Bears 2010 preseason thread

[UMFan83]

Obviously something is being shown by Louis to be practicing with the 1st team after being drafted as a 7th round tight end last april. He's doing something right.

 

As for Omiyale, I think moving him back to his natural tackle position will make him servicable. I buy into the theory that moving to guard last season was a big part of the reason he was so mind bendingly awful. I don't think he'll be above average or anything, but average at RT would be a nice thing to see.

 

I think there is actually some upside with this O-line, and I havent been able to say that in awhile. Whether the upside will actually come to fruition remains to be seen.

[jersey cubs fan]

Obviously something is being shown by Louis to be practicing with the 1st team after being drafted as a 7th round tight end last april. He's doing something right.

 

As for Omiyale, I think moving him back to his natural tackle position will make him servicable. I buy into the theory that moving to guard last season was a big part of the reason he was so mind bendingly awful. I don't think he'll be above average or anything, but average at RT would be a nice thing to see.

 

I think there is actually some upside with this O-line, and I havent been able to say that in awhile. Whether the upside will actually come to fruition remains to be seen.

 

There's definitely some upside, given the fact that they aren't all 34 years old. But there's huge downside. I'm going to assume this Louis guy is going to fail miserably because as much as Tice might be a good coach, this is still a Jerry Angelo O line.

[Soul]

I'll just give him his chance to fail and then go from there.

 

Really, I think Beek can do the job anyway. I think they hold Beek back because they like the security blanket for Kreutz that he provides. I don't think there's much downside to trying Louis out this early. But obviously the OLine as a unit is a massive Question.

[Guest]

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nfl/news/story?id=5455675

 

"The guys are going to get knocked off routes, something is going to happen, the defender is going to get in the way, and the ball's going to be gone," Cutler said. "That's part of this offense. It's not a read and see what happens and let it fly, it's a read and let it fly. So balls are going to be in the air.

 

"And they understand that. That's been a point of emphasis since February and March. So they're conscious of it. They don't want to be the guy that isn't in the right spot. They have a lot of pride. It's a young group, but they understand what the impact could be if they're not in the right spot."

 

i thought the part about "see what happens" is obviously a dig at turner.

 

i don't think our receivers are the sharpest tools in the shed, so an offense that tells them where to be, rather then gives them the opportunity to react and other options probably wasn't best for them.

 

"johnny, run as fast as you can to this spot and catch the ball."

 

that'll work.

 

That's offensive play calling that is built around the idea that the QB won't have much time to throw.

 

Reading between the lines, the offensive line still sucks. This offense just doesn't have time to let plays develop. They have to force plays to happen.

[UMFan83]

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nfl/news/story?id=5455675

 

"The guys are going to get knocked off routes, something is going to happen, the defender is going to get in the way, and the ball's going to be gone," Cutler said. "That's part of this offense. It's not a read and see what happens and let it fly, it's a read and let it fly. So balls are going to be in the air.

 

"And they understand that. That's been a point of emphasis since February and March. So they're conscious of it. They don't want to be the guy that isn't in the right spot. They have a lot of pride. It's a young group, but they understand what the impact could be if they're not in the right spot."

 

i thought the part about "see what happens" is obviously a dig at turner.

 

i don't think our receivers are the sharpest tools in the shed, so an offense that tells them where to be, rather then gives them the opportunity to react and other options probably wasn't best for them.

 

"johnny, run as fast as you can to this spot and catch the ball."

 

that'll work.

 

That's offensive play calling that is built around the idea that the QB won't have much time to throw.

 

Reading between the lines, the offensive line still sucks. This offense just doesn't have time to let plays develop. They have to force plays to happen.

 

Isn't that just the concept of the Mike Martz offense (throwing to a spot rather than throwing and reacting)? If anything it's predicting more time to throw on offense because Martz's offense primarily uses a 5 step drop when last year Cutler was throwing from a 3 step drop most of the year.

[SpongeWorthy]

A bad offensive line will hold up better against a 3 step drop than a 5 or 7 step drop. That's the concern.

 

Of course if your receivers are dumb/inexperienced and don't know how to read coverages you get in trouble with a short drop too.

[UMFan83]

A bad offensive line will hold up better against a 3 step drop than a 5 or 7 step drop. That's the concern.

 

Of course if your receivers are dumb/inexperienced and don't know how to read coverages you get in trouble with a short drop too.

 

Yeah thats what I'm saying. The offensive coaches have to have confidence in the O-line if they are comfortable going to the 5 step drop.

[rawaction]

A bad offensive line will hold up better against a 3 step drop than a 5 or 7 step drop. That's the concern.

 

Of course if your receivers are dumb/inexperienced and don't know how to read coverages you get in trouble with a short drop too.

 

Yeah thats what I'm saying. The offensive coaches have to have confidence in the O-line if they are comfortable going to the 5 step drop.

 

Or the offensive coordinator has always run a 5-7 step drop offense and isn't able or willing to adjust to fit his personnel, hence why he was available for hire in the offseason. Not saying this is 100% the case, but I think it's off-base to say the team is comfortable with its OL rather than Martz's being Martz.

 

After all, Jon Kitna was sacked....wait for it.....114 times in 2 years! His QBs got sacked 55 more times in SF in 2008. After the Superbowl season w/ the Rams, his QBs got sacked an average of 45 times a year.

[Wilson A2000]

After all, Jon Kitna was sacked....wait for it.....114 times in 2 years! His QBs got sacked 55 more times in SF in 2008. After the Superbowl season w/ the Rams, his QBs got sacked an average of 45 times a year.

 

Which is why the Bears really need a solid backup.

[rawaction]

After all, Jon Kitna was sacked....wait for it.....114 times in 2 years! His QBs got sacked 55 more times in SF in 2008. After the Superbowl season w/ the Rams, his QBs got sacked an average of 45 times a year.

 

Which is why the Bears really need a solid backup.

 

Well, that's not going to happen. Even if the Bears had a solid backup, the money goes to Cutler. The two-1sts went for Cutler. The not-so-distant future of the franchise depends on Cutler. If the OL can't show that they can't protect him, the OC has to do so by keeping him out of harm's way. And if your OL isn't good enough, the best thing to do is adjust and get rid of the ball quicker. Martz hasn't shown the willingness to adjust.

 

Not hating on Martz. He is what he is. The Bears will turn the ball over and Cutler will get sacked a lot. But they will probably score 3-5 more ppg than they did last year. I'm ok with the Martz hire. But I would like it a lot more if this was already a good defense without a deadbeat head coach, and was an offense away from championship contention (ala Baltimore). Cutler is probably going to have his 4th OC in 4 years next year, I just hope he is alive to see him.

[Wilson A2000]

But they will probably score 3-5 more ppg than they did last year.

 

I'm OK with the turnovers if they do in fact score 3-5 more points per game. With an improved defense, this team just might be OK.

[JonJayCutler]

After all, Jon Kitna was sacked....wait for it.....114 times in 2 years!

 

In Martz' defense, Jon Kitna isn't the most mobile QB who ever played. Cutler's mobility should keep the sack totals from getting that out of hand.

 

I'm fine with Omiyale at RT to start out, as the staff seems to have faith that he has yet to reach his ceiling. If he starts to suck though he needs to be pulled for Shaffer, who looked decent last year and apparently is having a good camp.

 

I'm excited to see what Lance Louis can do.

[Guest]

When I read UMF's post, I thought the same thing as raw. Martz has never been known for his willingness to adapt.

 

It boggles the mind that Jerry Angelo would invest so much in a potential franchise QB and then continue to ignore the offensive line to protect his investment.

[rawaction]

When I read UMF's post, I thought the same thing as raw. Martz has never been known for his willingness to adapt.

 

It boggles the mind that Jerry Angelo would invest so much in a potential franchise QB and then continue to ignore the offensive line to protect his investment.

 

To be fair, I don't think he had much of a chance to "stack up" the OL, AFTER he got Cutler. Part of the investment for that franchise QB was two #1 picks and a 3rd round pick. By the time the Bears 1st pick came this year, there were no linemen on the board that were worthwhile. The FA class of OL was pretty weak due to no CBA, so no help there either. Additionally, before 2009 he did spend on Omiyale, Pace, and invested heavily in essentially a highly drafted rookie in Chris Williams year and probably thought he had a solid line for at least a couple years.

 

That being said, the Gaines Adams trade was stupid, even when he was alive. And could have been potential OL help in the 2nd round this year (like Beadles or Ducasse). He traded back in 2009 and could have had an OL like Levitre, Vollmer, Beatty, or Loadholt who all started some games as rookies.

[jersey cubs fan]

It boggles the mind that Jerry Angelo would invest so much in a potential franchise QB and then continue to ignore the offensive line to protect his investment.

 

He does not care about offensive line. When he was with Tampa and that team had a great defense but no offense, every year there were questions about the line. They'd bring in journeymen all the time. It's weird that he spent his first draft pick on Columbo, but it's well documented just how much he ignored the line for most of the rest of the decade. He went hard after it in one year, but it was way too late to build a good line and could only serve to patch holes. The offensive line is the one place where you need 5 players on the field at all time and where your weakest link is easily exploited. You can't treat it like other positions, it has to be constantly upgraded.

[UMFan83]

When I read UMF's post, I thought the same thing as raw. Martz has never been known for his willingness to adapt.

 

It boggles the mind that Jerry Angelo would invest so much in a potential franchise QB and then continue to ignore the offensive line to protect his investment.

 

To be fair, I don't think he had much of a chance to "stack up" the OL, AFTER he got Cutler. Part of the investment for that franchise QB was two #1 picks and a 3rd round pick. By the time the Bears 1st pick came this year, there were no linemen on the board that were worthwhile. The FA class of OL was pretty weak due to no CBA, so no help there either. Additionally, before 2009 he did spend on Omiyale, Pace, and invested heavily in essentially a highly drafted rookie in Chris Williams year and probably thought he had a solid line for at least a couple years.

 

That being said, the Gaines Adams trade was stupid, even when he was alive. And could have been potential OL help in the 2nd round this year (like Beadles or Ducasse). He traded back in 2009 and could have had an OL like Levitre, Vollmer, Beatty, or Loadholt who all started some games as rookies.

 

I think the problem with the Oline is that Angelo basically ignored it from 2005-2008

[rawaction]

It boggles the mind that Jerry Angelo would invest so much in a potential franchise QB and then continue to ignore the offensive line to protect his investment.

 

He does not care about offensive line. When he was with Tampa and that team had a great defense but no offense, every year there were questions about the line. They'd bring in journeymen all the time. It's weird that he spent his first draft pick on Columbo, but it's well documented just how much he ignored the line for most of the rest of the decade. He went hard after it in one year, but it was way too late to build a good line and could only serve to patch holes. The offensive line is the one place where you need 5 players on the field at all time and where your weakest link is easily exploited. You can't treat it like other positions, it has to be constantly upgraded.

 

It's especially bad when you consider what he spent the draft picks on between Columbo and Williams. Devin Hester has done great things for the Bears, but he was drafted in the 2nd round as a return specialist. Danieal Manning went ahead of him in that same draft. The Bazuin pick when DE was not a need. Tank was the 2nd of 2 DTs picked in the 04 draft. Benson wasn't a huge need at RB, but that was not a deep OL draft. Even Olsen when TE wasn't a huge need.

 

Only Bazuin is a bad pick, but at least 2 of those picks should have been on the OL. Beekman (in the 4th) was the only pick before the 7th round the Bears used on the OL between Columbo and Williams. That's disgusting.

[rawaction]

When I read UMF's post, I thought the same thing as raw. Martz has never been known for his willingness to adapt.

 

It boggles the mind that Jerry Angelo would invest so much in a potential franchise QB and then continue to ignore the offensive line to protect his investment.

 

To be fair, I don't think he had much of a chance to "stack up" the OL, AFTER he got Cutler. Part of the investment for that franchise QB was two #1 picks and a 3rd round pick. By the time the Bears 1st pick came this year, there were no linemen on the board that were worthwhile. The FA class of OL was pretty weak due to no CBA, so no help there either. Additionally, before 2009 he did spend on Omiyale, Pace, and invested heavily in essentially a highly drafted rookie in Chris Williams year and probably thought he had a solid line for at least a couple years.

 

That being said, the Gaines Adams trade was stupid, even when he was alive. And could have been potential OL help in the 2nd round this year (like Beadles or Ducasse). He traded back in 2009 and could have had an OL like Levitre, Vollmer, Beatty, or Loadholt who all started some games as rookies.

 

I think the problem with the Oline is that Angelo basically ignored it from 2005-2008

 

From 2003-2008 actually.

[jersey cubs fan]

It's especially bad when you consider what he spent the draft picks on between Columbo and Williams. Devin Hester has done great things for the Bears, but he was drafted in the 2nd round as a return specialist. Danieal Manning went ahead of him in that same draft. The Bazuin pick when DE was not a need. Tank was the 2nd of 2 DTs picked in the 04 draft. Benson wasn't a huge need at RB, but that was not a deep OL draft. Even Olsen when TE wasn't a huge need.

 

Only Bazuin is a bad pick, but at least 2 of those picks should have been on the OL. Beekman (in the 4th) was the only pick before the 7th round the Bears used on the OL between Columbo and Williams. That's disgusting.

 

The Bazuin pick infuriated me much the way the Adams trade pissed you off. And I absolutely had not interest in a RB the year they got Benson. It also does not help that they have relied on a hothead center (probably the least important line position) to be the leader of the group. If your leader is constantly getting personal foul penalties and just isn't all that good to begin with, you can expect, at the very least, inconsistency out of the group.

[Soul]

When I read UMF's post, I thought the same thing as raw. Martz has never been known for his willingness to adapt.

 

It boggles the mind that Jerry Angelo would invest so much in a potential franchise QB and then continue to ignore the offensive line to protect his investment.

 

To be fair, I don't think he had much of a chance to "stack up" the OL, AFTER he got Cutler. Part of the investment for that franchise QB was two #1 picks and a 3rd round pick. By the time the Bears 1st pick came this year, there were no linemen on the board that were worthwhile. The FA class of OL was pretty weak due to no CBA, so no help there either. Additionally, before 2009 he did spend on Omiyale, Pace, and invested heavily in essentially a highly drafted rookie in Chris Williams year and probably thought he had a solid line for at least a couple years.

 

That being said, the Gaines Adams trade was stupid, even when he was alive. And could have been potential OL help in the 2nd round this year (like Beadles or Ducasse). He traded back in 2009 and could have had an OL like Levitre, Vollmer, Beatty, or Loadholt who all started some games as rookies.

 

I think the problem with the Oline is that Angelo basically ignored it from 2005-2008

 

From 2003-2008 actually.

 

Except when he seemingly wakes up briefly and goes "crap we need some OLine!" then makes a bunch of moves for other teams' depth chart guys & such.

 

It's just not a good plan, I think we're all in agreement on Angelo and his OLine badness.

[Sosa21MVP]

I really wish NFL Network was showing the game tonight live. I don't want to wait until tomorrow night. #-o

[UMFan83]

How much do we love our Bears in Chicago? There is an hour long pregame show for a preseason game.

 

Do we need a game thread for this like we've done in the past for preseason games, or should we just keep everything in here until the season starts.

[Wilson A2000]

If you are out of the Chicago area, there is no way to watch this game is there?

[kujay]

I really wish NFL Network was showing the game tonight live. I don't want to wait until tomorrow night. #-o

 

Seriously. Not sure how Tampa-Miami or Seattle-Tennessee would get chosen over SD-Chicago.

[UMFan83]

If you are out of the Chicago area, there is no way to watch this game is there?

 

The NFL Network but not until tomorrow.

 

Also goto this site and see if the stream works: http://atdhe.net/