Chicago Bears Offensive Line: Expectations Met Thus Far
Published by Brett Solesky on August 27, 2012
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
J’Marcus Webb will be named the starting offensive tackle and Chris Spencer likely will nail down the starting left guard spot.
The Bears’ offensive line is precisely where we thought it would be at the end of the last season. Nothing has changed.
The nothing-has-changed part is what infuriates Bears fans to no end. Very few, if any fans are behind J’Marcus Webb or Chris Williams at left tackle.
The goal this offseason was to improve the wide receiver, pass rush and the left tackle spots. The Bears improved two of the three by trading for Brandon Marshall, drafting Alshon Jeffery and Shea McClellin.
Why did the Bears not draft an offensive tackle is the resounding question?
That question, at least for now, has an answer: There was only one starting left tackle available when the Bears selected.
Cordy Glenn is the only rookie that has nailed down a starting left tackle spot in camp that was available when the Bears selected at No. 19.
Rookies Riley Reiff, Mike Adams, Jonathan Martin and Mitchell Schwartz have all failed to land the starting left tackle spot for their respective teams.
Reiff is running at right tackle in Detroit. Adams is competing for the starting spot in Pittsburgh, but has essentially been the backup. Adams, not coincidentally, has struggled in pass protection in the action he’s seen in the preseason.
The other two are right tackles with their respective clubs. Combine this information with the nonexistent free-agent market, and the Bears were right to ignore the offensive tackle spot.
Glenn struggled in the action he’s seen for the Bills. He has faced Jared Allen and Brian Orakpo, and coach Chan Gailey termed his play as “not great.”
Even Matt Kalil (selected fourth overall) has struggled to develop as a starting left tackle for the Vikings. In only 14 snaps of action in the preseason, Kalil has struggled with speed rushers (per 1500ESPN.com).
With this news in mind, the Bears must understand that the offensive tackles in this draft were no better than what the Bears have on their current roster.
Perhaps in the future Glenn and Kalil may turn out to be better than J’Marcus Webb, but the Bears need the improvement now, not three years from now.
The necessity to instantly improve the left tackle spot was there, but the player to meet that absolute need heading the regular season was not available and the Bears conducted their offseason accordingly.
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