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During an appearance Monday at a Chicago school, Bears quarterback Jay Cutler looked lean and sounded upbeat about an ­array of topics, from his weapons to his position coach to the impending arrival of his first child.

Yet he seemed to confirm a potential problem that could threaten a championship run in 2012: the offensive line.

“You know, the offensive line is definitely going to be a concern and seeing where those guys are going to fit in and seeing what five we go with,” Cutler said when asked a general question about the excitement for the upcoming season. “If Gabe [Carimi] comes back, if J’Marcus [Webb] pans out. Where are we going to put Chris Williams? There are some question marks there. Until we really get that resolved and get our front five settled in, we’ve got some work to do on offense.”

Cutler isn’t questioning the lack of an upgrade, but he isn’t going along with the optimism expressed by coach Lovie Smith, general manager Phil Emery and offensive coordinator Mike Tice in recent weeks, either.

Cutler, who was sacked an astounding 75 times in the last 25 games, didn’t even jump at a chance to soften his take on the offensive line when asked if the new offense — which won’t put as much pressure on the line as Mike Martz’s did the last two seasons — would help the beleaguered unit.

“It helps some, but it’s not a cure all by any means,” Cutler said. “They’re still going to be asked to protect. There are going to be times it’s third-and-eight, third-and-10 and we’re going to have to take seven-step drops and we’re going to have the longer route and they’re going to have to protect.”

Chewie wrote:Jay's worried.

Until we really get that resolved and get our front five settled in, we’ve got some work to do on offense.”

JWebb Nation! Now Hear This! I will be on top of my game and will be ready to take my spot on the field. This is my season to kick some major butt and protect the quarterback. I know it. I believe it! I Eat and sleep it!
I GOT THIS!

J'Marcus Webb ‏@jmarcuswebb
@ben_bpp The only thing bigger than JWebb is Jwebb Nation! O-line in the house!

J'Marcus Webb ‏@jmarcuswebb
Catching a small break, Jwebb Nation!!!!!! Rise up! Walk with pride! The O-line is alive!!!!!! We will have it together! I GOT THIS!

J'Marcus Webb ‏@jmarcuswebb
I love Tice! I love my teammates! I'm just ready to hit a mother sucker right now! Can't wait and won't debate!...

J'Marcus Webb ‏@jmarcuswebb
I'm going to bed to dream about a Super Bowl ring!!!!!! I'm waking ip to kick some butt to make it happen!!!!! Go Bears!!!!

Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler might have raised some eyebrows when he said last month that the offensive line was "definitely going to be a concern," but he found one important supporter in veteran center Roberto Garza.

"I talked to Garza about it and asked if anyone was offended. He said no. He agreed with me," Cutler said Friday on "The Waddle & Silvy Show" on ESPN 1000. "(I) didn't throw anyone under the bus, didn't name anybody specifically and say that they are a weak link. I just said until we get that front five we'll see what happens. And I want those guys to push each other. I want them to compete and try to get in that starting lineup. Once we get those front five down and get a few weeks under their belt we're going to be fine."

Covert offers suggestions to improve Bears' pass blocking
By Fred Mitchell — Chicago Tribune
Created: Friday, June 8, 2012 7:49 p.m. CDT

CHICAGO (MCT) — Jay Cutler caused a stir last month when he publicly questioned the development of the Bears' offensive line.


Jim Covert, considered the best left tackle in Bears history, has a different slant on the situation _ especially with regard to oft-criticized J'Marcus Webb.


Covert believes Cutler sometimes holds the ball too long and he has other suggestions for the Bears to assist their linemen.


"(Webb) did pretty well (at left tackle)," Covert said. "It's a very difficult position to play. I've seen guys who played left tackle in college that the pros move to guard (Chris Williams, who's now moving back to left tackle).


"Or a guy gets drafted as a left tackle (Gabe Carimi) and they move him to right tackle. (The Bears) have a couple of those, right? A lot of that stuff happens. ..."


"(Webb) did an admirable job with a pretty good quarterback who maybe held on to it a little bit last year. But (Cutler) is a great player and if he gets rid of the ball. ... he probably has one of the best arms in the league."

He says offensive coordinator Mike Tice should be able to help Webb and the rest of the linemen with more creative schemes. Webb caught the brunt of the blame for sacks last season.


"You can run double tight (ends) every once in a while. ... Or you can keep a (back in to block)," Covert said. "I mean, the Redskins did it for years with (coach) Joe Gibbs and they used two tight ends. That's why they didn't give up a lot of sacks.

"The technique nowadays is dreadful," said Covert, now president and CEO of The Institute for Transfusion Medicine. "You very rarely see guys punch(-block) people with their hands, get separation.
"In these days of the three-step drop ... the short passing game ... you can essentially shock the guy at the line of scrimmage and almost fall down and (the defender) won't get to the passer. Yet these (offensive linemen) continually back up and catch people and it is just frustrating to watch.


"You can't catch people, you have to shock people at the line of scrimmage. You have to stop them. Pass blocking is controlled aggression."


Covert singled out current offensive line coaches Pat Flaherty (Giants), Russ Grimm (Cardinals) and Paul Dunn (Falcons) as "good teachers who know the game well. But as a whole, (line play) is not very good."

BIGGIEsmalls 23 wrote:

Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler might have raised some eyebrows when he said last month that the offensive line was "definitely going to be a concern," but he found one important supporter in veteran center Roberto Garza.

"I talked to Garza about it and asked if anyone was offended. He said no. He agreed with me," Cutler said Friday on "The Waddle & Silvy Show" on ESPN 1000. "(I) didn't throw anyone under the bus, didn't name anybody specifically and say that they are a weak link. I just said until we get that front five we'll see what happens. And I want those guys to push each other. I want them to compete and try to get in that starting lineup. Once we get those front five down and get a few weeks under their belt we're going to be fine."

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/bears/p ... e-concerns

“The people in the Bears building are sometimes a little bit sensitive,” Cutler told “The Waddle & Silvy Show” on WMVP-AM on Friday. “You always want to be pro-Bears and compliment your teammates and stuff but … over a three-year career here (the offensive line is) definitely at the forefront of my mind every year. Until we get those front five hammered down, we’re still kind of up in the air offensively — even though we’ve got some really, really talented guys on the outside.”

fleet wrote:

BIGGIEsmalls 23 wrote:

Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler might have raised some eyebrows when he said last month that the offensive line was "definitely going to be a concern," but he found one important supporter in veteran center Roberto Garza.

"I talked to Garza about it and asked if anyone was offended. He said no. He agreed with me," Cutler said Friday on "The Waddle & Silvy Show" on ESPN 1000. "(I) didn't throw anyone under the bus, didn't name anybody specifically and say that they are a weak link. I just said until we get that front five we'll see what happens. And I want those guys to push each other. I want them to compete and try to get in that starting lineup. Once we get those front five down and get a few weeks under their belt we're going to be fine."

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/bears/p ... e-concerns

This part was feisty and indignant:

“The people in the Bears building are sometimes a little bit sensitive,” Cutler told “The Waddle & Silvy Show” on WMVP-AM on Friday. “You always want to be pro-Bears and compliment your teammates and stuff but … over a three-year career here (the offensive line is) definitely at the forefront of my mind every year. Until we get those front five hammered down, we’re still kind of up in the air offensively — even though we’ve got some really, really talented guys on the outside.”

he sounds upset that nothing has been done materially to add talent other than add some cast offs and an undrafted guy. I think at this point, unless the line really really plays unusually well, Emery better find him a stud soon or contract negotiations could get sticky.

bearadonisdna wrote:My tentative oline would be

T-Louis, Carimi
G-Spencer Garza
C- Garza

Really surprised bears didnt add depth on oline. Thing went downhill last year once Williams got injured.

Basically this thing is eork in progress. Hopefully it doesnt take injuries to settle this thing out.

Magilla_Gorilla wrote:

bearadonisdna wrote:My tentative oline would be

T-Louis, Carimi
G-Spencer Garza
C- Garza

Really surprised bears didnt add depth on oline. Thing went downhill last year once Williams got injured.

Basically this thing is eork in progress. Hopefully it doesnt take injuries to settle this thing out.

I like Garza, but I just don't feel comfortable with him man-ing the Guard and Center positions simultaneously.