Chicago Bears Musical Chairs - Truly Offensive Line Edition

by Timothy Hockemeyer on Mar 10, 2011 9:00 PM CST

Hurry! Hurry! Hurry! Step right this way! Cross the jump and see oddities galore. Watch the Mammoths of the Midway as the dance for your entertainment. But their livelihoods are in peril! They must fight for a seat before the melody ceases! Watch your step! Hurry! Hurry! Hurry! Before you miss the action! One's already lost his seat!

Olin Kreutz: Olin is a free agent this year. Olin is going to retire a Bear. He may not be the guy he once was, but he's still the best player on this line and the leader. And if Midway Jay is the Heart of the offense, and Forte is the strength of the offense, then Olin is the soul of the offense. Mark my words......Olin has a seat.

Edwin Williams: Edwin is a bit of a favorite of mine. Why? This guy doesn't know how to stop. He doesn't quit no matter the adversity. Williams was born addicted to cocaine. Both of his parents were free-base cocaine addicts. He was raised by his mother's parents in Deanwood, a violent suburb in DC. Yet out of this, he forged a way for himself through sports. He was all-everything out of high school, scout team player of the year in his redshirt freshman year at Maryland, was a Wilma Rudolph Award winner (awarded to college athletes who overcome adversity) his junior year, and was All-ACC his senior season in 2009. I don't care what anyone thinks of this kid, I don't believe there is anything he can't succeed at if he wants to. Edwin has a seat and a future.

Herman Johnson: Interesting fact about Herman? At 15 lbs and 14 ounces, he was the largest baby ever born in the State of Louisiana. And he's still large. At 6'7" and 360 lbs, Johnson is a very large man. And therein lies the problem. The former member of the 2007 LSU National Championship team is ginormous! His height is a problem at guard. But he doesn't have the athletic ability to hang at tackle. So where does this guy fit in? I'm thinking that unless he develops some serious lateral movement quickly, he'll be lucky just to make the practice squad. No seat for Hermy.

Roberto Garza: Garza has been a solid guard for the Bears since he was acquired in 2005. He's been largely under-appreciated during his tenure here. But he is also starting to slide. It's hard to tell how much, as the play around him affected how he looked. But I'd hazard a guess that the Hispanic star has a couple of good years left in him. Not great years, but good enough that the Bears can focus on fixing the pieces around him before having to worry about his spot on the line. Roberto has a seat.

Levi Horn: Call me crazy, but this is another kid I think can take a serious jump forward in his second year. He's a big kid (not Herman big, but 6'7 and 327 is nothing to sneeze at) and he's athletic as hell, running a 5.12 40, a 8'3" broad jump and a 5.10 short shuttle at Montana's Pro Day, which is what got him a contract. I get why Tice wanted this kid. And if Mike can work his magic on Levi, the Bears might have an option at tackle. Levi has a seat.

Lance Louis: I know the Bears were sure he would succeed. Unfortunately, he didn't. In fact, he was really bad. And I just don't see the Bears wasting a whole lot more time on him, especially considering the fact that some of these linemen have to go to make way for new blood. To be fair, Louis's performance wasn't all his fault. In fact, he showed some raw skill. But he was thrown into the mix way too fast. I don't know if he can recover from that in this town. Some heads have to roll, so Louis is without a seat.

Frank Omiyale: Omi is never going to win any Pro-Bowl nods. But he was tossed into the mix at LT when Williams blundered his way into injury, and never looked back from there. LT is his most comfortable posiotion, and he was adequate if not even good at times. I don't see him as the future of the Bears at the LT position, but I do see him as quality depth for years to come. Omi has a seat.

Johan Asiata: Johan was considered a favorite for a starting guard position last preseason. Then he just disappeared. He was released, then brought back on the practice squad where he spent the rest of the year. The fact that the Bears brought him back would seem to mean that there is something about him that Tice or Martz really likes, and the fact that he wasn't set up for failure, as Louis was, is probably a good thing for him, as well. Of course, the other possibility is that he was just good at being part of the practice squad/scout team. I'm going to guess that Johan misses the final roster. No seat for him.

J'Marcus Webb: Webb took a lot of criticism last year, and a lot of it was deserved. But there were a couple of things that he did that I really liked. The kid doesn't give up on a play, and I like that. We all made fun of him for his basketball style block, but that was a perfect example of him getting beat and not giving up on the play, as well as thinking quickly on his feet and displaying his athleticism. Another thought is that he was set up for failure much like Louis.....but he stuck with it and held off veteran Kevin Shaffer to keep the spot. And he got better as the year rolled on. Not only do I think Webb has a seat, but I think he'll be the starter at RT when all is said and done for quite a while.

Chris Williams: I saved Chris for last because I honestly can't figure him out. He was drafted injured and the Bears knew that. He also had short arms and the Bears knew that. Oh, and he was knocked for his strength coming out of college. The short arms don't help him at Tackle. The limited strength doesn't help him at guard. And I can't help but to wonder if that back injury might be causing him problems yet in both spots. The more I see of Williams, the more I see a bust. But the Bears won't give up on him just yet. He'll get one more year to prove he was worth that first round pick. So on that alone, he has a seat. Let's hope he gets up off of it and plays like a first rounder.

What all of this is really saying is that I am fairly certain that the Bears will do far less to fix the line than most want and some expect. We'll probably get a first day draft pick and maybe another on the second day or a undrafted FA or two, but I'm not expecting a lot of change or anything by way of free agency in terms of the line.

The dust has settled and the Mammoths of the Midway have reordered their hierarchy. And when all is finished, Johan, Herman and Lance are left to find a seat at a new circus.

And for more on the offensive line, see Sir Lester's fantastic pieces on the line here:

2011 Chicago Bears Roster Turnover: Center

2011 Chicago Bears Roster Turnover: Offensive Guard

2011 Chicago Bears Roster Turnover: Offensive Tackle

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Comments

Herman Johnson doesnt need a seat as he would simply bust that damn thing

He does, however, have a future, as height to me is not that big of a problem, no pun intended.

He reminds me of a younger Davis from the Cowboys, very violent run blocker and his size presents a huge problem for the large D-Lineman found in your typical 3-4 scheme. Fight fire with fire. He has the heart of a champion as well, and to me the bigger and nastier the better on that O-Line.

He is a natural super-sized fit at RG, he and Webb would make a monsterous tandum on the right side of the line.

Jay Cutler is our QB, and I for one am proud of that

by Erik Christopher Duerrwaechter on Mar 10, 2011 9:14 PM CST reply actions

I just think Herman

Is this year’s “Aromashodu” for certain fans. Lots of hype. Lots of disappointment.

in•san•i•ty \in-ˈsa-nə-tē\ noun
1 : The practice of repeating the same action while expecting different results.

by Timothy Hockemeyer on Mar 11, 2011 3:23 AM CST up reply actions

The big differance is that; O-Lineman are not asked to do nearly as much as WRs

We have a great coach who seamingly wanted Johnson in the first place so lets see what Tice can do before we label Johnson as a dissapointment. I think last year was his red-shirt year and will get an opportunity this year to compete for a job.

Jay Cutler is our QB, and I for one am proud of that

by Erik Christopher Duerrwaechter on Mar 11, 2011 5:55 AM CST up reply actions

I think his biggest knock is his weight.... I think I read that the coaching staff told him to lose weight but....

if Tice can work wonders with a 7th rounder from a DII school who knows what he can do with hopefully a leaner Johnson. He’s worth a shot and he may prove to be a solid player. With him I guess it’s a wait and see thing. But I think that the Bears draft 2 lineman in the draft and sign one FA. They need a legit LT and Olin’s replacement at C. The FA they sign will occupy a guard spot and Olin’s replacement will either take the other spot or be a swingman until he’s ready to take over for Olin.

by frenchbears113 on Mar 11, 2011 10:02 AM CST up reply actions

I don't believe that weight is that much of an issue

But you are correct as coaches have asked him to drop a few pounds. I have a hunch Jerry will be signing a blue chipped guard ( Carl Nicks ) and will draft a LT sometime in the earlier rounds, depending who is there we may see one as early as round one and as late as round 3.

I am wondering if Edwin Williams is the future at Center as he did get a little experiance at guard and played rather well, and if Jerry owes up to his obligations and brings in a pair of Guards to surround him, then he might excel as a Center.

I still say Herman Johnson deserves a chance as he was a monster that played like Godzilla in college (aka king of monsters) so I have some confidence in his potential.

Jay Cutler is our QB, and I for one am proud of that

by Erik Christopher Duerrwaechter on Mar 11, 2011 3:50 PM CST up reply actions

well the heavier you are the harder it is to shift around with ease thus making it harder to deal with speed rushers....

But his playing style and size are why I think he should be given a chance. I know he’s taller than a normal guard but I would think that running into him is like running into a brick wall with legs. Also I agree about signing at least 1 FA OG because Garza has a couple of solid years left in him so the RG spot isn’t as pressing as the LG. But I do think that Olin’s replacement should be drafted. If a guy like Moffitt, Kirkpatrick, Wisniewski or hell even Marcus Cannon (I know he’s not a C) is around in the later rounds I think they would be better options than Williams at center or if Edwin is already considered to be Olin’s replacement, then the worst those other guys can be is Garza’s replacement at RG.

by frenchbears113 on Mar 11, 2011 4:14 PM CST up reply actions

Herman Johnson is somehow nimble for a guy his size

Ive been told his target weight is somewhere between 345-335 pounds, and he is a very hard worker so I only have praises to say about him

And I like your philosophy in that we should draft a G/C sometime in the draft to learn both as if Edwin Williams is the future then they would simply compete at RG, that is if Herman Johnson isnt there already.

Jay Cutler is our QB, and I for one am proud of that

by Erik Christopher Duerrwaechter on Mar 11, 2011 9:44 PM CST up reply actions

Tim...stop yelling so much!

I think if C-dub has a bad camp he’ll be gone. I venture to say the Bears will draft two offensive linemen in April, so that would mean a roster spot would not be available based on who you think is staying. Another player would need to be cut with two additions. They don’t need an overhaul, but a renovation.

Nice, short post.

"Our ideas held no water but we used them like a dam" - Modest Mouse

by propheteer on Mar 10, 2011 10:21 PM CST reply actions

LOL...

I would agree on the two linemen thing, except that the Bears don’t have their 7th round pick any more….you know, the Linemen Pick. ;)

Seriously, though. The idea of the Bears taking two linemen is nice. I also could see them keeping 9 linemen on the roster (they have before), not to mention that the Bears like to redshirt rookies, so that’s a possibility, as well.

As far as the draft, the Bears have 6 picks, and unless there is some trading going on, I’m betting on o-line, DT, corner, WR, LB and DE as your 6 picks. one each. But a second linemen would be the first change I could see,

in•san•i•ty \in-ˈsa-nə-tē\ noun
1 : The practice of repeating the same action while expecting different results.

by Timothy Hockemeyer on Mar 11, 2011 3:22 AM CST up reply actions

It's crazy to think

there will be good DTs available in the second round. I still have a hard time believing there will be a good OT left when the Bears pick, but I guess teams’ needs are a bit different this year.

"Our ideas held no water but we used them like a dam" - Modest Mouse

by propheteer on Mar 12, 2011 12:11 AM CST up reply actions

I read somewhere that it’s possibly because the 3-technique DT isn’t much of a fit for 3-4 teams (not stout enough to eat up space, not mobile enough to take on an OLB role).

Acreman20: 127 hours is pretty decent.
awfullyquiet: How long is that movie?
Acreman20: 93 minutes.

by Spongie on Mar 12, 2011 12:51 AM CST up reply actions

Yeah

but there are 19 4-3 defenses in the league now after Denver and another team (?) are going back.

"Our ideas held no water but we used them like a dam" - Modest Mouse

by propheteer on Mar 13, 2011 1:54 PM CDT up reply actions

Help the Man out Please!

Tice has shown this skills and talents as one of the premiere Offensive Line Coaches by taking mediocre and marginal talent and making it better.
How about he gets some Good Linemen that he can make Great!
Enough of these annual band-aids and cast-offs from the slag heap,
Help the Man out Please!

pbanachi

by pbanachi on Mar 11, 2011 5:18 AM CST reply actions

good stuff

Horn is an intriguing prospect, and I think Asiata played in the CFL last year hopefully he got some playing time and was able to fine tune his technique.

Williams better be working his ass off right now getting ready to start somewhere. He needs to get stronger.

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 Mar 11, 2011 9:22 AM CST reply actions

Chris Williams

I was never enamored with the Chris Williams pick (I wanted Sam Baker of USC) and was a bit ticked off several years ago when I was watching the draft and the “Greasy-haired One” Mel Kiper leaked the idea that he was damaged goods during the selection.

On the positive side, I want to say that the ceiling is still very high for Williams. He’ll get all the opportunities in the world to start and make an impact in 2011, he’ll be coached by one of the better OL coaches in the NFL this offseason, and he’s entering his second season in the Martz offense/blocking scheme. Those are all positives.

However, Williams doesn’t seem to have that “chip on his shoulder” that Tice talks about and desires in OL. The better lineman in the league are nasty, rough and tough blockers who are fired up and take that aggression out on the opposing lineman.

Williams never gives me that impression.

He just seems quiet, reserved and timid about his tasks at hand. Good OTs are Mentally tough— as well as physically tough— and seek to improve with each performance. I just don’t get that feel from Williams after 3 years.

I really hope taht another year under the intense Mike Tice gets him going.

Semper Fi

by ChicagoMarine on Mar 11, 2011 10:19 AM CST reply actions

What happened to Lance Louis?

I really thought he would’ve been the future at LG and he just flamed out. I’m curious to see what Edwin WIlliams can bring to the table.

Chris Williams will most likely be back on the roster, due entirely to his draft status. I see him placed at LG on a VERY short leash. If he disappoints in camp or has any major injuries, then he’ll rot on the bench and will probably be released mid-season. I like him, and I hope he improves, but this is Year Three and we need results.

by NorthSideBearsFan on Mar 11, 2011 11:31 AM CST reply actions

I meant Year Four (2008-2011). Me can add.

by NorthSideBearsFan on Mar 11, 2011 11:33 AM CST up reply actions

We need more turnover than we'll get

Probably not quite time to give up on Chris Williams but we probably should, especially if he doesn’t look any better in the camp/preseason. Louis and Herman have promising size but not much else. They both need a lot of work before they can see the field. Hopefully a couple of draft picks come in and push out some of the mediocre guys (Williams, Omyiale)

Jay Cutler is still my quarterback.

by Sam Householder on Mar 11, 2011 1:30 PM CST reply actions