The Chicago Bears offensive line hit rock bottom on Sunday night in Houston. Over four quarters, they surrendered seven sacks and 11 hits on Caleb Williams, a problem magnified by their inability to generate any movement on the ground. Plenty of players were responsible for this disaster. Yet none found a way to stand out more than Nate Davis. Frustration with the right guard has been mounting for weeks since he missed most of training camp again with health issues.
He didn’t do much to temper fears in the opener against Tennessee where he failed to chip a Titans defender, which resulted in a 19-yard sack. With Ryan Bates going on IR, the Bears were left with no alternative but to go with him again in Houston. He responded by allowing four pressures and a sack. It was painful how lost he looked every time the Texans brought a blitz or ran a stunt. Based on what Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune recently wrote, it sounds like the team is considering other options.
They need to look at everything. Did Davis play well enough to remain in the lineup? Can Pryor do a better job? That’s about the only move I can think of this week or in the immediate future before the team returns from London. Quality offensive linemen are not going to be available in trade. Sure, they can bring some in for a tryout and see if any are practice-squad eligible, but it’s slim pickings at the offensive line store right now.
Nate Davis isn’t worth the energy anymore.
His talent has never been in question, but his health, intelligence, and effort certainly have. At this point, the guy is a walking liability. Matt Pryor is far from an ideal solution. He’s a veteran who has played multiple positions on the offensive line in his career, including both guard spots. His last extensive work at right guard was in 2020 with Philadelphia. In six games, he allowed 15 pressures and two sacks. The Bears could also take a gamble on Bill Murray, who has no starting experience but played really well in the preseason.
There are other ways they could do it. Maybe they move Darnell Wright inside to guard and put rookie Kiran Amegadjie at right tackle. Whatever the solution is, they can’t keep riding things out like this. Nate Davis isn’t doing anything for this offense. In fact, he is doing more harm than good. If he is going to keep missing assignments like this, the Bears might as well try to find somebody who can at least be more consistent until Bates returns. Enough is enough.
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Davis and Waldron not going to O’Hare. They are taking the Greyhound all the way to Georgia where they will meet up with Phantom Joe at the top of a hill.
@mbearest —
We don’t disagree on as much as you may think.
I have played the position at three competitive levels and completely agree that the whole of an O-line is often greater than the sum of its parts.
The “facts” I refer to here — are how analytics are increasingly used to describe, design and impact the NFL game.
As far as “statistics” and “losers” are concerned: you’re absolutely right.
A 11–25 record is so much more important (and informative) than a “perfect” (158.3) QBR rating.
Enjoy the season.
We’ll agree to disagree then. I personally believe that an offensive line works together and is not just a sum of it’s parts. You can claim facts all you want but where that grading system (and others) errs is when it ignores individual outside facts and those facts can be limitless. I’m not saying that the system isn’t a decent barometer but to put a grade on individual plays without considering individual circumstance and opposition makes it pretty vague. I used to be goofy with stats and our old high school coach told me Statistics are for Losers. I shrugged… Read more »
@mbearest —
Neithet imagined variables nor “off the wall comparison[s]” change the tenets of the game played in the NFL.
Unlike the child’s game — this brand of football is affected by spatial-temporal measurements and the adjustments made in response to contemporary players like Tyreek Hill, Micah Parsons, Josh Allen and Isaiah Worthy.
You can disagree all you like — but the facts speak for themselves.
Putting it here so that it’s out there: I would cut Davis now. I don’t really care that there isn’t a clear upgrade standing right behind him on the depth chart or that it’s a $40m sunk cost. His play isn’t cutting it. The best time to make this decision was in the pre-season. The second-best time is now.