The Chicago Bears offense has struggled to get things going through the air this season. There are multiple reasons for this. Luke Getsy is installing a new system. Those take time to learn. The wide receivers and tight ends haven’t done the best job getting open. Justin Fields also deserves criticism for creating some of his problems by choosing to scramble too soon and not going through his reads. In fairness, part of that issue was created by how rough his offensive line is in pass protection.
That was never clearer than against the New York Giants. Fields was sacked six times in that game. The biggest culprit behind that mess was center Sam Mustipher. He was credited with giving up somewhere between six and eight pressures, including a sack by himself. Videos showed him getting routinely beaten by Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence. Now with Cody Whitehair destined for Injured Reserve due to a knee injury, the Bears have some decisions to make. Getsy hinted during his press conference that this could involve a change at center.
#Bears OC Luke Getsy says the team is in the middle of trying to figure out what the best combination is for the O-line on Sunday at Minnesota.
— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) October 6, 2022
“Yesterday he did a little bit of everything.” — Bears OC Luke Getsy when asked if Lucas Patrick will stay at left guard.
— Adam Jahns (@adamjahns) October 6, 2022
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Luke Getsy knows he can’t let things continue as they are.
Mustipher is a tough, try-hard guy, but the reality is he’s ill-equipped to be an NFL starter. If a change were to happen, the first step would be moving Patrick to center. That was the original plan during the entire off-season before the man broke his thumb in the summer. Recent videos from practice showed him snapping again. So the hand appears healthy. The big question is who the Bears will put at left guard to replace Whitehair.
Two options seem to exist in that regard. The most obvious is veteran Michael Schofield. He has lots of starting experience, mostly at right guard. Putting him next to Braxton Jones would give the rookie somebody to lean on for advice whenever he misses something. The other possibility is Ja’Tyre Carter. Chicago drafted him in the 7th round last April, looked good in training camp, and played pretty well in the preseason. Starting two rookies on the left side of an offensive line seems unwise for obvious reasons. It will be interesting to see what Luke Getsy does.
