Which Bears O-Lineman Holds the Key to Our Success?
by T.J. Shouse on Aug 18, 2011 3:00 PM CDT
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As we head into probably our most competitive preseason game against the Giants, who I think had a few sacks against us last year, lets look at our offensive lineman and decide which holds the key to our success this year. Pay the troll toll and enter.
Obviously there's a perception out there that our offensive line is well, offensive, and the weak point of our team. The group collectively holds the key to our success since our defense is still solid, and our position players on offense are a deep group at both wideout and running back. So the question is: which offensive lineman is most needed to play at their highest level? If the rest are adequate to subpar, which guy playing at his best is going to help our offense be successful? Our candidates:
J'Marcus Webb- Currently slated as the starting left tackle, he was abused by Merriman last week for two sacks and admitted he didn't match Merriman's intensity (apparently Webb thought preseason was like a friendly game of flag football). If there's some line changes, he could end up as the right tackle, but at LT he'll be going against most teams' best defensive pass rusher.
Chris Williams - Our starting left guard (I originally put a "t" at the end of Chris cus thats what I yell when I see him "block") holds a tenuous grip on his starting spot, but if he proves to be not up to the challenge, things get weird on the line with up to three possible starting positions changing. A former first-round tackle of the future, Williams may be looking at his last chance to prove he can start for a Mike Tice line.
Roberto Garza - Our incumbent starting center/returning starting guard needs to play at a high level at two positions in part because of the questions surrounding the next two guys on the list. Arguably the most consistent player we have on the line, he has the toughest job by replacing Olin Kreutz and becoming the defacto leader of a young line.
Chris Spencer - A free agent pickup from Seattle with great starting experience but questionable starting ability. He was replaced in Seattle by Max Unger, a younger and nastier lineman, but if gets up to speed on the offense quickly, we could see him supplant Garza at the starting center spot and allow Garza to slide to either guard position.
Lance Louis- Our current starting right guard. One of the young guys Angelo is referencing when talking about "letting the young guys play" and one of his reasons for not pursuing a starting caliber guard in free agency. Louis started for part of last season before being benched, and could be replaced by Garza if Spencer takes over the center position.
Gabe Carimi - Our starting right tackle is what Christ Williams was supposed to be: the present and future stud of our offensive line. A left tackle at Wisconsin, he was projected more as a right tackle prospect, and is coming off of a solid first preseason game. May flip with Webb if J'Marcus is indicted for manslaughter for the number of hits he allows to Cutler's head.
Frank Omiyale- Angelo's free agent headstratcher from a few years ago is the swing tackle off the bench, but hopefully injuries/ineffectiveness don't force O'le into extended action this season.
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Orlando Pace
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I picked Garza
Seems to me if he is now the defacto leader of the O line, that makes him the holder of the keys. Granted everyone has to perform, and it depends how you define a leader. In this case a leader will find a way to make everyone better.
"Losers always whine about their best. Winners go home and f**k the prom queen."
Both sacks surrendered to Merriman were not Webb's fault
He was responsible for the first sack (where he got nailed for a holding penalty too) but the second “Lights Out” sack was clearly on either Garza or Louis.
I’m going to say that whomever is our Center holds the key to our O-Line’s success. Both Garza and/or Spencer have to be the leader for the O-Line.
Jay Cutler is our QB, and I for one am proud of that
by Erik Christopher Duerrwaechter on Aug 18, 2011 3:33 PM CDT reply actions
Merriman was busted bringing steroids into US from Canada.
No wonder he was a beast with intensity…
LINK
According to a reliable source close to the situation, Buffalo Bills linebacker Shawne Merriman was caught carrying steroids near the United States border late Thursday night, July 28 on the eve of Bills’ training camp.
According to the source, while trying to cross Canada back into the United States, Merriman was detained by United States Customs shortly after 2:00am. There, the source tells me steroids were found in his possession. He was not arrested and booked because from what I’m told, simply being in the possession of the substance is not technically illegal.
I’m certainly no legal analyst or NFL league rules expert, and I don’t know what, if any ramifications simply being caught in possession of a steroid substance will carry. I can’t and won’t speculate if Merriman has actually taken steroids anytime recently, but my source says he was caught with them in his possession.
I have to reiterate that doesn’t mean Merriman has taken steroids recently or done anything illegal.
by Mike Mueller on Aug 18, 2011 3:56 PM CDT up reply actions
Oh wow, if this doesn't do him in, then I don't know what will
Explains why he was doing so good against the Bears, right? Right!? Just want some hope for our OLine :(
by Midway Bully on Aug 18, 2011 5:08 PM CDT up reply actions
Would explain
why merriman had “regular season intensity” I guess….
The next time you decide to stab me in the back, have the guts to do it to my face....
- Calab Hanie to mike martz
by CloudyFuture on Aug 18, 2011 5:46 PM CDT up reply actions
Webb stopped moving hsi feet on the sack
and Merriman got under then around him
When ever Mike Ditka boards an aircraft the aircraft changes it's call sign to Bear Force One.
by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Aug 18, 2011 3:58 PM CDT up reply actions
Which was the first "Lights Out" sack
Second one was an inside blitz with Merriman charging the A gap.
Jay Cutler is our QB, and I for one am proud of that
by Erik Christopher Duerrwaechter on Aug 18, 2011 5:15 PM CDT up reply actions
Yeah the
second sack was Garza getting steam rolled…..
The next time you decide to stab me in the back, have the guts to do it to my face....
- Calab Hanie to mike martz
by CloudyFuture on Aug 18, 2011 5:43 PM CDT up reply actions
This doesn't change the fact ....
…. that he’s a TERRIBLE pass-blocker and will get Cutler concussed at some point. BTW – Forte’s pass-blocking is nowhere near the level of Marion Barber’s. That could be an interesting development.
from a technical standpoint ...
What would you like to see Webb work on?
When ever Mike Ditka boards an aircraft the aircraft changes it's call sign to Bear Force One.
by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Aug 19, 2011 1:53 PM CDT up reply actions
o-line
I think it’s Gabe Carimi. 1st Rd Pick at a position definitely needed. Also voted for him because I think eventually he will move over to LT and be the one protecting Cutler’s blindside. Not ready to give up on Webb as LT, just don’t think it’s the right spot for him.
That’s exactly how I feel
Fix the Offensive Line
by touchdown bears on Aug 18, 2011 6:11 PM CDT up reply actions
Carimi will be good.
No question there. It’s got to be Webb – he’s protecting Cutler’s blind-side and is completely inept at pass-blocking. He cannot deal with speed-rushers.
Did anyone else notice?
The Bears have cut/waived two players in the past three days. They were both UFA’s(WR Travis Cobb, OT Matt Lamphear), but you usually don’t cut people until you have to, which would be on August 30th when they have to go from 90 to 75. I think they are making room in anticipation of signing someone.
We waived someone for Todd Collins...
so… yes we do?
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by Steven Schweickert on Aug 18, 2011 4:52 PM CDT up reply actions
If Spencer works hard he'll likely be the starting Center Week 1
The tackles are set and our LG is set.
RG – Louis or Garza?
Early in free agency the Bears were ready to resign Olin and replace Garza with Colon at RG. Are the the Bears ready to replace Garza again?
Tice loves him some Lance Louis.
by O-Line Wins Games on Aug 18, 2011 4:38 PM CDT reply actions
I think the plan was to slide Garza inside at Center then sign Colon to be the new RG
Or to simply have Garza be a swing-guy for Center and Guard.
As for Lance Louis, Tice feels he is an ideal RG for him with his good size (6’3" 320 pounds) and nasty attitude. In fact, Tice feels Louis’s problem is being “too” aggressive in his pass sets, over-extending where defenders can simply swim under him and defeat Louis. This could explain why Louis looks pretty solid in the running game yet so terrible at pass pro.
Jay Cutler is our QB, and I for one am proud of that
by Erik Christopher Duerrwaechter on Aug 18, 2011 5:20 PM CDT up reply actions
It's actually the opposite
Tice thinks Louis is an “elite pass-protector” and is “doing better in the run game.”
by O-Line Wins Games on Aug 18, 2011 5:59 PM CDT up reply actions
Dude, have you seen Spencer play?
Check out Our Boy Roy’s 20 minute breakdown. He’s really very bad.
maybe on a better coach
with a better team he won’t be as bad…he has talent, he just needs it to click
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It was a breakdown of maybe six plays in one game
I don’t consider that an accurate sample size for determining a player’s ability.
"I must have made him mad. I stole his cheeseburger or something." - Olin Kreutz
by badsamaritan on Aug 19, 2011 7:21 PM CDT up reply actions
Voted JWebb
because who else will they put at LT should he falter…..Tice for what ever reason will not move Carimi to the left side and that puts Omiyale back at the LT spot….
The next time you decide to stab me in the back, have the guts to do it to my face....
- Calab Hanie to mike martz
thanks alot for the troll toll
i didnt even get to the article, i just spent an hour youtubing Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia clips.. lol
Had to vote for Webb
I went that way but, whoever is starting at LT is the most important piece this year on the O-Line. As much as I love ole number 57 I realize that unless the LT can keep the top rushers in the league from killing Culter it doesn’t matter how “mediocre” everyone else is.
It is Webb
He is at the key position, and has no readily identifiable quality backup. Every other position has a potential backup.
No brainer
Whoever is playing LT is the most important position.
“You’ve to got to pay the troll toll if you want to get into the boy’s hole.” Classic sunny…
"All we needed was a ladder, some tennis balls and a timer. My uncle is old-school." - Henry Melton
I see Kreutz wasn't mentioned ...
Oh that’s right, the Bears front office thought 500K was a bridge too far for a multi-billion-dollar organization …
More accurately, $4.5M was a couple of million too far
and Kreutz was too stupid to take the $4M that was offered, shrewdly signing for half as much with New Olreans.
I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren
by lookingdeadred on Aug 19, 2011 8:10 AM CDT up reply actions
Where is the "other" vote
I think Spencer is going to start, Garza is going to take Loius’ spot, and Chris Williams is not good enough to be an NFL player. This leaves Edwin WIlliams to come in at guard and that is my vote.
Webb is the most important position on the line
If we can’t lock down the left tackle spot, then we’ll have to do what we did last year: mix in plenty of running places, call pass plays with short drops & get rid of the ball quicker.
I picked Chris Spencer
if he can pick up the offense and perform in the starting center spot it would make our whole line better
last year with webb being on the right side with Garza it greatly improved his blocking, he had that veteran leadership to help him along. Maybe the line should be:
Lt: Camiri- so far doesnt need much help from a veteran being that he had Lance Louis beside him last game
LG: Williams- Will benefit from Spencers experience
C: Spencer- has the experience to help Chris williams settle down
RG: Garza- wont have to play daddy to both williams and louis like he did in the previous starting line up can focus solely on webb
RT: Webb- would be more solid with veteran leadership of Garza vs Williams while still getting experience as well as help with blocking from te’s since they wont run many routes
Louis- gets more time to develop technique
Omiyale- can step in if Webb isnt working out at right tackle
I respect your OPINION but i also value the FACTS, To save time, lets just ASSume IM NEVER WRONG
by Tommy Ohyeah Mcduffie on Aug 19, 2011 8:06 AM CDT reply actions
Problem is that Mike Tice is virtually uninterested in giving Carimi a shot at LT
by frenchbears113 on Aug 19, 2011 8:09 AM CDT up reply actions
i know even though Carimi is the best tackle we have but
thats the problem he says its no competition on the line so the “starters” are treating it like im a starter so im good…
If Tice is serious about this being his line unless someone falters(cause apparently the line did great saturday) then Jay probably wont make the bye week
Sad part is with the decisions they made last year and this year with the o- line im starting to think Tice believes he is an O- line God, but i disagree he is too stubborn and the system Martz runs is too complex for stubborness…
Prime example why bring in a center who worked in a west coast offense to bring them to a system that passing dominates? Didnt Tice know this? Does he have a say in who was drafted/signed or traded for? Alot of things came to my mind as i read what he has to say…
I respect your OPINION but i also value the FACTS, To save time, lets just ASSume IM NEVER WRONG
by Tommy Ohyeah Mcduffie on Aug 19, 2011 10:10 AM CDT up reply actions
Clearly Webb
I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren
Whoever holds down the LG spot.
I can live with the average performance out of Spencer and Garza, and firmly believe those two will perform as league-average linemen. Carimi IMO is out of place at RT, but his talent level will power him through. Webb is just enough of a wide body to keep people off Cutty’s head for a couple seconds. But that LG spot currently does not have a body to take it over. And I don’t know who will step up to take it. If that spot is even league-average, then the Bears OL will be at worst reasonable. If that spot is Torterrible like it was last year, then we will suck as bad as we did last year.
If Only the Bears Could
clone Carimi, we would have two good tackles that we can depend on instead of gambling with a pair of 7th rounders like Louis and Webb and a bust like CW
GREAT POST JOE
I particularly like the manslaughter quote.
But seriously, it truly is sad that we are looking at the o line as the critical factor for any team success. As many good moves that JA has made, and an 11 win season in the rear view, but the failure to pick up a Harvey Dahl, a Justin Blaylock or a Davin Joseph could really cost the team.
The most critical guy is Webb. If he fails, down goes the ship.
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