[Naptime]

Originally Posted by BTM

Someone needs to crop Cutler's face and make it an avatar.

[UdubBadger]

he looks like he's about to call some dinosaurs

[BTM]

Dan Bernstein on the Olin Kreutz story:

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2011/07/...utz-addiction/

Originally Posted by Dan Bernstein

(CBS) It never felt right that a shaky offensive line seemed so desperate to retain a mediocre center.

Olin Kreutz at 34 is more reputation than ability, more intangible than tangible, more history than future. That he was viewed as so important to the Bears’ success this year – both by fans and teammates – speaks more to their problems blocking opponents than anything else.

Without a competing offer in hand, Kreutz tried to pit the team against itself, relying on players to campaign for him publicly and coaches to lobby in private, all while Jerry Angelo and Tim Ruskell held the line on their final proposal: one year, $4 million.

The message from upper management, as they excise the unquestioned leader of the offense?

Get over it and grow up. That goes for those in uniform and those with clipboards and whistles.

Do your jobs. Call the play, run the play, and execute your assignment, without worrying about what “57” thinks of anything you’re doing.

You know who should lead the offense? The franchise quarterback. Go ahead and lead, Jay. All clear for you to assert whatever personality you may have. Prove the doubters wrong who keep comparing you to Jeff George, and show how teammates can unite behind you.

You know who’s in charge of the offensive line? The offensive line coach. Mike Tice was a head coach in the NFL, and he’s perfectly capable of commanding the meeting room. The offensive coordinator can hold his own, too, when it comes to exercising authority – I think he’ll be ok.

Most importantly, you know who the “locker room leader” is? The head coach, who makes enough money that he shouldn’t need any player’s blustery presence to help him communicate effectively and on message.

Seattle castoff Chris Spencer takes over at center, following an all-time great who was well past his prime. Kreutz may be the best anyone has ever seen at huddle-breaks and line-calls, pointing out the “mike” ‘backer and making various other pre-snap gesticulations, but that isn’t as valuable to the team as stopping the man in front of you. Ndamukong Suh, BJ Raji and Nick Fairley don’t care about how many years you’ve been a Bear, or how you mentor rookies.

With a line already this reshuffled and uncertain, what’s the definite harm? Roberto Garza can stay at right guard, Gabe Carimi can develop on his own (perhaps the kid’s intelligence and work ethic were viewed to be sufficient enough, and not in need of a de facto assistant positional coach?), and decisions can be made on where Chris Williams, J’Marcus Webb and Frank Omiyale fit best.

Everyone likes to pay attention to the tackles, because it’s easier to see when they get beat on the open edges, but the interior of the line had plenty of its own dreadful performances last year. And while Mike Martz may have been chastened into calling more runs and fewer slow-developing, vertical passing sets, he’s still the same guy, and he’s going to run his stuff – the seven-step drops will be used and must be blocked.

So let’s drop the emotional and political sensitivity and just get on with it, then. A Bears team that seemed convinced it couldn’t live without Olin Kreutz now must do so.

Toddlers have to give up that favorite stuffed animal sometime.

Addicts only need their next fix because they can’t imagine coping with existence otherwise, even if going cold turkey is the best thing for them.

Safety Chris Harris was quick to take to Twitter as the news came out Sunday afternoon. “Olin Kreutz departure won’t sit well in the locker room for a few days,” he wrote. “Sad day n Chicago he was the glue in locker room.”

Quit sniffing it.

I don't disagree with what he's saying, but he does fail to address exactly how Chris Spencer will learn the offense in a week. Kreutz's experience in that position is where is value lay, not in his physical ability, which was diminishing but at least serviceable.

[UdubBadger]

sounds like most guys there (670) see it as a move that helps the bears out as a team. event thought it's not the way you wanna see a guy like that leave, its a positive step.

[gary88]

They're saying Kreutz may just end up retiring now.

[Naptime]

That's a harsh story from Dan Bernstein.

If Chris Spencer is so good, why did Seattle let him walk?

[BTM]

Originally Posted by Naptime

That's a harsh story from Dan Bernstein.

If Chris Spencer is so good, why did Seattle let him walk?

Well I agree about the leadership locker room bullshit. As bad as it was, I just don't see the line getting better because he's gone, and I don't think he was the reason the line was bad.

[UdubBadger]

Originally Posted by BTM

Well I agree about the leadership locker room bullshit. As bad as it was, I just don't see the line getting better because he's gone, and I don't think he was PART of the reason the line was bad.

even with his mediocre play, the 4 other guys on the line were just as bad if not worse. They, however, are still probably young enough to get better; he was going in the opposite direction.

[Naptime]

NFC North 2011
1. Green Bay Packers
2. Detroit Lions
3.Chicago Bears
4. Minnesota Vikings

[UdubBadger]

guess all you want but I think it's gonna be a good season for all 3 of those teams, MN is gonna be hurting though.

[BTM]

Originally Posted by UdubBadger

he was going in the opposite direction.

Agreed, from being an excellent center, to average and beyond (to old). But it was a 1 year deal, $500k, and they had the money. I get why they stuck to their guns, but I wouldn't have done the same, especially with the amount of new/rookie talent they are bringing in, with such little actual coaching, charged with protecting your number 1 asset, who has shown to be concussion prone, and limped out of the fucking title game due to the fact that even though the Bears total sacks per game last season wasn't atrocious (about 2.6 with a 2.1 league average), Cutler was hit on almost every play

[UdubBadger]

Originally Posted by BTM

Agreed, from being an excellent center, to average and beyond (to old). But it was a 1 year deal, $500k, and they had the money. I get why they stuck to their guns, but I wouldn't have done the same, especially with the amount of new/rookie talent they are bringing in, with such little actual coaching, charged with protecting your number 1 asset, who has shown to be concussion prone, and limped out of the fucking title game due to the fact that even though the Bears total sacks per game last season wasn't atrocious (about 2.6 with a 2.1 league average), Cutler was hit on almost every play

We are in agreement there. I would have definitely brought him back considering even at $4.5M a yr he is taking a pay cut (think he was around $6.5M last year?) yet doing the same thing.

[Naptime]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...ive-line-help/

[Black Sheep]

I think we got Lofa Tatupu from the Seahawks

[gary88]

Kreutz reportedly signing with New Orleans now.

[BTM]

Originally Posted by gary88

Kreutz reportedly signing with New Orleans now.

For half the $$$$

[UdubBadger]

[ragingclue]

Dunno how that rag-tag line is going to have any cohesion now that he's gone, but Spencer could be the answer. Chances are he's not, but you never know with these kinds of things.

I'd bet the loss of Kreutz is going to lead to more rectal dilation on Cutler's part, but there's still a chance the line will be measurably better this year. I just wouldn't count on it though.

[ghosthi32]

and the cowboys are quiet....

7-9 this season

[BTM]

What is likely to be the first in a season full of embarrassments

http://beargoggleson.com/2011/08/05/...urf-is-unsafe/

[gary88]

[NYCGP]

... Change the thread title to "Chicago Cowboys 2011"..