Positional Battles: Offensive Line

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Sep 4, 2009 11:00 AM CDT

Rosters have to be down to 53 by tomorrow. Last nights game probably didn't do much to sway the coaching staff one way or the other. The swaying was mostly done during the off-season when Kevin Shaffer, Frank Omiyale, and Orlando Pace were added as free agents. These three will all be on the roster along with Olin Kreutz, Roberto Garza, Josh Beekman, and Chris Williams. No question about it.

Last year the Bears opened up with eight offensive linemen, including the injured Chris Williams, so taking more than eight isn't gonna happen. The above mentioned seven will be joined by only one other big fella. My guess is after the jump!

I guess I should eliminate some from consideration to make this easier... Center Donovan Raoila will get the axe, because both Beekman and Garza could back up at center, and Beekman looks to be the future at that position. Johan Asiata (I'll admit I never even heard of this guy til I looked at the roster) is a goner. Lance Louis, as much as I like his potential, just isn't ready yet. I'd like him on the practice squad. Which leave us with Dan Buenning and Cody Balogh. And after some deep thinking...

I can't see Balogh making the roster, and Buenning is more versatile. He's listed at guard, but he's played right tackle in the past, and could play center in a pinch.

Actually this was pretty cut and dry. Barring an injury the Bears ride with those eight.

Since there isn't much debate for a poll I'll take it in a different direction.

Poll

Will the Bears have an offensive lineman elected to play in the Pro Bowl?

Yes

202 votes

No

104 votes

Pro Bowl? Our O-Line will be prepping for the Super Bowl that week!

176 votes

482 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Besides the competition

between Beekman and Omiyale, Are offensive line has been set for a while. Looks like as good of an O-line as we have had for a while.

by Fridge72 on Sep 4, 2009 11:54 AM CDT reply actions

pace

Pace got beat a couple of times last time out, so I hope he is a lot better than he looked.

"Chance favors the prepared mind." - Pasteur

by Maelvampyre on Sep 4, 2009 12:42 PM CDT reply actions

he got beat

but Cutler wasn’t sacked… Elvis Dumervil is really quick off the edge, in a regular seson game the Bears would either chip with a TE or back or have a guard fan out to pick him up. And ina real game the Bears might have pounded the run a bit more to take advantage of Pace’s mammoth size advantage…

I’m not that concerned, not if Green Bay is beating him, I’d be a little more worried

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Sep 4, 2009 12:50 PM CDT up reply actions

everyone gets beat.

Lucky Cutler has pretty good pocket presence. I can’t wait to see him against Allen that should be a battle.

I have seen a QB and it was good.

by SoulEater7 on Sep 4, 2009 1:23 PM CDT up reply actions

Pace himself said he cant bend as well as he used to at the waist....

so that means he’ll have problems with shorter blitzers on that side… Dumervil is probably the shortest DE/OLB in the league at 5’11"… when you’re 6’7" like Pace… its a problem… unfortunately… the reigning defensive MVP we’re playing in Week 2 is also only 6’ tall…

by firebirdsix7 on Sep 4, 2009 10:06 PM CDT up reply actions