Ryan Poles knew he was taking a quarterback #1 overall. He also knew he’d have to ensure he did everything possible to supply that quarterback with tools. The Chicago Bears GM made some highly-celebrated moves. He traded for Keenan Allen, signed D’Andre Swift, and drafted Rome Odunze. However, Poles did get some criticism from some circles for not doing more to help the offensive line. Outside of adding Coleman Shelton in free agency and Ryan Bates via trade, the Bears were bringing back the same group from last season.
A group that included the unreliable Nate Davis.
Through two games to start the season, it looks like the Poles made a colossal mistake taking that bargain route. Sunday night in Houston was one of the ugliest by the Bears offensive line in years, which is saying something. They allowed seven sacks, 11 hits, and 36 pressures on Caleb Williams throughout the game. It was a straight massacre. Davis and Shelton were the primary culprits, constantly unable to pick up stunts or blitzes. Yet even Braxton Jones and Darnell Wright struggled.
Ryan Poles can’t let this continue.
Part of the Bears’ problems with developing quarterbacks has been their inability to protect them. Justin Fields and Mitch Trubisky endured many of those same issues. If Poles isn’t careful, he will let the same thing happen to Williams. The coaches aren’t exempt from this, either. The inability to stay assignment sound or avoid pre-snap penalties falls on Matt Eberflus, Shane Waldron, and Chris Morgan. This is nothing like the group that finished 2023. That line actually blocked pretty well.
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This problem sits at the feet of Ryan Poles. He must start searching for alternatives. The coaches need to throw out whatever plans they have and find something that works. Nothing about this current approach is sustainable.
When are people going to figure it out? Poles is a complete idiot. He’s pretty much done EVERYTHING wrong. Where do we start? Let’s see, I remember a guy named Chase Claypool. I believe we spent a 2nd round pick on him. What did we get in return, a whole 2 or 3 games out of him. How about this clown we spent a 3rd round pick on? Good ‘ol Velus. The wide receiver who can’t catch a ball.. The kick returner who can’t field a kick. All we have to do is find a way to get him the… Read more »
Who would have thought that after three years, Mr. Poles, the offensive line man, could create a disastrous or discredited OL? Is that irony or something else? Perhaps just find five guys in western Nebraska still baling hay, have them eat at Five Guys, and get them in the weight room. They probably already know how to play the game and simply block.
Agree Veece, While we see fingers pointed at individual players and Poles. We actually have gotten replacements that were solid starters for their teams the previous year and they are going backward quickly. That can Only be Morgan. Just last year we were celebrating the arrival of Teven Jenkins and from what I read, he was the worse graded O-lineman last night. Who does that fall on? And the complete travesty against the Blitz?? That has to fall on him at least to some extent, no? How much of that does the OC need to take the blame for? Did… Read more »
I believe the OL failures aren’t about talent. When you consider that Tom Brady did not have All Pro lineman every year but they blocked well with really mostly other team’s rejects, it all comes down to COACHING!!! Morgan has to go. Everywhere he’s been, except one year, teams have lost more than they’ve won.
If it isn’t clear by now it should be. We need a center, a right guard, and perhaps a tackle. The trenches are where the game is won or lost. The running game has regressed and a lot of that can be attributed to poor run blocking. Pass blocking was non-existent. Fix the damn line or you’re going to get Caleb killed. Having a line that porous will not do a quarterback let alone a rookie any good. Somebody needs to take a serious look at Chris Morgan.