2011 Chicago Bears Roster Turnover: Offensive Guard

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Feb 4, 2011 11:07 AM CST in Roster Analysis

In this ongoing series I'll be taking a position by position look at the potential 2011 Chicago Bears roster. Every season each team will need to deal with some roster turnover due to injuries, age, and contract status. In some cases teams need a serious influx of talent at a position. The Bears offensive line is one such position. I looked at tackle earlier yesterday, and next up is offensive guard.

Roberto Garza - signed through 2011 - Garza is a solid pro. He had 5 starts on the left side, 11 on the right, and he can also play center. He should be back in Chicago next year manning the right guard position.

Pro Football Focus had Garza way down as their 73rd rated guard. For perspective, Bears fans dream signing Logan Mankins was at #4. Garza had two really bad games according to PFF that drug his overall grade down. His overall -14.6 took a hit with a -5.4 in week 3 against the Packers, and another -5.4 in week 9 against the Bills. His second shot at Green Bay resulted in his best game +3.0, and he graded out favorably in both playoff games too

Chris Williams - signed through 2012 - I think a return to tackle may be in Williams future. His shift to left guard was more due to the Bears not wanting to have the line undergo multiple position shifts during the season than anything else. The line was stabilized the second half of the season, but I'm not sure how content the Bears are with Williams staying at G.

PFF had him rated higher than Garza at 69. Overall he had 11 starts at LG and 2 at LT, he gave up 4 QB pressures, 2 QB hits, and 1 sack in that week 1 start. What happened to the Chris Williams that finished up the '09 season with 7 straight good games according to PFF?

Lance Louis - signed through 2012 - Louis caught the eye of Bears o-line coach Mike Tice early and started the first 4 games on the year. PFF had him with a negative grade in 3 of those games, which might be a reason he was benched. In his defense, guard is still a relatively new position for the converted TE, and he should be in the mix for a guard sport next year.

Johan Asiata - signed a reserve/future contract - Tice loved this kids attitude in camp, but he couldn't get it done physically. He needs a good camp to stcik around in a reserve role next year.

2011 OUTLOOK - Free agent Mankins will be a top priority for a more than a few teams. It looks like he won't be returning to New England and will go play for the highest bidder. Will the Bears pay a guard left tackle money to improve their line? I think they should do what ever it takes to improve the guys that are protecting the franchise player. Carl Nicks from New Orleans may be a better option than Mankins. PFF had him rated the top guard in the league last year.

The Bears should target an interior lineman in the draft, preferably a guy that can play center as well as guard. I'd be surprised if there isn't some competition at guard next season for the Bears.

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Ouch!

Tissue paper thin here!

pbanachi

by pbanachi on Feb 3, 2011 11:41 PM CST reply actions

Nicks will probably cost Makins type money

Devin Hester. 14 Koff/Preturn TDs in 5 seasons.

by suckmyditka on Feb 4, 2011 12:01 AM CST reply actions

Naw!

Instead of 8 Mil we could probably get him for 7.5 … LOL!!

pbanachi

by pbanachi on Feb 4, 2011 12:36 AM CST up reply actions

Roight

Devin Hester. 14 Koff/Preturn TDs in 5 seasons.

by suckmyditka on Feb 4, 2011 1:24 AM CST up reply actions

Logan

Free agent Mankins will be a top priority for a more than a few teams. It looks like he won’t be returning to New England and will go play for the highest bidder.

It was already rumored by PFT that he’ll be tagged by the Pats. For some reason I thought they weren’t able to slap the franchise tag on him. I guess there’s a dispute on whether they’re available or not.

"The problem isn't that people aren't smart, it's that some folks have an attention span of about seven days. Look at the broader picture and you'll always be smarter." - Bill Barnwell of F.O. on why the media picks playoff winners on Monday.

by propheteer on Feb 4, 2011 8:08 AM CST reply actions

I read last week that he didn't want to return to NE

And NE usually dosen’t deal with malcontents… they fought with him all offseason and he sat out a bunch of games last year, maybe Belicheck is sick of it

If you go in the bathroom, turn off the lights, and say "Da Coach" 5 times while facing the mirror... Ditka will appear and slap the wussy right out of you.

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Feb 4, 2011 9:36 AM CST up reply actions

He can be franchised though, right?

I though Mankins was still eligible to be franchised as long as the new CBA/FA rules continued to implement the tag. Seems like they may tag him and trade him for picks so they don’t lose him for just a supplemental pick.

If its free, take two.

by T.J. Shouse on Feb 4, 2011 10:20 AM CST up reply actions

I think he can

but even if they franchise him he might hold out

If you go in the bathroom, turn off the lights, and say "Da Coach" 5 times while facing the mirror... Ditka will appear and slap the wussy right out of you.

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Feb 4, 2011 10:25 AM CST up reply actions

Can they slap the franchise tag then trade him?

by TheMan1 on Feb 4, 2011 1:20 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

not sure the rules with the labor issues going on now

If you go in the bathroom, turn off the lights, and say "Da Coach" 5 times while facing the mirror... Ditka will appear and slap the wussy right out of you.

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Feb 4, 2011 1:30 PM CST up reply actions

If teams use the franchise tag before an new CBA is agreed upon,

the union will file an injunction against the league.

by Dane Noble on Feb 4, 2011 1:37 PM CST up reply actions

They can sure as heck

file my injunction. That’s what I’m sayin’

If you can't laugh at yourself you must not be very funny.
I remain a pessimistically hopeful Bears fan.

by Just Dave on Feb 4, 2011 1:39 PM CST up reply actions

So

it sounds like PFT is just speculating on whether teams will chance on an adverse situation if they indeed tag a player.

by propheteer on Feb 4, 2011 9:36 PM CST up reply actions

Maybe best available

would be the Bears approach in terms of OT or OG? Then that allows for Williams to either move back to his natural position or back to guard. I ask the question because which position is better for Williams? The question the Bears need to ask 1st is where Williams is the best choice & draft accordingly. Then possibly draft for center/OG in 2nd-3rd round? I don’t think FA is the route to go for O-line but that’s my 2 cents.

My draft priority is OT/OG-best available 1st round. Then WR in 2nd round. Toss up between DT/O-line/DB for round 3.

The BIG question for me is should Chicago use 1st 3 rounds to get 2 O-linemen? Or do you think they’re set drafting one?

It's 106 miles to Chicago, we have a full tank of gas, 1/2 pack of cigarettes...it's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses.

by lastof12 on Feb 4, 2011 10:02 AM CST reply actions

I'd like 2 offensive lineman in the 1st 3 rounds

but I think it depends on how the draft falls… the Bears will take the highest player on their board

If you go in the bathroom, turn off the lights, and say "Da Coach" 5 times while facing the mirror... Ditka will appear and slap the wussy right out of you.

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Feb 4, 2011 10:14 AM CST up reply actions

So...

We’ll draft D-Line first, and draft 2 O-linemen in the LAST 3 rounds. Jerry loves him some D-Line.

If its free, take two.

by T.J. Shouse on Feb 4, 2011 10:18 AM CST up reply actions

It might not be that bad...

If the O-Line takes a step forward, reduces the sack total from the 50’s to the 30’s… and the WR’s go from being young noobs to a somewhat respectable and consistent core…

DT might be our best upgrade depending on the quality of the offseason from those two groups…

Five foot three seems to thrive on his misery...

by awfullyquiet on Feb 4, 2011 10:25 AM CST up reply actions

I'm with you.

I feel the line is the key to start the draft. Thus, eliminating the draft that’s knocking Cutler on his bum. ;)

It's 106 miles to Chicago, we have a full tank of gas, 1/2 pack of cigarettes...it's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses.

by lastof12 on Feb 4, 2011 2:06 PM CST up reply actions

2 interior linemen needed

Garza is the only one of our interior O-linemen that should be brought back. He is just OK, but the other guys are serious liabilities.

Kreutz is about 5 years past prime, and just doesn’t get any push for our interior running game. C Williams is not a guard. He did improve at the position, but he still gets no push. Williams deserves another shot at LT – if he can’t cut it at LT then we need to dump him.

I would use our 2nd and 3rd picks on Guards/Centers. This whole not being able to run up the middle thing sucks!

by MakeHalasProud on Feb 4, 2011 12:18 PM CST reply actions

Kruetz was the best lineman on the team last season

If you go in the bathroom, turn off the lights, and say "Da Coach" 5 times while facing the mirror... Ditka will appear and slap the wussy right out of you.

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Feb 4, 2011 1:07 PM CST up reply actions

that's not saying much

he is also the oldest lineman on the team.

at some point we need to beef-up our interior line.

by MakeHalasProud on Feb 4, 2011 1:31 PM CST up reply actions

Honestly i'd prefer .....

….. Davin Joseph or Carl Nicks over Mankins for one large reason ….. MONEY ! Mankins is gonna want crazy dollars whereas Nicks & Joseph will want decent money . Sign either one of them and either a WR or a CB and we’re good to go .

" Everyone has a plan 'till they get punched in the mouth. " ~
Mike Tyson

by MidWayMonster54 on Feb 4, 2011 12:23 PM CST reply actions

It sucks to spend the money on FA's because of poor drafts, but in this case I think we have to..

I vote we sign as near of a “can’t-miss top10% in the league” free agent as we can find for under $8 million (HOW much did we give Chester Taylor again?) and draft interior OL with one of our top 2 picks, if not 2 of the top 4. Yeah, we need help elsehwere, but not as much as here.

by DisCUBbobulated on Feb 4, 2011 1:03 PM CST reply actions

Feels good to be back and to see that the real deal Holyfield Bears fans have ushered the idiot meatheads off this sacred site...

anyway I say

1st round- Best available OT and hopefully it’s Costanzo
2nd round- Hopefully OG Marcus Cannon or even Wisniewski at C
3rd round- WR
4th round- DT
5th round- C/OG
6th round- any kind of body
7th round- ditto

And use FA to sign a guard and go after Jonathan Joseph at CB.

by frenchbears113 on Feb 4, 2011 2:41 PM CST reply actions