Da Dos

Tag: Oline

  • PFF Grades the Bears Oline as #4. No, you’re not high, you read that right

    PFF Grades the Bears Oline as #4. No, you’re not high, you read that right

    Pro Football Focus [PFF] seems to be omnipresent when discussing the NFL nowadays. For some reason, humans crave an ‘objective’ framework from which to interpret life. Something ‘outside ourselves’ to course-correct what our senses are inputting. What do you think the 10 commandments are?

    The general public assumes that René Descartes concluded, “Cogito, ergo sum” [I think, therefore I am], but actually, he proclaimed, “Dubito, ergo cogito, ergo sum” [I DOUBT, therefore I think, therefore I am]. Something to ponder.

    I envision Descartes staring intently into the flame of his candle, emersed in total darkness, desperately fumbling for some objective proof, a Mathematical God, some Unmoved Mover, to save him from his Evil Genius, to slip him the red pill to awaken from the Matrix…us football fans must settle for PFF.

    So here’s PFF grading the entire league. If you want to skip to the Bears’ portion, fast forward ≈1hr1min

    Shout out to Bodhran:

    https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-2025-nfl-offensive-line-rankings

    Some thoughts…

    A scout relayed that he graded an olinemen low coming out of college. Then that Olinemen ends up on the Peyton Colts; he mutters, “Fuck. now I’m going to look stupid when he makes the PB.”

    The Bears oline talent is now sufficient. It takes years of a smart GM [which Bears don’t currently employ] to properly get return on investment in the trenches. Ryan Poles had to apply some Gorilla Glue to patch up the gigantic holes he created through ineptitude.

    That being said, like the scout expressed anecdotally.

    1. A smart QB can make the oline look a lot better than it otherwise might be

    2. A creative HC/OC can scheme around weaknesses [basically do the opposite of what Mike Martz tried with Webbnation]

    3. A talented HB can hit the optimum holes and/or break tackles

    Unfortunately, we don’t quite know if we have a smart QB, HC/OC, and Bears definitely don’t roster an elite HB [NTM it’s a brand new scheme], so for this Oline to dramatically improve, mucho must synergize [including staying healthy].

    But hey, tis the off-season of hopium.

    EDIT. I’m burying the lead as the Bears unwisely extended Ryan Poles‘ contract. That will get its own post soon, but for now, I can characterize how I feel about the move through a flick I’m watching for the 100th time. Halas plays the German Soldier while Bear fans are Mellish…

    “Gib’ auf, du hast keine chance. Lass’ es uns beenden. Es ist einfacher für dich, viel einfacher. Du wirst sehen, es ist gleich vorbei.”

    Translates to:

    “Give up, you don’t stand a chance. Let’s end this here. It will be easier for you, much easier. You’ll see, it will be over quickly.”

  • “Takeaways from the Bears’ offensive line extensions” by guest reg Rob

    “Takeaways from the Bears’ offensive line extensions” by guest reg Rob

    What should we make of the Bears’ decision to offer contract extensions to guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson?

    Ben Johnson wants continuity on his offensive line.

    Well, the Bears mostly have it now. Outside of left tackle, the Bears’ line, barring a major injury this year, is pretty much set for 2026. This may fall into the “give Caleb everything he needs” category, but it may also be an indicator that Johnson is looking beyond 2025 in terms of when the Bears may peak (assuming Caleb Williams is a legitimate QB).

    The team has some cover for left tackle

    If we can pencil in two solid seasons from Joe Thuney (Pro Bowl seasons would be a welcome surprise at his age), the Bears have some flexibility to try their hand at left tackle. Perhaps Braxton Jones benefits from some stability. If Kiran Amegadjie or Ozzy Trapilo is the starter on day one, the Bears have a veteran presence on the left side for multiple years to allow their new left tackle to learn and develop. The same applies if the Bears choose a left tackle in the ’26 draft.

    The Bears are narrowing down their needs in the ’26 draft…for now at least

    Setting aside the foolishness of talking about the ’26 draft before the ’25 season has commenced, the Bears may be able to focus on LT in the draft knowing that the rest of the line is set, with center/guard addressed in the ’27 draft.

    Ben Johnson might really like Jackson and Thuney

    We basically must hope this is the case. The contract extension for Jackson borders on lunacy – Jackson’s ’26 cap hit has been reported as the highest of any guard, having never come remotely closely to playing at such a stature. With that said, Jackson’s age makes him ripe for a contract extension that could reduce his cap hit in ’26.

  • Film Study: 2019 DAN ROUSHAR Saints Wide Zone Clinic

    Film Study: 2019 DAN ROUSHAR Saints Wide Zone Clinic

    Maybe take a break from draft for a day. I found this informative Dan Roushar seminar that looks like it was given in a Holiday Inn, but is loaded with tons of info about his system and coaching in general. Fair warning, it’s pretty hardcore and an hour long, so prepare your angus!

    I don’t know about you guys, but I always feel like I can learn more about oline in general, and what better way to learn than from Bears’ new Oline coach? HOPEFULLY Roushar finally fixes this damn oline that has struggled mightily since everyone kept trying to gaslight us that Mike Tice was great.

  • All Aboard Ozzy Train!

    All Aboard Ozzy Train!

    Perhaps the #1 story going into camp will be Ozzy Trapilo. He has a lot of backers, but also more than his share of detractors, “a 2nd RDer for a back-up!” 
     
    The criticism is legit, but friendly reminder: it was going to be difficult for any prospect to crack the starting lineup
     
    One could argue that if the Bears, and not 9ers, drafted Mykell Williams, Edge [6’5, 265] , then he would’ve been the starter. Maybe that’s true, and much like Wright will be forever contrasted with Carter, Loveland will be compared to Mykell, but more likely Mykell ends up in a heavy rotation 
     
    Still, if we consider NB Gordon a ‘starter’ [and he sure as hell is getting PAID like one], then we must equally consider the move TE/Slot WR a starter too

    SAM was about the only open ‘starter’ slot but 4-3 base is run less than 50% of time
     
    Even so, “swing” likely won’t see the field unless an INJ [or suckage] strikes; hence on paper at least, Ozzy isn’t a ‘starter’
     
    That being said, do you recall the last time the starting 5 olinemen for the Bears began and finished a season as a unit without missing a game? I sure can’t. My best guess is the Kreutz’ era 
     
    “Hope for the best. Prepare for the worst” 
     
    Ozzy’s natural position seems to be RT Maybe LT in a pinch 
    But how about possible OG to take over for Thuney or if Jonah Jackson underwhelms? 
     
    Well, I dug a little into Ozzy’s metrics and precedents 
     
    According to PFF, the top OGs heading into ‘24 season: 
     
    Chris Lindstrom, ATL; Thuney, KC; Sam Cosmi, Wash; Tyler Smith, DAL; Quinn Meinerz, DEN 
     
    One can make his own list, but I’m just going off PFF 
     
    I won’t boggle you down with numbers, so I just focused on height, weight and 10 yd split:
     
    Lindstrom, 6’3, 308, 1.68 
    Thuney, —6’4, 304, 1.71 
    Cosmi, —-6’5, 314, 1.68 
    Smith, —-6’4, 320, 1.7 
    Meinerz, -6’2, 320, 1.73 

    —————
    Jonah Jackson 6’3, 306, 1.84 
    Darnell Wright 6’5, 333, 1.75 
    Braxton Jones, 6’5, 310, 1.68 
    Ozzy Trapilo, –6’8, 316, 1.77* 

    All, except Thuney, 33”+ arms 

    [If you’re interested in RAS, follow Kent Lee Platte]
     

    Now if you just look at these numbers [and verify it with tape], we can note some interesting possibilities 
     
    Jonah Jackson’s 1.84 sticks out like a sore-thumb. He’s also been INJ-ridden, so that’s not going to help his quickness 
     
    Lindstrom, Cosmi and Braxton Jones have a 1.68 split. This checks cuz we know Braxton can pull and demolish LBs at the second lvl. So, why not him at OG if you believe he’s a subpar LT? 
     
    Say you’re fine with Braxton at LT, ‘Give him an opportunity under competent coaching’ 

    Ok, well, maybe Wright at OG? He profiles very similarly to Tyler Smith; then start Trapilo at RT 
     
    Greg Gabriel believes that Trapilo has bend and movement to play OG, but that’s hard to envision at 6’8/ 1.78 split. Maybe he’s that good but seems like an outlier. I thought Long was too tall for OG, even so he was 6’6, not 6’8!  
    Being that tall also didn’t help Long’s back 
     
    Braxton or Wright at OG appear to better fit the precedents; albeit if this happens, I doubt it’s immediately. The Bears will give this lineup a chance first before moving around players:

    Braxton-Thuney-Dalman-Jackson-Wright

    Nevertheless, it appears that Ozzy at least provides BJ ‘flexibility’ along the lines 
     
    Besides, never know. Maybe Ozzy Trapilo can man LT. A gal can dream…