NightLink: The Toughness of Olin Kreutz

by Dane Noble on Jun 23, 2009 6:07 PM CDT

Olin Kreutz's name has come up a few times in recent months, and typically always in the same context: team leader, enforcer, tough guy. Kreutz has been the anchor of the Chicago Bears line for more than a decade, and his presence always precedes him.

We have discussed whether to bring in a wide receiver with a sketchy past... Kreutz would put him in his place. We talked about Cutler's antics in Denver... that's okay, Kreutz will whip him into shape in Chicago.

And today, we saw Kreutz featured on ESPN's All-Decade Offense. All of this talk reminded me of a "situation" that occurred in 2005 between Kreutz and Fred Miller. Here is an excerpt from an article I found:

Kreutz and Miller were having some fun in November 2005, shooting at an FBI firing range, when the fun took a bad turn. After the shooting, they had some drinks and barbeque. What kind of FBI firing range allows men to drink and eat on the property? Good question. Ask someone else. Me, I'm still trying to figure out how Olin Kreutz beat the crap out of Fred Miller, and did it so thoroughly that it was Miller who ended up apologizing afterward.

Be sure to check out the full article... it is a great read.

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well...

all i know was last season I thought he was done. He couldn’t get off the blocks and wasn’t the same player anymore. I remember yelling many a Sundays at him through my TV.

by SoulEater7 on Jun 23, 2009 8:28 PM CDT reply actions

He hasn't been

a great player for a couple years. I’ve never seen a center get so many false start penalties, and never noticed a center getting beat so often. He’s living off reputation imo.

DEJESUS!!!

by tomas21 on Jun 23, 2009 8:59 PM CDT reply actions

Cutler might make him better...

Be nice. Flag comments that you think are offensive. Use the "reply" button. Drink plenty of water. Compliment others. "Rec" comments and posts you like. Don't call people names. If you don't like someone's comment, attack the comment and not the commentor. Learn the difference in your/you're, then/than, to/too. Exercise. Relax. Stretch often. Find good in the world.

by Dane Noble on Jun 23, 2009 9:37 PM CDT up reply actions

many of those false starts are hand movements...

something he’s done his whole career, and IMHO, only started being called in the past couple of years. many seem to believe it’s impossible for a center to draw a FS penalty, but his little hand movements and ball adjustments pre-snap are what get’s him. maybe “illegal procedure” is the right call, i don’t know, but he’s never jumped before the snap… HE CAN’T!!!

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.

by windycity72 on Jun 23, 2009 10:04 PM CDT up reply actions

You are absolutely correct on his entire hand movement getting called more often.

It became a point of emphasis a few year back just because of players like Kreuntz. The non snapping hand must remain motionless for at least one full second before the snap of the ball. I think it was that adjustment that got Olin thrown off in his blocking assignments. Teams began keying into when he would quit his hand movements and started timing the snap. But this has sort of seemed to hurt Olin’s productivity and he has began to “flinch” in his “set” position which does constitute a false start. Hopefully he can continue to improve his adjustments to the new emphasis on the rule.

If you can't laugh at yourself you must not be very funny.

by Just Dave on Jun 23, 2009 10:22 PM CDT up reply actions

Sorry, I always want to add the "n" to Kreutz' name that I hear when people say it. Just poor hearing resulting in bad spelling.

If you can't laugh at yourself you must not be very funny.

by Just Dave on Jun 23, 2009 10:25 PM CDT up reply actions

lmao... that's funny...

at least your eyesight is on point…

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.

by windycity72 on Jun 23, 2009 10:28 PM CDT up reply actions

good call on that, here's the official reading:

After a shift or huddle all offensive players after assuming a set position must
come to an absolute stop. They also must remain stationary in their position without any
movement of their feet, head or arms, or swaying of their body for a period of at least
one second before snap.

and:

Note 2: Non-abrupt movement of head and/or shoulders by offensive players prior to the
snap is legal. Players must come to a stop before ball is snapped. If officials judge the
action of the offensive players to be abrupt, false start foul is to be called.

and:

(a) The snap must start with ball on ground with its long axis horizontal and at right
angles to line, and
(b) The impulse must be given by one quick and continuous motion of hand or hands of
snapper. The ball must actually leave or be taken from his hands during this motion.

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.

by windycity72 on Jun 23, 2009 10:57 PM CDT up reply actions

Quarterbacks make an utter mockery of Note 2 when they consistently head bob/shoulder shrug under center.

Really irritates me too. It’s like a separate set of rules exist for the games most popular position.

If you can't laugh at yourself you must not be very funny.

by Just Dave on Jun 23, 2009 11:21 PM CDT up reply actions

dead on AGAIN!!!

Exception: This does not apply to an offensive player under the center who turns his head
or shoulders (only) provided he receives a hand-to-hand snap. Any obvious attempt by
the quarterback to draw an opponent offside is a false-start penalty.

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.

by windycity72 on Jun 24, 2009 12:51 AM CDT up reply actions

i would like to see no more

fumbled snaps from center. the many and varied rex haters of the world don’t acknowledge the booboos made under griese and orton from the last couple of years. other than that his play has declined a bit but i am still a big fan of his.

by reefermadness3 on Jun 25, 2009 6:18 PM CDT reply actions