Posts Tagged ‘Chicago Bears Training Camp’

Bears Offensive Line

Thursday, August 12th, 2010

There’s probably one thing that worries me about the Bears this year. Something that hasn’t been stable and top notch in quite a few years, and that something is the offensive line. I don’t know how Jay Cutler does it. I would be scared every time when I would drop back, knowing there could be some behemoth chasing after me. I really hope they don’t have to scrape Cutler off the turf this year, but there’s one thing that makes me feel a little better about the Bears offensive line. The fact that folks are saying they are improving each day at training camp makes me feel a little better. It probably helps that they have an excellent coach for the offensive line in Mike Tice. If they continue to get better like what folks are saying, then Jay Cutler, Matt Forte and Chester Taylor will be very happy. As well as Bear fans too.

The Chicago Bears offensive line did end on a high note. They protected Jay Cutler against the Vikings like pros. Especially Chris Williams, who in my opinion will be the future of the offensive line. He blocked Jared Allen like he was some high school punk with a bad attitude. He looked like a five year veteran out there and I hope he continues that. The rest of the offensive line is… well. In my opinion needs to be upgraded. I know that Kreutz is not too far from retiring. I wouldn’t be surprised if he retired after this season. I really wish they had won that Super Bowl in 2006, so then he would be voted into the Hall of Fame faster. Same goes with Brian Urlacher, but don’t want to get off topic. Olin Kreutz’s back up Josh Beekman would do a fine job. I believe he has proven himself he can do the job. Especially with all the mentoring he is getting from Olin Kreutz. Hopefully he will pass on that, I’m going to punch you in the face type of blocking attitude. Need that kind of attitude in the trenches. I do believe it’s time to say goodbye to Roberto Garza and Frank Omiyale. Especially to Frank, he was horrible and I do mean horrible last year. When the Bears picked him up, I thought to myself “Oh hey, the Bears are upgrading their offensive line. Cool!”. I was very wrong unfortunately. The only back up on the Bears roster for Frank would be J’Marcus Webb. Who is an unproven rookie unfortunately. I don’t know much about Lance Louis except he had a run in with the law when he pleaded guilty to assault when he beat up his former teammate at SDSU.

That was the first string of the offensive line, the second string has two proven back ups (Shaffer and Beekman) and three unproven players. Johan Asiata who is slated at LG. He hasn’t played in any NFL games, but has been on the roster since 2009 on the practice squad. I do have a feeling he might replace Garza if he continues to commit stupid penalties. Here’s a fun fact, Johan didn’t allow a sack in his senior year at UNLV. The second unproven player is James Marten, who is slated as Lance Louis’ back up. He hasn’t played many games in the NFL unfortunately, so I don’t know much about him. Wish there was more info available about him out there. Lastly there is the lone offensive lineman in the 2010 Bears draft class, J’Marcus Webb. He was taken in the seventh round and doesn’t really have a good chance to be starting come opening day of the season. If he has learned enough and improved enough to replace Frank, they will start him immediately in my opinion.

I hope the Bears line holds up this year, they really need to Cutler some time to pass the ball and give some running room for Forte and Taylor. No one could of run the ball efficiently last year, except maybe Walter Payton.

GammaBears

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Chicago Bears Tight Ends

Wednesday, August 11th, 2010

The Bears arguably have one of the best Tight End tandems in the NFL in my opinion. Of course I’m probably a little biased because I’m a die hard Bears fan. Desmond Clark and Greg Olsen will dominate this year, even in the Mike Martz offense. I don’t care what anyone says about Olsen, he can be a dominant tight end, he just needed some time to develop. I think he just did that last year and this offseason. We all know what Dez Clark can do, he’s a proven blocker and a catching tight end for the Bears. I really hope he stays with the Bears for the rest of his career and retires in Chicago. Anyways, not to get off track here, but the Bears will have one of the most dominant tight end tandems in the league this year.

The only thing that worries me about Greg Olsen is his blocking ability, which is why the Bears picked up Brandon Manumaleuna. That and he played for Mike Martz with the Rams. From what I’ve read and heard about Brandon, he’s a very good blocking tight end and not so much a receiving one. I think with the Bears new offensive line coach Mike Tice, who is primarily known for his great offensive line coaching. He will teach Greg Olsen how to block instead of looking like a fish out there. That’s what really hampered Olsen last year. I remember the San Fran game, mainly because I was there front row behind the Bears bench and the fact we lost that game. Anyway, every time they were going to run the ball, they took out Greg Olsen. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know what was going on and the Niners knew for sure. I think Tice will be able to teach Olsen and make him an all around great Tight End for years to come.

I don’t know much about Richard Angulo, except he’s been in the league since 2003 and has hopped from team to team. Mainly staying on the practice squad or as a reserve player. He did play from 2007-2008 with the Jacksonville Jaguars and recorded one touchdown. Oh, he was also coached by Tice while playing on the Vikings and Jags. He was also was on the Bears roster in 2006, but didn’t play in any games.

Kellen Davis was drafted by the Bears in the fifth round in 2008 and hasn’t had a lot of success but there hasn’t been much of an opportunity to do so.  I Believe he is mainly used in goal line situations because of his height and his blocking skills.  I don’t know what kind of year this will be for him. With Dez Clark and Greg Olsen taking most of the snaps this year, it could be a very quiet season for him, Manu Manu and Angulo as well.

GammaBears

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Bears Running Backs

Sunday, August 8th, 2010

The Bears have plenty of depth at the running back position this year thankfully. This will give Forte a breather during games instead of having to be depended upon every play so it seemed last year. That’s one of the reasons why he didn’t have a stellar sophomore season, and it didn’t help either that he was injured all year long either. My prediction is that the Bears will use Forte and Taylor as a one-two punch to keep the defense on their toes at all times, but I also have a feeling that Forte will have more carries than Taylor. Forte tends to be agile and elude tacklers and Taylor tends to be the smash mouth “I’m going to rock you” running back the Bears have been lacking for the past few years.  With a semi-improved offensive line it will help create holes for those two. From what BearsAddict and DecaturNate said in their latest podcast (#68), they weren’t all too impressed with the way the line looked and that worries me a bit. I have a feeling they will get better as training camp goes on… Hopefully. They need to open up holes for the running and give Cutler plenty of time for those extensive planned out plays that Martz likes to call.

I didn’t forget about the rest of the RB crew. The Bears have recently acquired Harvey Unga from the supplemental draft. They only gave up a seventh round draft pick for him, which isn’t too bad. Unga was slated to go in the second to fourth round in the regular draft. So I think it was a win for both sides. I think he will help out in short yard situations, and the same goes for Kahlil Bell. Who was most known for breaking that huge gain last year. I don’t think they will be getting a lot of carries this year, mainly because the Bears have a stellar duo in Forte and Taylor. You are probably thinking, what about Garrett Wolfe and Brandon Minor? Well, I think they will put Minor on the practice squad and Wolfe will be a special teams player mainly. He just didn’t pan out in the Turner offense and I don’t think he will in Martz’s playbook either. It also doesn’t help the Bears didn’t really block all that well for him either.

How do you feel about the depth of the Bears current RB Corps?

Gammabears

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Chicago Bears Training Camp Schedule!

Tuesday, June 8th, 2010

The Bears Training Camp schedule is here!

DAY DATE PRACTICE TIME
Friday July 30 3:00 p.m.
Saturday July 31 7:00 p.m.
Sunday August 1 3:00 p.m.
Monday August 2 Noon
Tuesday August 3 3:00 p.m.
Wednesday August 4 7:00 p.m.
Thursday August 5 3:00 p.m.
Friday August 6 7:00 p.m. (Soldier Field)
Saturday August 7 Off day
Sunday August 8 7:00 p.m.
Monday August 9 3:00 p.m.
Tuesday August 10 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday August 11 3:00 p.m.
Thursday August 12 3:00 p.m.
Friday August 13 Travel day
Saturday August 14 at Chargers (Preseason opener)
Sunday August 15 Off day
Monday August 16 3:00 p.m.
Tuesday August 17 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday August 18 3:00 p.m.
Thursday August 19 3:00 p.m.
All practices will take place on the campus of Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais unless otherwise noted.
Practice dates and times are subject to change at any time.

Courtesy of ChicagoBears.com

I don’t like to do a bunch of copy and paste in my blogs, but I thought it was important to share the dates and times of this years Training Camp. If anyone is going this year, please take lots of pictures and don’t be shy to share them on the forum!

-GammaBears

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Organized Team Activities begin!

Thursday, June 3rd, 2010

One step closer to the start of the season starts with the Bears OTA’s. Been waiting for this since the end of the draft. I just want this season’s OTA’s to be injury free and no camp conflicts. Last thing the Bears need right now is for someone to be injured or a useless fight that can end in bad blood between teammates.

There is a whole lot to watch this year during the OTA’s. Every side of the Bears team has been changed in a major way. They went crazy in free agency and I’m glad they did. They needed help everywhere. Hopefully with the biggest of all FA acquisitions, Julius Peppers makes an immediate impact on that line. They need someone who can get at least one or two sacks a game. It should be pretty fun watching the defense this year, with the return of Safety Chris Harris and the third round draft pick Safety Major Wright. There will be lots of speed out there and hopefully a lot of turnovers. The offense should be pretty fun to watch as well. Especially with Martz coaching them instead of Ron Turner. With Forte completely rested and now has a compliment in the veteran Chester Taylor.

I know I’m getting hyped up and the season hasn’t started yet. Hopefully this year will be the year they win it all. I would like to see the longtime Bears veterans get a ring before they retire.

-GammaBears

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Chicago Bears Training Camp – Day 7

Wednesday, July 30th, 2008

I keep hearing negative things about this Bears team from talking heads around Chicago. It they took the time to pay attention they would notice that we could have one of the best Bears defenses we’ve had in a long time. That of course is based on the idea that everyone stays healthy. We are really only deep on the D-line, so the linebackers and secondary HAS to stay healthy for us to have a strong defense.

Offense is another thing. If our offense can keep our D off the field, and move the ball with moderate consistency it will go a long way in keeping our D healthy. Hester (assuming he retains his role as a return man) will give us continual field position advantages, and our offense just has to get some points out of it. If we can get 17 – 20 points out of our offense, and the defense remains healthy, we will have a good year.

All in all, I am sick and tired of all the negativity that I hear spewed out of the mouths of talking heads, mostly coming FROM Chicago. I don’t know how you can be a fan of the Bears and say some of the things those morons say.

Enough talk, enjoy some highlights from Roy at Bears training camp.

Had to remove. Sorry.

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Chicago Bears Training Camp – Day 6

Tuesday, July 29th, 2008
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