NightLink: Offensive Foundation- Building One For the "Ages"

by Dane Noble on Jul 16, 2009 5:00 PM CDT

Throughout the history of the Chicago Bears, one thing that has been a staple is the defense. When people think of the Bears, that's typically what comes to mind. Our offense is not something that has ever been considered to be prolific, and has never really been one to blow people away.

Fast forward to 2009, and it looks like pieces are being put in place to build an offense that could potentially be outstanding for many years to come. We don't have all the pieces yet, but we certainly are getting there... and getting there in a hurry. Let's take a look at what we have now, and where we need to go to get to an "elite" state.

Jay Cutler: 26 years old

Matt Forte: 23

Devin Hester: 26

Chris Williams: 23

Greg Olsen: 24

Earl Bennett: 22

Johnny Knox: 23

Juaquin Iglesias: 21

Frank Omiyale: 26

Josh Beekman: 26

Kevin Shaffer: 29

If you look at that list of offensive youth, some of those players might not be All Pro caliber talent for the Bears, but some of them are. We can hope that out of the 4 wide receivers mentioned, 1 or 2 of them might end up (with the help of Cutler) being prolific WRs. Same can be said for the offensive linemen.

Certainly, we will need to eventually replace Olin Kreutz, Roberto Garza, Orlando Pace, and Desmond Clark. But the pieces are coming together. Out of those 11 players listed, the average age is just under 24 years, 6 months. Look around the league, and you will se that is incredibly young, especially considering that many of those guys are either current starters, or hopeful future starters.

Hopefully, the trend will continue. Cutler will make our young WRs good, and Jerry Angelo has proven that he can go out and acquire good young talent.

Will every player listed pan out? Maybe not. But we might be witnessing an Offensive Youth movement in Chicago that has never been seen before.

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Comments

Money

I hope so…but we need to realize that McCheapskies got Cutler for less than what we were going to pay Orton, plus not having to pay 2 first round draft picks, they must be in hog heaven. All we can do is cry foul if they ruin this op. to be a truly special team. But for now, it sure is gonna be fun to watch. GO FRIGGIN’ BEARS!

by WeenedOnGin on Jul 16, 2009 5:20 PM CDT reply actions

He is due 12 million either next year or the year after.

They’d better be looking at a long term deal soon.

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

by Just Dave on Jul 16, 2009 5:54 PM CDT up reply actions

Yeah!

Now let’s hope the Bears eventually have a change in offensive philosophy if Turner doesn’t get the job done.

"A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject." -Sir Winston Churchill

by propheteer on Jul 16, 2009 5:34 PM CDT reply actions

Whoopie

sounds like a powerhouse-ish. After next year we might be able to add valuable pieces with our own 1st round picks

I Have Spoken.

by The_Fan on Jul 16, 2009 5:42 PM CDT reply actions

Cutler forte olsen hester and shaffer assuming there all pretty much proven i know hester isn’t but he hasn’t had a good QB to throw to him deep.Forte in my eyes he is proven he didn’t show nay signs of a rookie the bears have been saying that since day 1.Now i think the most important unproven player is Chris Williams.If he can possibly be the 2nd best tackle on this team are offensive should be a 9 out of 10 offense for the next 6-7 years regardless who is at WR pos …..

by bears rock on Jul 16, 2009 10:56 PM CDT reply actions

wow...

seeing that list with those ages looks real good…

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Jul 16, 2009 10:58 PM CDT reply actions

Definitely

And as far as the receivers, I’d settle for one being good and one being above average. Anything beyond that is a bonus as far as I’m concerned. Nice write up, GB.

"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."
- John McKay

by JerBear50 on Jul 17, 2009 2:01 AM CDT up reply actions

A Youth Movement on Offense

Very nice to see. It has happened time and again on defense but it always seemed like the offense stayed the same mix of young and old and usually it was old at QB. Hopefully this works out for us for the immediate future.

by Sam Householder on Jul 16, 2009 11:21 PM CDT reply actions

The Bears have made a lot of progress through the draft and free agency over the past 2 years

In next year’s draft, they will need to go back to work on the offensive and defensive lines.

by JimmyMack on Jul 17, 2009 12:01 AM CDT reply actions

We have the QB, and we have the RB

in my opinion, the O-line is the most important thing from here forward. And LT is the most crucial positions of the line. Pace is a stop gap, so hopefully Williams will groom into a solid LT. Center is the second most important, and Kruetz is aging.

"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)

Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)
.

by SackMan on Jul 17, 2009 1:37 AM CDT reply actions

Awesome post!

Rideau’s a name not mentioned. His measurables are similar to Brandon Marshall. I think Cutler may take a liking to that. Plus, he should know the playbook much better than Knox and Iglesias.
Also replacing Desmond Clark shouldn’t be tough. IMO, we already have his replacement in Kellen Davis or M. Gaines.
And yes, we will need to work on the O-line sooner than later.

by rdent4hof on Jul 17, 2009 9:50 AM CDT reply actions

about 40%

of that list has yet to actually prove anything on the field.

My guess is if you just take the last 2 draft classes and assume everyone pans out you’d get a lot of teams with “intriguing young cores”

Hopefully we’ve made the right draft choices and this WILL be an offensive core to build around but I think we’re being a bit too optimistic in assuming guys will pan out

by DartmouthCubsFan on Jul 17, 2009 1:56 PM CDT reply actions