Do we have the best D-Line in the league?

[ElmhurstMarcus]

Do you think we have the best d line in the league ? for me our weak spot is the second DT starter. The Vikings have a great line too but their weak spot is the LE. the Giants have a great one too but how will they play without Strahan ?

[Pixote]

Do you think we have the best d line in the league ? for me our weak spot is the second DT starter. The Vikings have a great line too but their weak spot is the LE. the Giants have a great one too but how will they play without Strahan ?

 

When you factor in Dusty (hope he stays healthy) and the potential of Harrison (our rookie who if he stays out of trouble could be the steal of the draft) and Idonoje (sp?) I think we have a killer rotation at DT with Harris as the anchor.

[madlithuanian]

I think we arguably have the best D line in the NFL... As mentioned, the Giants, Vikings, and maybe SD have really outstanding ones too. But we're right in the mix for certain.

 

When you factor in Dusty (hope he stays healthy) and the potential of Harrison (our rookie who if he stays out of trouble could be the steal of the draft) and Idonoje (sp?) I think we have a killer rotation at DT with Harris as the anchor.

[balta1701-A]

If everyone is healthy and no one has an off year, yes. But what are the odds of that?

[ChileBear]

If everyone is healthy and no one has an off year, yes. But what are the odds of that?

Slim to none! But that's why they play the games. I'm looking forward to the D getting back on track and dominating.

[danimal99]

I like our D-line a bunch but I can't honestly say the Bears D-line is the best.

 

Even without Strahan the Giants have a good D-line as do the Bolts with their

3 d-linemnn of Castillo, Williams and Olshansky.

 

vikes will cause a lot of problems with K Williams, P Williams and new DE Allen.

 

If Harrison produces and Dusty plays a few games. Bears have the ability to

have the best D-line in the NFL.

 

They are in the top 5 IMO and could move to the top with a healthy &

productive year from A Brown, Ogun, Idonije, Harris, DD, Anderson & Harrison.

 

I know it's a lot to ask for but the Giants stayed pretty healthy at D-line and won it all.

[DaBearSox]

Bring back the 46.....TH, AO, AB, DD, HH/JW, LB, BU, NV, CT, CS, MB

[azbearsfan]

Our de's dont produce enough sacks for us to be considered the best. I do like them though.

[nfoligno]

No. I think we have a very good, and deep DL, but as much as we love our DL, they do not produce the sack totals, nor are they dominant against the rush.

 

We do not have a double digit sack man. Wale is our closest. Brown is a hot/cold pass rusher IMHO, and can usually be counting on for 6 or so. Harris is still improving, and if healthy, "could" be a double digit guy, but we have yet to see that. If Anderson goes back to rookie form from a situational role, it would give our DL a big boost, but that remains to be seen.

 

When you look at our DL on paper, you would think it would be flat out dominating, but we simply have not seen much of that. Maybe for a couple games, but not consistent. Personally, I still think the problem is coaching as our DL is just too vanilla, but that has to be factored too.

[madlithuanian]

Coaching is a huge element. The cover 2 also prevent some results in it's own right.

 

Under Chico, these guys rocked. Babich, not so much. Yes, injury and the insistance of playing Anderson plaayed a big part too...

 

But I still think we're in the top.

 

No. I think we have a very good, and deep DL, but as much as we love our DL, they do not produce the sack totals, nor are they dominant against the rush.

 

We do not have a double digit sack man. Wale is our closest. Brown is a hot/cold pass rusher IMHO, and can usually be counting on for 6 or so. Harris is still improving, and if healthy, "could" be a double digit guy, but we have yet to see that. If Anderson goes back to rookie form from a situational role, it would give our DL a big boost, but that remains to be seen.

 

When you look at our DL on paper, you would think it would be flat out dominating, but we simply have not seen much of that. Maybe for a couple games, but not consistent. Personally, I still think the problem is coaching as our DL is just too vanilla, but that has to be factored too.

[nfoligno]

One story/interview I always think about is one time last year when Idonije was interviewed on the Score. He was asked how much they stunt. There was a long pause, and his response was they do not need to stunt because they are good enough to get the job done one-on-one. I do not recall who it was talking to him, but remember it was a couple former bears. They asked a few more questions, and after the interview was over, began blasting the staff talking about how arrogant it is to think you are so good that you do not need to stunt, or use any other moves that most every DL executes to create openings. I was as sick as the former bears.

 

Another example of weak coaching, IMHO, is how we use our DEs. I used to blast Brown for taking those REALLY wide angles to the QB, until I realized/was told, this is taught to our guys. In our scheme, the idea is the DEs take wide angles which (a) prevents the QB from dropping deeper to avoid the inside push and ( often pushes the QB into the DTs red zone. Problem is, if the DT doesn't beat him man/men, then the QB essentially has one Big-A pocket to sit in, and we have taken our DEs out of the pass rush picture.

 

I have always hated this. IMHO, we have solid DEs, but do not utilize them well. How often do you see our DEs use an inside move? Damn near never. Anderson, his rookie year, used an inside swim move all the time to great effect. While light, he used his speed to get the OT off-balance to the outside, then cut inside w/ a swim move to beat his man. His rookie year, I remember Dent talking about how he could not believe a rookie seemed so strong in techniques most veterans take years to learn. Last year, I am not sure I EVER saw him go to the inside. All those moves Dent praised him for displaying simply disappeared. My belief is the staff, once he became a starter, began to force him to rush "their way" which resulted in 7 fewer sacks while playing many more downs.

 

A former bear made the point that, even the most average OT can usually beat the best DE if he knows how he is going to rush every time. Instead of worrying whether you are going to get beat inside if you over-extend to the outside, you simply put everything into pushing the DE further outside, taking him out of the play. You expose yourself to inside moves, but if the DE only rushes to the outside, it doesn't matter.

 

What is flat out disgusting is, in the cover two, you put put most all the responsibility of QB pressure on the DL. The DL is supposed to be able to get pressure w/o blitzes or help, thus creating more potential for turnovers. But the way we force our DL to rush the passer, we often negate their potential.

 

That is why I say, on paper, we have one of the best and deepest DLs in the league, but on the field, thanks to coaching, that DL simply does not come close to meeting those expectations.

[madlithuanian]

I think I recall the same...for some reason I have Thayer in mind as one of the guys, but it could just be that I'm always seeing him regarding Bears issues. Yeah, I just don't get the mentality of the coaching staff far too many times than not. I place blame 100% on Lovie.

 

I also think that element of the wide swing for the DE's caused a few banner running days for our opponents (chiefly Mr. Peterson from Minny). I also think having Anderson out there as a pass specialist vs run stopper was also a huge casue. Again, all coaching mis-decisions.

 

You're absolutely right in mentioning how our coaches seem arrogant about this. Heck, evenin Madden if I keep using the same thing, the computer figures it out! It really speaks ats the tip of the iceberg that our staff doesn't make any adjustments in game. It's like they have the script and keep to it by hell or high water.

 

I won't argue your assessment...

 

An A+ line mixed with an F coaching staff give you at best a low B...

 

 

 

One story/interview I always think about is one time last year when Idonije was interviewed on the Score. He was asked how much they stunt. There was a long pause, and his response was they do not need to stunt because they are good enough to get the job done one-on-one. I do not recall who it was talking to him, but remember it was a couple former bears. They asked a few more questions, and after the interview was over, began blasting the staff talking about how arrogant it is to think you are so good that you do not need to stunt, or use any other moves that most every DL executes to create openings. I was as sick as the former bears.

 

Another example of weak coaching, IMHO, is how we use our DEs. I used to blast Brown for taking those REALLY wide angles to the QB, until I realized/was told, this is taught to our guys. In our scheme, the idea is the DEs take wide angles which (a) prevents the QB from dropping deeper to avoid the inside push and ( often pushes the QB into the DTs red zone. Problem is, if the DT doesn't beat him man/men, then the QB essentially has one Big-A pocket to sit in, and we have taken our DEs out of the pass rush picture.

 

I have always hated this. IMHO, we have solid DEs, but do not utilize them well. How often do you see our DEs use an inside move? Damn near never. Anderson, his rookie year, used an inside swim move all the time to great effect. While light, he used his speed to get the OT off-balance to the outside, then cut inside w/ a swim move to beat his man. His rookie year, I remember Dent talking about how he could not believe a rookie seemed so strong in techniques most veterans take years to learn. Last year, I am not sure I EVER saw him go to the inside. All those moves Dent praised him for displaying simply disappeared. My belief is the staff, once he became a starter, began to force him to rush "their way" which resulted in 7 fewer sacks while playing many more downs.

 

A former bear made the point that, even the most average OT can usually beat the best DE if he knows how he is going to rush every time. Instead of worrying whether you are going to get beat inside if you over-extend to the outside, you simply put everything into pushing the DE further outside, taking him out of the play. You expose yourself to inside moves, but if the DE only rushes to the outside, it doesn't matter.

 

What is flat out disgusting is, in the cover two, you put put most all the responsibility of QB pressure on the DL. The DL is supposed to be able to get pressure w/o blitzes or help, thus creating more potential for turnovers. But the way we force our DL to rush the passer, we often negate their potential.

 

That is why I say, on paper, we have one of the best and deepest DLs in the league, but on the field, thanks to coaching, that DL simply does not come close to meeting those expectations.

[Mongo3451]

I think things have to fall into place for teams to have the best of any unit. 1st is health. Tommie is a year+ removed from the hamstring surgery which should only make him better. Our ends should be strong with our big 3 intact and Bazuin coming off red shirt. Importantly, there's Mike Brown. If Brown is healthy and can contribute, Urlacher gets to play closer to the line of scrimmage, thus taking pressure off the line. Most importantly is the offense. If the O eats up the clock and is able to generate touchdowns thus D line will be able to pin it's ears back and reek havoc. Look at Indy: they have some talented defenders, but nowhere near our cast. Their O makes their D really good. Look at the Giants: their O did what I've wanted the Bears to do the last couple of years. Run strong and don't turn the ball over. That made their D line able to do what they did in he SB. O is our key; if they don't make it to mid level, they wil have he D worn down by week13.

[DABEARSDABOMB]

The Bears don't have a true pass rushing end (although Anderson could turn into that, but consistently he hasn't shown that he is that) nor do they have a DT who has proven himself that will play next to Harris. Bottom line the Bears have a stud DT (with injury issues), a potential stud DT (with injury issues, ie Dusty), and two rock solid (Ogunleye is close to a pro-bowler) DE's.

 

I really can't even make the argument of the best dline in football. The Vikings have a superior line. However, if everything goes well, they could finish the year with the best line in football (healthy Harris, Dusty plays like he did for that one game in San Diego (remember, he has a whopping one NFL game under his belt), Anderson produces in the 3rd down sack role and Ogunleye/Brown are there consistently productive well rounded selves).