Fixing the OL

[shortfacedbear]

Nov 22, 2024 10:15:27 GMT -6 weneedmorelinemen said:

The Bears will not draft 3 rookie offensive linemen, and I don't think they should. Its really hard to get one rookie onboard, but two or three is just reckless.

I'm hopeful they get bite the bullet and buy a good offensive lineman in FA and draft one OL in the first three picks. They don't have a 4th round pick this year (Pitt is not going to play Justin unless injury happens). Maybe they take a 6th or 7th round OL pick, but that's just a lottery ticket.

I don't believe if the cupboard is bare and how the FA market may or may not be that drafting depth and a quality starting rook is reckless at all. Just get someone who hasn't had stem cells. Ha.

[malagabears]

Bates out after sitting out for 8 weeks. Feel for the guy but a hard pass on bringing him back.

[malagabears]

Nov 22, 2024 12:25:52 GMT -6 illinoiseric said:

Totally agree on C being really most important, and I'm "born again" over the past 5-6 years in terms of the C being key to a well-functioning offense. With the James Daniels experience and the Sam Mustipher experience, I do lean towards (IF the decision is necessary, or weighing the importance) having a mentally great center over a physically great one. Daniels could play C physically but mentally couldn't do it. Mustipher was the opposite, and couldn't even be average physically - and that is too bad because he knows how to play C.

Anyway, my basic hope is that Shelton can continue to get better and get re-signed for another year or two & then assuming Poles only has a couple of spots to prioritize does it at G through FA. It would be AWESOME if they could draft a great C with a 2nd rounder to work in behind Shelton. I don't necessarily want to risk a rookie C with Caleb. If they want to pay a C that's fine but man... then G would still be at risk and that is so important as well.

I just can't take seriously the folks who would prioritize replacing the young OTs when they're still developing when they have so much ahead of them.

I don't know if you are referring to Jones but he had many examples in his 3rd year that he cannot anchor and withstand a bullrush even from rookie edge rushers. Verse pushed him back into Williams on 2 occasions IIRC and it has happened with other rushers. How long will he need to develop that power & technique? On run blocking he seems to be fine.

[The Marshall Plan]

Nov 22, 2024 13:30:46 GMT -6 JABF said:

Nov 22, 2024 11:29:53 GMT -6 illinoiseric said:

I grew up a big ND fan an all my childhood pictures are plastered with ND and Irish.  But I got over it.  I grew up a die-hard ND fan and live near Ann Arbor.  But I cheer for Illinois or Sparty because that's where me and my kids went.  

I can relate.  My mom and dad were both die hard ND fans so I grew up with that.  Now I'm more into watching the college games to appreciate good football no matter where the teams are from.  I have watched Oregon for several years since my wife has family out there, and used to live there before we were married.  They can be fun to watch (not just this season but in past seasons).  And, like you, I do cheer for Illinois.  My son teaches at University of Houston so I follow them a bit too - and went to a game when Tank Dell was still playing there. 

I mostly just like watching good football at any level, even local high school ball.  I've been a Bears fan my whole life and haven't seen a lot of good football from them though.  I think (seriously) I could handle the losses over the years if the losses were not so butt-ugly affairs.  It really is hard to watch the game of football played so badly by this team.  A lot of times they beat themselves.  LOL, oh well, there's always "next season" for Bears fans.  It's the way we manage to cope.    

This is where I am with college football. I love watching it, but I do not have a team. I watch whatever is on. Really looking forward to Indiana v Ohio State tomorrow. We will find out if Indiana is for real.

[davidl]

Nov 22, 2024 13:19:08 GMT -6 JABF said:

Nov 22, 2024 12:53:59 GMT -6 davidl said:

He’s here now. We need to know more about what we’ve got heading into the off-season.   He could be anything from “total bust” to “the answer.”

I'll bet we do see him get some playing time somewhere in these remaining games, especially with the injuries happening so much on the OL.  

He’s listed DNP again today.  We are 3 weeks into this calf injury.

[JABF]

Nov 22, 2024 16:23:24 GMT -6 davidl said:

Nov 22, 2024 13:19:08 GMT -6 JABF said:

I'll bet we do see him get some playing time somewhere in these remaining games, especially with the injuries happening so much on the OL.  

He’s listed DNP again today.  We are 3 weeks into this calf injury.

I feel badly for the guy.  He only played 4 games in 2023 before he had the major quad injury and surgery.  Then Poles drafts him.  He's basically missed all of the 2024 off season, preseason, summer training camp, and most of the regular season.  He never had the opportunity to get his body into NFL shape - and I can't imagine he is in any kind of physical condition right now for NFL line play.  He did not play a single snap in the preseason.  He has 45 snaps in the Washington game and 4 snaps in the Carolina game and 5 snaps in the Jacksonville game.  His entire production this season was that, before he had the calf injury.  He has missed 3 weeks with that one (and counting).

His PFF scores for those 54 snaps were about as good as a potted-plant would get (pretty bad).  He could be a good OL but I'm thinking we won't know anything this year.  He will have missed most of 2023 and 2024.  So Poles is betting in the 3rd year the guy will be healthy enough to practice, and get his body in shape - and learn the NFL game.  He will basically be a rookie next year, and we hope, a healthy rookie.  

In hindsight would I have drafted him in the 3rd round?  No, I'd probably spend that pick on a healthy OL center (Frazier was picked up near there at the bottom of the 2nd round and is a baller and day-1 starter) and buy a potted plant at the local garden center and get the same production as Amagadjie (I'd just put the plant in my office to spruce it up).

[davidl]

Nov 22, 2024 16:47:15 GMT -6 JABF said:

Nov 22, 2024 16:23:24 GMT -6 davidl said:

He’s listed DNP again today.  We are 3 weeks into this calf injury.

I feel badly for the guy.  He only played 4 games in 2023 before he had the major quad injury and surgery.  Then Poles drafts him.  He's basically missed all of the 2024 off season, preseason, summer training camp, and most of the regular season.  He never had the opportunity to get his body into NFL shape - and I can't imagine he is in any kind of physical condition right now for NFL line play.  He did not play a single snap in the preseason.  He has 45 snaps in the Washington game and 4 snaps in the Carolina game and 5 snaps in the Jacksonville game.  His entire production this season was that, before he had the calf injury.  He has missed 3 weeks with that one (and counting).

His PFF scores for those 54 snaps was about as good as a potted-plant would get (pretty bad).  He could be a good OL but I'm thinking we won't know anything this year.  He will have missed most of 2023 and 2024.  So Poles is betting in the 3rd year the guy will be healthy enough to practice, and get his body in shape - and learn the NFL game.  He will basically be a rookie next year, and we hope, a healthy rookie.  

In hindsight would I have drafted him in the 3rd round?  No, I'd probably spend that pick on a healthy OL center (Frazier was picked up near there at the bottom of the 2nd round and is a baller and day-1 starter) and buy a potted plant at the local garden center and get the same production as Amagadjie (I'd just put the plant in my office to spruce it up).

I agree.  Even if he gets on the field this year, it’s not a fair basis for anything close to a full assessment, considering how much time he’s been out.  

Right now, we can only call drafting him where we did a “bold move” but not yet a “mistake.”  This could still work out.

[mpbears68]

Nov 22, 2024 14:42:54 GMT -6 malagabears said:

Bates out after sitting out for 8 weeks. Feel for the guy but a hard pass on bringing him back.

On that list is Poles 3rd round pick and his biggest vet OL acquisition this year.

Where's his biggest vet OL acquisition from last year?  Oh yeah, he's already been released.

Poles failure on the OL has been profound.  I noticed CHGO this week flat out said "Ryan Poles failed the team this year on the OL".  It's been really bad.  He's gotta fix this this offseason.  No more excuses allowed.

[davidl]

Nov 22, 2024 22:33:33 GMT -6 mpbears68 said:

Nov 22, 2024 14:42:54 GMT -6 malagabears said:

Bates out after sitting out for 8 weeks. Feel for the guy but a hard pass on bringing him back.

On that list is Poles 3rd round pick and his biggest vet OL acquisition this year.

Where's his biggest vet OL acquisition from last year?  Oh yeah, he's already been released.

Poles failure on the OL has been profound.  I noticed CHGO this week flat out said "Ryan Poles failed the team this year on the OL".  It's been really bad.  He's gotta fix this this offseason.  No more excuses allowed.

He did not just fail this year. He’s failed for three years.  Wouldn’t even need Davis if he kept Daniels. Wouldn’t need Wright if he drafted Lucas.  And center has been a revolving door for 3 years.  That’s why I want him fired now before he can make more bad decisions on players and next HC.