Chicago Bears Offensive Line Key to Resurgence, Revenge Against Lions
Published by Joshua Edwards on November 9, 2011
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
Jay Cutler wasn’t sacked by the Eagles.
Yup, you read that right.
Still hard to believe though, since the last time it happened was November 12, 2009 against San Francisco. And Cutler was so bad that night, tossing five interceptions, that they didn’t need to sack him.
But everything has changed in Chicago. Up is down, left is right and cats and dogs are living together.
Because Cutler’s been sacked just three times in the last three games, and only seven times in the last five games.
What’s going on?
According to head coach Lovie Smith, “Our offensive line has made improvements weekly. I mean, Jay can make all the throws. He’s as good as there is once he has time and we’ve been giving him that time.”
One key to the line’s improvement has been stability. The Bears have had the same starting five for three consecutive games. Chris Spencer has done well at guard, and Lance Louis has been outstanding at right tackle.
That means the Bears have a nice problem to solve: what to do once Gabe Carimi returns to action?
Chicago is taking it slowly, and Carimi will not play this week against the Lions. He’s missing his seventh game in a row after suffering a right knee subluxation (which sounds and feels like the opposite of “relaxation”).
The Bears have moved to a maximum protection scheme that employs extra TEs and utilizes FBs to protect the quarterback and create running lanes. That means the linemen are getting help on almost every play, so there’s no reason to rush Carimi back.
But one advantage to having extra TE/FB blockers is they allow guards to pull on running plays and pave the way for Matt Forte. That’s something Lance Louis and Chris Williams do best.
So even though Spencer has played well and Louis is a strong tackle, the Bears may not be able to resist the temptation of making Louis a pulling guard on sweeps and end-arounds.
That requires Carimi to handle right tackle, and Spencer to become the backup.
But changing the lineup is fixing what ain’t broke. And Cutler’s recent success is because the offensive line keeps his famous butt off the ground.
Like Cutler said, “It starts up front. If my feet are clean and I’ve got a good pocket I can see what’s happening downfield…I’m probably going to have a good day.”
The Bears are hoping to avenge a loss to the Lions in Detroit and they’ll use the same guys up front that helped earn three straight wins.
When Carimi does return, is it worth changing a winning formula?
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