Long Moving to LG?

[AZ54]

Early reports are that this move is possible..

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/colum...521-column.html

[Stinger226]

Early reports are that this move is possible..

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/colum...521-column.html

I think there moving him to left side to maximize his athleticism. Help more with Leno

[lemonej]

If Sitton is on that side and allegedly you want to move Long to that side then you can't be happy with Sitton's play there.

[adam]

Could they be concerned about Long's ankle, and the left side will need the opposite dominant leg than the right side.

[jason]

That makes so little sense.

 

Move to LT? Sure, Leno wasn't good at all.

Move to RT? Sure, Massey wasn't very good either.

 

Both moves would allow flexibility with Grasu and Whitehair.

 

 

[AZ54]

Sitton has spent most of his career at RG so we'd be putting him where's he at his best. In the article they said that with Long being more athletic he's better able to help Leno. Leno often oversteps in his drop and gets beat inside. Long is also better at pulling than Sitton plus the team prefers to run behind Massie who is better at run blocking than Leno.

[jason]

Sitton has spent most of his career at RG so we'd be putting him where's he at his best. In the article they said that with Long being more athletic he's better able to help Leno. Leno often oversteps in his drop and gets beat inside. Long is also better at pulling than Sitton plus the team prefers to run behind Massie who is better at run blocking than Leno.

 

All valid points. I remember, however, some similar type of points being made in regard to Chris Williams, and his multiple moves along the offensive line. The team ruined Chris Williams, and never gave him a real shot.

 

If the team wants to move Long, they should move him to tackle and figure the rest out. It makes so much sense that it's comical. With Whitehair at Center, and recently drafted Morgan, there is a surplus of interior linemen. Meanwhile, possibly the worst tackle combination in the NFL protects the edges.

[madlithuanian]

I tend to agree.

 

Seems like this season...as the expectation is not SB...would be a good one to put Long in at LT for a full camp and season. Just all in... See if he can rock it. Then when Trubisky is ready next season, the OL could be epic. Or you move him back.

 

All valid points. I remember, however, some similar type of points being made in regard to Chris Williams, and his multiple moves along the offensive line. The team ruined Chris Williams, and never gave him a real shot.

 

If the team wants to move Long, they should move him to tackle and figure the rest out. It makes so much sense that it's comical. With Whitehair at Center, and recently drafted Morgan, there is a surplus of interior linemen. Meanwhile, possibly the worst tackle combination in the NFL protects the edges.

 

[BearFan PHX]

The reason we signed Sitton in the first place was because of his range as a pulling guard. That's what he had that the previous LG didnt. A lot of teams like the left side of the line to be more about speed, and it makes sense as Sitton gets older that he might be slower now than Long.

 

Makes sense.

 

[Stinger226]

All valid points. I remember, however, some similar type of points being made in regard to Chris Williams, and his multiple moves along the offensive line. The team ruined Chris Williams, and never gave him a real shot.

 

If the team wants to move Long, they should move him to tackle and figure the rest out. It makes so much sense that it's comical. With Whitehair at Center, and recently drafted Morgan, there is a surplus of interior linemen. Meanwhile, possibly the worst tackle combination in the NFL protects the edges.

Im not sure I can buy Cris Williams- Kyle Long as a good comparison scenario.

[Mongo3451]

Im not sure I can buy Cris Williams- Kyle Long as a good comparison scenario.

Agreed. Two completely different players and development situations.

[jason]

Agreed. Two completely different players and development situations.

 

Both were first round picks moved around more than one time. That's the only real point I was making.

 

Flipping Long and Sitton makes little sense. It is about the 10th best move they could make on the OL.

[Mongo3451]

Both were first round picks moved around more than one time. That's the only real point I was making.

 

Flipping Long and Sitton makes little sense. It is about the 10th best move they could make on the OL.

Disagree for multiple reasons. When I get some time later I'll give my opinion.

[Stinger226]

Both were first round picks moved around more than one time. That's the only real point I was making.

 

Flipping Long and Sitton makes little sense. It is about the 10th best move they could make on the OL.

I got the point of your first post was that what ruined Cris Williams and therefore moving Long will do the same thing. Being first round doesnt really have anything to do with it. Williams was never any good, they moved him with the hope he would be able to add something at another spot. Long, switched from LG in college to RG in the pros and made two pro bowls. Then , although he did not play as well, his switch to RT was not a bust. He is athletic enough to play anywhere on the line. I think the reason they will move him and it makes sense, is Sitton played 5 years on the RG spot and is more of a mauler than Long and will fit better in that spot. Long being a better mover will allow more help for Leno when needed. Yes Leno is our weak link and we did not address it, but you can never fix every problem with that years draft. We have a new OL coach, I feel his input is being added to the mix. Leno should improve his tackle ratings at least by maturity and maybe with the new coach. Does he still need to be replaced, yes but with Long and our new TEs we will scheme better output by Leno and the overall ability of the OL with improve. Two years ago we were rated one of the worst OLs in the league, last year, I think we moved up 10 spots. With one more year of experience of Whitehair, and Long being healthy all year, it will naturally be better. If Massie plays OK and Leno improves, one of our strengths will be the OLine.

 

And by the way, I agree with you that we should just move him to LT, but am not badmouthing this move just because I agree that would make more sense.

[Mongo3451]

I got the point of your first post was that what ruined Cris Williams and therefore moving Long will do the same thing. Being first round doesnt really have anything to do with it. Williams was never any good, they moved him with the hope he would be able to add something at another spot. Long, switched from LG in college to RG in the pros and made two pro bowls. Then , although he did not play as well, his switch to RT was not a bust. He is athletic enough to play anywhere on the line. I think the reason they will move him and it makes sense, is Sitton played 5 years on the RG spot and is more of a mauler than Long and will fit better in that spot. Long being a better mover will allow more help for Leno when needed. Yes Leno is our weak link and we did not address it, but you can never fix every problem with that years draft. We have a new OL coach, I feel his input is being added to the mix. Leno should improve his tackle ratings at least by maturity and maybe with the new coach. Does he still need to be replaced, yes but with Long and our new TEs we will scheme better output by Leno and the overall ability of the OL with improve. Two years ago we were rated one of the worst OLs in the league, last year, I think we moved up 10 spots. With one more year of experience of Whitehair, and Long being healthy all year, it will naturally be better. If Massie plays OK and Leno improves, one of our strengths will be the OLine.

 

And by the way, I agree with you that we should just move him to LT, but am not badmouthing this move just because I agree that would make more sense.

Man, you hit 5 points on why I disagreed with Jason!

 

Last point: Long has most prototypical size and skill set on the team to play left tackle. This gets him one step closer if needed.

 

[BearFan PHX]

the Bears' running scheme asks different things from the LG and the RG.

 

The RG is more of a road grader, while the LG should be faster and more athletic. The LG pulls a lot more in our scheme, and Long is well suited to being the LG, while Sitton makes a better RG at this point in his career.

 

That's the logic anyway.

[ASHKUM BEAR]

That makes so little sense.

 

Move to LT? Sure, Leno wasn't good at all.

Move to RT? Sure, Massey wasn't very good either.

 

Both moves would allow flexibility with Grasu and Whitehair.

I try to look at the bigger picture (that I predict). Next draft the Bears will get their OLT with their first round pick to protect their investment QB and they will want him to get accumulated to playing next to someone that will be on this team long term. Sitton slides to the RG and he will have competition from (Grasu, Whitehair, Morgan, and Kush) to take his spot. I really dont see the Bears keeping him past this season. Massie survives at RT, they may draft two OT's but unlikely because D and WR will need to be addressed also.

2018: LT McGlinchey - LG Long - C Whitehair - RG Morgan - RT Massie or if Grasu can elevate to a top C then

LT McGlinchey -LG Long - C Grasu - RG Morgan RT Whitehair

[jason]

the Bears' running scheme asks different things from the LG and the RG.

 

The RG is more of a road grader, while the LG should be faster and more athletic. The LG pulls a lot more in our scheme, and Long is well suited to being the LG, while Sitton makes a better RG at this point in his career.

 

That's the logic anyway.

 

I understand that concept, but if that was the true intent, then why the hell didn't they just make the move before last year started?! That would have made the most sense. Especially since the line was in turmoil from the start. With Grasu taking nearly all the preseason snaps at C, and Whitehair taking nearly none, that was an immediate issue. Whitehair had almost all the LG snaps. So it made complete sense to make the move last year since Whitehair was finding a new home at C, and Sitton was finding a new home in Chicago. If the Bears are going for continuity, then this is not how to do it. Speaking of that...

 

Man, you hit 5 points on why I disagreed with Jason!

 

Last point: Long has most prototypical size and skill set on the team to play left tackle. This gets him one step closer if needed.

 

I thought you were all about OL continuity?! The Bears had arguably the best OG tandem and OL interior in the NFL. If anyone was against the move, I thought it would be you. I mean, if they sucked last year, then yeah, make the switch. Who cares about continuity when there are no results. But they had great success last year, and this move screws with that continuity. Not only that, but weren't you the one saying how difficult it is to switch sides on the OL? That it takes different muscles, different angles, and that it was really difficult to change?

[Mongo3451]

I understand that concept, but if that was the true intent, then why the hell didn't they just make the move before last year started?! That would have made the most sense. Especially since the line was in turmoil from the start. With Grasu taking nearly all the preseason snaps at C, and Whitehair taking nearly none, that was an immediate issue. Whitehair had almost all the LG snaps. So it made complete sense to make the move last year since Whitehair was finding a new home at C, and Sitton was finding a new home in Chicago. If the Bears are going for continuity, then this is not how to do it. Speaking of that...

 

 

 

I thought you were all about OL continuity?! The Bears had arguably the best OG tandem and OL interior in the NFL. If anyone was against the move, I thought it would be you. I mean, if they sucked last year, then yeah, make the switch. Who cares about continuity when there are no results. But they had great success last year, and this move screws with that continuity. Not only that, but weren't you the one saying how difficult it is to switch sides on the OL? That it takes different muscles, different angles, and that it was really difficult to change?

Of the 5 OL positions guard i's the easiest to change. The reason they didn't do this last year was for that dreaded C word. Massie and Long worked out together all off season. Since they could not move Massie, Long was the only stable force on the entire OL, with the young Grasu on the other side. This the reason we didn't go 0-16. As for this year, all potential starters were on the system last year, so it's less painful to swap all pro guards. Lastly, the muscle memory is also greater the further you move outside, that's not going to be an issue as Long and Sitton both excelled at those postings previously.

[jason]

Of the 5 OL positions guard is the easiest to change. The reason they didn't do this last year was for that dreaded C word. Massie and Long worked out together all off season. Since they could not move Massie, Long was the only stable force on the entire OL, with the young Grasu on the other side. This the reason we didn't go 0-16. As for this year, all potential starters were on the system last year, so it's less painful to swap all pro guards. Lastly, the muscle memory is also greater the further you move outside, that's not going to be an issue as Long and Sitton both excelled at those postings previously.

 

Two things:

First, are you saying the continuity between Long and Massie - due to their connection via offseason workouts - is the reason the Bears didn't go 0-16? Personally, I didn't really think it mattered that much since Massie wasn't that good.

 

Second, your comments return me to the talks of Whitehair. Based on what you put above, and not a copy/paste from some scouting report, I'm not sure why you think moving Whitehair back to LT wouldn't work. The only reason I can see at this point is simply that he may just have better potential at G or C than at T in the pros. The switch, however, shouldn't be that big of an issue since he has tons of muscle memory there and excelled at it previously.

[Mongo3451]

Two things:

First, are you saying the continuity between Long and Massie - due to their connection via offseason workouts - is the reason the Bears didn't go 0-16? Personally, I didn't really think it mattered that much since Massie wasn't that good.

 

Second, your comments return me to the talks of Whitehair. Based on what you put above, and not a copy/paste from some scouting report, I'm not sure why you think moving Whitehair back to LT wouldn't work. The only reason I can see at this point is simply that he may just have better potential at G or C than at T in the pros. The switch, however, shouldn't be that big of an issue since he has tons of muscle memory there and excelled at it previously.

Whitehair is not moving to LT. Give it up. You will see Long there before that happens. I don't want it to happen, as I think a blue chipper should be drafted.