’t come with your team…that’s a busted pick, and he was a bust.
Thomas Jones was a bust in Arizona, but a beast in Chicago. That’s the way it goes. Williams is looking like a wasted pick the more time he does nothing. That said, perhaps he will do something.
2. While the following tackles - Albert, Otah, Cherilus, Sam Baker AND Duane Brown - all drafted in the first round after CW was drafted are ALL starters on their teams in year one, while our pick has back surgery…that kind of shows how great that pick was.
FIVE starting tackles, FIVE, were drafted in Round 1 after Wiliams. So far, he’s the only 1st round tackle from 2008 whose time in the league is questionable.
for sanity's sake
let’s not jump to conclusions.
Think With Your Dipstick Jimmy!
by ifuwannacrownem on Apr 1, 2009 4:49 PM CDT up reply actions
thats asking a lot from blou
running his mouth and jumping to conclusions seem to be his main hobby.
The shortest distance between two points is under construction.
by halfblindcubbiegirl on Apr 1, 2009 5:03 PM CDT up reply actions
Another angle
I do also remember St. Clair signing with the Browns at the same time we had the camp. Omiyale moved to right tackle at that point. Maybe its a sign they don’t have faith in Shaffer to be a starting RT and that might have been the desperation move. The organization also seems pretty willing to let the Ravens sign Pace if they offer more than the Bears think hes worth. That doesn’t seem like their in desperation mode to replace CW to me.
For as much as we all complained about JA not getting involved in free agency, I think a lot of us are playing Chicken Little now that hes trying to make some moves.
by Hurricanes becoming Bears on Apr 1, 2009 5:20 PM CDT up reply actions
Only playing chicken little... because he's trying to make moves
to replace a guy he just friggin drafted in the first round.
"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that.
We know it's the most valuable position on the football team. We've gone through so many scenarios at that position we can write a book, moreso on what not do."
-- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)
.
Little do we know
This is one article saying keep Pace at left tackle. Until that, Pace was going to right tackle. We all know JA is out there but to assume were replacing CW with very little info, is a stretch. We have more articles saying we’re involved in the Cutler trade (which I also don’t believe) then are saying we’re looking for a replacement LT. I’m not convinced that management has lost faith in a player with zero starts. We’re looking to add depth at corner with Lucas, does it mean we don’t have faith in Tillman? I’m not saying CW is a pro-bowler, I’m not saying he’s our bookend LT for the next ten years, but it seems a little premature to say CW is a bust and management doesn’t have faith in him. Something Baltimore offered seems to be drawing Pace’s interest at this point. It could be the Ravens are offering Pace less money to play LT then we are to play RT. If he wants to stay at LT, maybe he’s willing to sacrifice money. My point is for all the “fiercely pursing Pace”, we seem pretty comfortable to let Baltimore sign him away. I don’t make the correlation between pursuing Pace and CW is a bust.
P.S. I wanted CW in the draft last year. If you look at it pre-draft, Albert’s wasn’t good enough to play tackle at Virginia, Otah is a great RT but not LT, Cherlious was decent and Brown was a reach. We all would have prefered Clady but he was gone. I think we made the right choice. Can we give the guy a chance ? Lets see him play a year before we right him off.
by Hurricanes becoming Bears on Apr 2, 2009 2:22 AM CDT up reply actions
nothing
I think we made the right choice
said they had to draft a left tackle last year. a sure thing right tackle without back problems would have been a pretty decent pick.
Yup
And we would be desperate for a LT instead of RT this year.
by Hurricanes becoming Bears on Apr 2, 2009 12:22 PM CDT up reply actions
but you'd
already have a franchise rt.
instead of nothing.
Again a little premature
My original point was it’s way too early to call CW nothing. And I assume your referring to Otah as the franchise RT. Should we have taken Otah, who projected as a RT at 14? That’s way to early to take a RT. And yes I think we made the right choice. Finding a RT is easier than a LT.
by Hurricanes becoming Bears on Apr 2, 2009 1:32 PM CDT up reply actions
you have no franchise tackle right now
you cold have one.
tackle drafting fail.
And the funny thing was... St. Clair played LT all year anyway.
And he was already on the roster.
I know they needed and wanted a LT. But when there’s 6 tackles on the board to choose from, take the best one, regardless of which side he projects at. Don’t force the issue, and take a player based on need.
I’d like to see a draft success study on 1st round picks chosen based on “need” vs 1st round picks chosen based on “value”
"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that.
We know it's the most valuable position on the football team. We've gone through so many scenarios at that position we can write a book, moreso on what not do."
-- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)
.
I don think thats what happened
A lot of big boards including espn had CW rated higher than all the OTs taken after him including Clady, Alberts, and Otah. espn had him as the #10 prospect. Regardless of how anyone feels about the back issues, I think the Bears choose the best player on their board at a position of need, but didnt reach to do so.
http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/rankedPlayers?draftyear=2008
I’m not fancy I don’t know if the link will show up or pop a new window but I tried.
by Hurricanes becoming Bears on Apr 2, 2009 12:46 PM CDT up reply actions
This is amazing.....
We spend a 1st round pick on a LT… and they’re already writing him off. WTF is our scouting department doing? Why can’t they friggin get it right in the 1st round? Un friggin believable.
And… if Pace is at LT, and they somehow decide to start Williams at RT… then, we still have not made any friggin progress in becoming a “run-first” team. We have no run maulers on our line.
"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that.
We know it's the most valuable position on the football team. We've gone through so many scenarios at that position we can write a book, moreso on what not do."
-- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)
.
This says Williams is either being chalked up as a bust or the back problem is a big deal
Whatever it might be, the future of Chris Williams as a productive NFL offensive lineman does not appear rosy. Yet another first round bust for an organization that leads the NFL in that category??
how could you possible say that????
we have NO CLUE what we’re offering pace. if we offer him a short, limited money deal, with the idea that either he comes here at our price, or he’s a raven, how is that writing off williams? that’s just a smart football move. if you have a potentially good LT who is still basically a rookie in terms of playing, and you have a chance to get a HOF LT at your price for the short-term, you’d be a fool not to do the latter. i don’t recall anything this offseason or from camp that suggested williams wasn’t doing well.
now, if we offer pace a big contract, that would suggest something is up, because williams is really suited for LT, not RT.
by guy incognito on Apr 1, 2009 5:27 PM CDT up reply actions
Bullcrap !!
You don’t draft an Offensive Tackle in the first round one year and the next year make hot pursuit of Orlando Pace to play the same damned position. Williams was drafted to be a “ready-now” Left Tackle, and the Bears are paying him big money to do that. The fact that Pace is being pursued is signal that Williams stock has dramatically fallen and/or his back is a mess.
Every Offensive Tackle drafted in the first round of the 2008 draft is already an established cornerstone of his team’s offensive line. Every one. Except Chris Williams.
Angelo WHIFFED on Williams. Badly, because he was negligent in not understanding the back problem that started during his days at Vanderbilt.
It has never been made clear whether this was the same injury,
or a completely different one. It’s fun to speculate and second-guess (I do it as much as anyone), but on the back issues of CWilliams, you can’t say with any certainty that “he was negligent in not understanding the back problem that started during his days at Vanderbilt.”
I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious. (Vince Lombardi)
Dude, for serious? 1986 was 23 years ago.
Can we drop it?
-halfblindcubbiegirl
Define "hot pursuit"
From what I’ve read the Bears seem comfortable in letting him sign with Baltimore if it’s more than we’re willing to offer. We aren’t going out of our way to make sure he’s a Bear. Obviously you can say the first year was not a good one for CW, but to write him off as a pro, is premature and ridiculous.
by Hurricanes becoming Bears on Apr 2, 2009 2:28 AM CDT up reply actions
The Bears seem to be the ones writing off Chris Williams
Again, you don’t go after Orlando Pace having spent a first round pick the year previous on a Left Tackle. Williams was drafted to be a cornerstone of the offensive line and already the Bears are looking at other options. You don’t relinquish a 1st round pick to the bench in year 2 of his membership on the team.
At like I said above, every other offensive tackle drafted in the 1st round in 2008 is an established starter for his team. Everyone except Chris Williams who the Bears feel the need to find replacement for.
What the hell do you want, dude?
every OT picked in the first round were starters because they weren’t injured. I know you read the friggin article about them trying to move hom to the right tackle spot, so what are you getting at exactly? Stop trying to cook rice without water.
Think With Your Dipstick Jimmy!
by ifuwannacrownem on Apr 2, 2009 10:55 AM CDT up reply actions
So wheres the line?
Over or under one game before Pace is back on IR?
The shortest distance between two points is under construction.
by halfblindcubbiegirl on Apr 1, 2009 3:56 PM CDT reply actions
this team gives me more mood swings
than Rosie ’O Donnell watching a porno featuring Donald Trump.
Think With Your Dipstick Jimmy!
ugh
dude. no more of that.
The shortest distance between two points is under construction.
by halfblindcubbiegirl on Apr 1, 2009 4:40 PM CDT up reply actions
sorry
that’s the closest way to describe it. I’m mentally drained going from possibly getting Cutler to signinmg OP.
Think With Your Dipstick Jimmy!
by ifuwannacrownem on Apr 1, 2009 4:47 PM CDT up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Community Guidelines
Related FanPosts on Windy City Gridiron
Related FanShots on Windy City Gridiron
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2010 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
