Posts Tagged ‘Mike Tice’

2011 Chicago Bears Draft Review

Monday, May 2nd, 2011

I was very excited this year that the Bears finally had a first round draft pick. I was also very pleased that they spent it on someone actually they needed. With their first round draft pick, they selected offensive tackle Gabe Carimi from Wisconsin. I couldn’t be happier with this selection. I even had him in my Bears mock draft. I was ecstatic when he was still available when the Bears were on the clock. It was a complete no brainer for them. What Gabe will add to the Bears is instant depth and could actually be starting in game one if there is football this year. He’s that type of player. He’s constantly working and is a close friend to the Tice family. So he’s always a phone call away from Mike Tice.

In the second round the Bears traded up after Marvin Austin was taken to draft defensive tackle Stephen Paea from Oregon State. He was a staple in the OSU’s defense. He was slated to go in the first round but due to a minor knee injury he dropped. From what I’ve read and heard it’s nothing serious and the upside of Stephen is the reason why the Bears traded up to grab him. He also has extreme upper body strength. He displayed that at the combine by doing 49 bench reps and setting a NFL Combine record. I don’t think he will be starting a lot in his rookie year due that his knee still needs to recovery for a bit, but I do expect him to make an immediate impact when does start.

In the third round the Bears grabbed safety Chris Conte from California. I initially was a bit dumbfounded with this selection but I had read a number of times that it was a reach to get him in the third round. He was slated to go in the 7th or go as an undrafted free agent. After a good nights rest and watching videos of him at the combine changed my mind. It looks like he’s a very athletic safety and could very well be starting one day for the Bears, or at least be second on the depth chart. The only downfall is that he only started one season. I’m really hoping that the football season starts soon so the coaches and veterans can teach him and mentor him on how to play in the NFL.

Since the Bears traded up in the second round, they didn’t have a fourth round draft pick. So in the fifth round, Jerry Angelo stunned us all by selecting a QB. The Bears selected quarterback Nathan Enderle from Idaho. From what I’ve read and seen he’s a good third string development quarterback for the Bears. He put up some good numbers at Idaho, which could be one of the reasons why they selected him. I have nothing against the guy, but since the bears have a franchise QB and a proven back up in Caleb Hanie. I would of loved to see them draft another offensive linemen in the fifth. One of my initial mock drafts had Marcus Cannon in it and I was hoping they would take him or Justin Boren. Once again I don’t dislike the guy or think he’s a bad player, I just would of preferred a different pick.

With the final pick of the Bears draft, they selected Linebacker J.T. Thomas from West Virginia University. I think this could be a steal. He instantly adds depth to the linebacker core and could very well start on special teams right away. I really like this pick. I was expecting the Bears to grab another offensive linemen, but they grabbed Thomas instead. He’s a great player and could very well be a star for the Bears in the future. One thing the Bears do know is their linebackers. They always seem to have the best depth in the league.

Overall I give this draft a B-/+. What do you think the draft grade for the Bears this year is?

GammaBears

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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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