The Inside Scoop: Bears Beat Writer Sean Jensen joins WCG for another Live Q/A Session

The Bears are committed to J’Marcus Webb at right tackle. I think that, as much as anything, compels them to start the veteran Roberto Garza. Edwin Williams actually did a nice job (did you guys see that stuff I did from Football Outsiders and Pro Football Focus?). But, he and Webb are both too raw to really process the blitzes teams were throwing at them. Garza is healthier now, after a knee scope, and he’s certainly seen it all.

That should help Webb and shore some things up.

Martz said that he ’didn’t get’ the slot position. So don’t put him in the slot, Martz ! He ruled on the outside and looked like a #1 receiver at the end of last year. Hester and Knox have one TD apiece through half the year. That’s pathetic. Shabba used to average a TD a game.

I have been pounding that drum, over and over again. Yes, I think he should, and I think his time may be coming.

It appears they are going to use him more in short-yardage situations, and I also think he can be an asset on third downs. Beyond that, though, I think Taylor is just a very solid player, through and through. No apparent weakness.

He was always good at executing draws and screens, and he’s very reliable as a pass protector.

This isn’t a knock on Matt Forte, who has done a nice job of getting into the end zone. But, given their investment in Taylor, they need to find ways to get him more involved.

or the next day…..

No.

If the move to LA happens, what does that mean for the NFC North?

One of the reasons I left the Vikings beat is because I questioned their long-term future in Minnesota.

Just kidding, just kidding.

Seriously, though, you have to wonder about the stadium situation. The Vikings have long been fighting an uphill battle to get one, and the lease at the Metrodome expires next year.

Meanwhile, Los Angeles has been taking aggressive steps to get an NFL team. Los Angeles Vikings?

Doesn’t sound too appealing. But neither did the Los Angeles Lakers…

Jay Cutler deserves his share of blame. But, I think Mike Martz needs to do a better job of helping Cutler. To me, that means running the ball more, calling more screens, more draws… anything to keep the pass rushers in check.

The o-line certainly has had their shares of issues, too, but so have the receivers. I don’t care what anyone says: Johnny Knox didn’t help Cutler on at least two picks in the last game. He didn’t finish his route, on the slant, and he didn’t go back for the ball on the pick six. He could have even tried to break up the interception toward the end.

No one, though, is blameless on offense. Plenty of blame to go around for a unit that’s 29th in the NFL.

That jumps the whole thing into a new tab/window.

Thats a pro athlete responding to a smart@$$ reporter…

"We’re only interested in talking to the guys who actually played."

Kind of a D!ck thing to say.

Michael is a good friend, and he never told me that story about Chris Williams, so I’d reserve any comment about it.

My opinion of Chris Williams is this: I don’t think he’s nearly the athlete nor the player the Bears thought when they picked him so high. His athleticism doesn’t jump out at me, the way a player like Bryant McKinnie of the Vikings does. And as a player, I’ve never thought him to be a tough, nasty player, the sort to drive someone into the ground just for the sake of it.

But, players can change and improve, so maybe the light will come on for Williams at some point. But, even if it does, I’m not sure left tackle is where he’s suited to play.

Williams has been a disappointment, and I do think he’s a little too lax, in general. But, he’s an above average athlete, and he could settle in nicely at guard, if he so desires.

I think Briggs is good to go for Sunday, but I don’t think he’s 100 percent.

Bowman probably won’t play this week.

Wright is also good to go, IMO, and I think he will play and some snaps on defense on Sunday.

Garza also is good to go and should start at right guard.

Uh, they tried that… and Clark dropped the ball.

I thought Tommie Harris had his best game against the Redskins. I thought he was disruptive on a couple of plays, so I would take that as encouragement.

Adams and Toeaina have been what you expect: solid players who put forth a lot of effort. We just haven’t seen that many big plays from either.

As I have said all along, for this defense to be really, really special, Tommie Harris has to step up, because he’s that type of athlete.

I was torn on that. For $3 million, I thought it was worth the gamble. But, you have to wonder about how players like Greg Olsen, Devin Hester and Johnny Knox would feel about it…

I’m told they like the way Collins has practice. Yes, he was miserable in his lone start, but they feel Collins is starting to get a better handle of the offense now. Let’s not forget that he joined the party pretty late….

Booooooooooo!

No. No chance. Less than zero, if that were possible…

Yes, he’s put a nice stamp on it.

Better than I expected.

OK, gotta go. It was fun.