The Thrillionaire: Chicago Bears Offensive Line Analysis

It’s no secret that the Bear’s biggest flaw is their offensive line’s
lack of ability. Sure it could be said that Chicago was able to make
changes, and improve their play during the course of the season.
However I’m not sure that the line did improve, rather it was Cutler’s
game management that masked the poor play.

During the first five games of the season the Bears offensive line allowed 18 sacks. Then in the fifth game of the season Cutler had enough and famously cussed out Martz, and abandoned his play 

call. Over the next 4 games Chicago
changed up the offensive philosophy, and passing game plan closely
resembled roshambo (1,2,3 shoot) thereby allowing Cutler to get rid of
the football before the immanent pressure was allowed 

to reach him. A

philosophy that only allowed 4 sacks over 4 games. Then, Cutler broke
his thumb and in comes Caleb Hanie. Martz reverts back to the 5-7
step drops that plagued our stagnant offense, and over the last 7
games the Bears allowed over 25more sacks (7 in a game… twice).
In last year’s shortened offseason, the Bears wanted to address their
offensive line issues. So they got rid of Greg Olsen (our best
receiver) to find a more blocking friendly tight end, let go of
captain Olin Kruetz, and drafted a tackle Gabe Carimi with their first
round draft pick. The end result was the offensive line looked like
Madonna’s vaginal rejuvenation surgery. Sure you made some
improvements visually, but the main problem’s still stand. The 4
sacks over 4 games stat prior to Cutler’s thumb injury looks like a
pretty young flower, however at the core you’re stuck with a cobwebbed
chalkboard at the bottom of an abandoned coalmine. The free agency
market for offensive linemen is bare my friends, and we’re putting our
offensive faith, in a man who’s partially responsible for our
shortcomings.

Tice, formerly the offensive line coach, is now our offensive
coordinator (a job he has never had before). But I’m going to look on
the bright side. The secret to any offense’s success: continuity.
Most upper echelon NFL teams will be heading into the 2012-2013 season
having had the same offensive coordinator for 3 or more years. Jay
Cutler is about to have his fourth new offensive coordinator in 5
years with the bears. At least Jay (most likely) won’t have to spend
another offseason learning new terminology. Additionally, Tice like
Cutler, is not a proponent of the 5-7 step drop, and is a fan of the
max protect passing offense. So I look for improvement this year
offensively, mainly due to a gameplan that should be built around the
skillset of a healthy Cutler. Essentially it’ll be more in spite of
the coaching changes than because of.

Next: Stayed tuned for my Round 1 NFL MOCK DRAFT 1.0!

Thrillionaire's MOCK - Chicago Bears - Rounds 1-7

CHICAGO BEARS - Rounds 1-7

Thank Ditka the 2011-2012 season has finally officially come to an

end. An abysmal fall from grace, I attribute solely to Jay Cutler’s

thumb, has found the Bears scheduled to pick 19th in the first round

of the 2012 NFL draft. Is anyone else pissed the Bears finally found

a way to win again against Minnesota in week 17? This pointless win

moves us from the 11th pick to the 19th, groan.

So far the offseason has created some gaps off the field. With Jerry

Angelo and Mike Martz gone and Mike Tice promoted to Offensive

Coordinator, the new look front office has their work cut out for

them. Chicago has desperate needs at Wide Receiver, Safety, Corner,

OL, TE and ancillary needs at backup QB, RB, and LB. Good news for

the economy, the Bears are hiring everywhere but kicking positions.

Round 1:

There’s a possibility the Bears take a true skill position player in

the first round of the draft, a feat that hasn’t been attempted since

2005’s selection of Cedric Benson. And with fans clamoring for a big

play wide receiver, and the possibility of local(ish) boy Michael

Floyd still being on the board at 19, it seems like the not quite

Irish Floyd is the easy pick. However, with such a deep crop of wide

outs in not only this year’s draft, but also free agency (Vincent and

Desean Jackson, Dwayne Bowe, Marques Colston, etc) I see Chicago

looking elsewhere with their first round pick.

Ideally Mark Barron or Dre Kirkpatrick would fall to 19 and the Bears

could sure up some of their secondary concerns. Although both would

be ideal, the likelihood just isn’t there. Instead I foresee them

drafting, OT Mike Adams from Ohio State. 
Sure he’s no Carimi but at

this point in the day he will be the best available tackle left on the

board.

Round 2:

A lot of second/third rounder type CB talent left on the board here, I

don’t see any shocking developments here in the second round. Look for

Chicago to grab either corner Chase Minnefield (Virginia) or Trumaine

Johnson (Montana). Either one should vie for a starting job opposite

first time Pro Bowler Charles “Peanut” Tillman. 
With the edge going to Johnson based on his 6’2” frame.

Round 3:

With two picks in the third Chicago has a few options here, and may

have already packaged one or two of these picks to reach up in the

earlier rounds. However if they hold on to both, I like the Bears to

select, WR Nick Toon (Wisconsin) and TE LaDarius Green (LA-Lafayette).

Both weapons in the passing game if still on the board will be hard

to pass up.Toon likes getting the ball over the middle and is over 6 feet tall, two attributes the wide receiver core are lacking at the moment.

Green may not have the blocking prowess Martz was a fan of, however is

a great receiving TE and the Bears may reach for him in the third.

Round 4:

Great value should be available here in the fourth round, I look for

the Bears to fill a need at DE with Malik Jackson (Tennessee). A

monster at 6’5” could rotate in nicely on the defensive line.

Round 5:

The linebacking corps not getting any younger, so look for Chicago to

snag either of these two outside linebackers, Keenan Robinson (Texas)

or Brandon Lindsey (Pitt) to back up Briggs or supplant Roach at OLB.

Both have great potential and can fit into the 4-3 scheme.

Round 6:

Question marks around Major Wright’s abilities have the Bears thinking

insurance late in the draft, and I have them selecting safety Winston

Guy (Kentucky). A nice size for the position, although not a huge

hitter, Guy has the ability to rack up the tackles.

Round 7:

And finally Chicago will add some depth to the offensive line here in

the final round. And look for them to select another big body in

Antoine McClain, a 6’6” guard out of Clemson.