The Chicago Bears‘ offensive line wasn’t supposed to be a strength. Still, it also wasn’t supposed to be a weakness. Last year, the unit was around the league average. They were good at run blocking at decent at pass protecting. Expectations were they could hold that status in a new offense under a more experienced coordinator like Shane Waldron. That should lead to more offensive success. What has transpired through the first three games of the 2024 season has to go down as one of the biggest regressions in recent franchise memory.
Not only has the offensive line allowed 13 sacks through the first two games, but they’ve blocked for the league’s third-worst rushing attack. Everything that could go wrong has gone wrong for this group. Nothing sums up how bad it’s become more than the infamous play in the loss to Indianapolis on Sunday. The Bears face 4th and goal at the one-yard line. Rather than pass or run straight ahead, they opt for a speed option to the left, which was blown up for a 12-yard loss.
The call was bad enough. However, a video replay of where every single Bears offensive lineman ended up makes it a thousand times worse.
The Chicago Bears offensive line is making so many mistakes.
One of the core principles of trench play is to stay off the ground. The moment a lineman ends up on the turf, they can no longer block. It is why guys who often end up on it don’t get drafted too high every year. Ask Doug Kramer. It was one of the most persistent criticisms of him coming out of Illinois in 2022. For one member of the line to end up on the ground in a goal-to-go play is bad enough. For four of the five to do so? Even high school coaches would never accept that level of sloppy football.
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This video illustrates how deep the issues go for the Chicago Bears offensive line. It would be one thing if talent were the problem. You could at least understand that. That isn’t the case here. Every single one of the team’s starting five has played good football as recently as last season. For them to look this unprepared, undisciplined, and out of sorts speaks to a significant coaching issue. The only thing that has changed on that front since last season is new offensive coordinator Shane Waldron.
It is getting easier to understand why people are worried.
Is it just me, or does this seem like the same old bears experiment to strike gold at a bargain only to waste another five or more years on little more than hype and ineptitude, failure built upon failure and disappointment. I don’t even bother getting frustrated anymore because my expectations are so low.
@TGena I have to agree with your assessment, it’s spot on…!
What a great still from the video: classic.
Poles: Do the Right Thing!
I think everybody should boycott the Bears’ home games until the coaches actually do their jobs! There is no way I would ever pay to see this crap in person.
2024 #9 preferred order (for the 11th time): (A) LT Alt (B) WR Odunze (C) LT Fashanu, or trade up. Why? At LT Alt/Fashanu replaces Jones. Jones plays inside at LG or becomes the swing T. Teven returns to RG. Or, Teven remains at LG, whatever his choice. If so, Borom and Wright work at RG/RT in some fashion.
3rd round selection is a playable C/G. Kramer plays backup C…
Plenty of other OL options too. No Davis needed. Sign the ex-Miami center for 2 years. That was the thinking.