And how about that improved OL?

[nfoligno]

Wow was that bad. Was there a snap Cutler wasn't having to run for his life? How many times did Forte have a hole to run through.

 

The left side of our OL was "upgraded" but they were horrible.

 

Pace looked slow and weak. On one play, it was to be a run between up the middle. Omiyale blocks down inside, while Pace is supposed to move/pull to the right and block the guy who was basically lined up in front of Omiyale. Pace is about 3 steps too slow, and (I think) Jolley simply has a clear path to hit Forte in the backfield.

 

Another play, just to point out, Omiyale sort of tried to cheat a bit buy lunging at Jolley off the snap. It looked sad as Jolley simply side stepped him and headed for Cutler. Pace was so bad I almost wished St. Clair were back. Omiyale was so bad, I actually thought it a good thing when he went down, as I thought Beekman would step in.

 

Williams on the other side struggled too. If Pace and Omiyale were playing better, Williams questionable play may stood out more, but as bad as the left side of our OL was, Williams play was sort of over-shadowed. Kreutz and Garza don't usually play that well, but again, w/ others looking so bad, they didn't stand out, either way.

 

Besides the OL, do we have anyone that can pickup a blitz? I don't recall if it was Wolfe or Forte, but on that one play, the RB dove at the LBs feet as the LB simply jumped him like a hurdle and went after Cutler.

 

Look, I am not excusing Cutler. Whether on the run or standing in the pocket, you just can't throw to a receiver drapped by 4 green jerseys. At the same time, I think it a mistake to only look at Cutler, or whoever else. This OL was supposed to be improved, but I honestly think they were worse than last year. Last year, our run blocking was below average, but pass protection was at least average. This year, after watching preseason, I sort of expected the opposite. I thought our run blocking would be good, but wondered if we would not have some trouble in pass protection. What I saw however was an OL that was flat out awful at both.

[balta1701-A]

Besides the OL, do we have anyone that can pickup a blitz? I don't recall if it was Wolfe or Forte, but on that one play, the RB dove at the LBs feet as the LB simply jumped him like a hurdle and went after Cutler.

That was Wolfe.

[bowlingtwig]

That was Wolfe.

There was several times that Forte stayed in to block. There was several times when there was 2 guys coming in against forte so he was screwed to begin with.

[nfoligno]

That's what I thought. And for all those who have been screaming that Wolfe needs to get more PT, this is why he has been on the bench. If you want to play, especially on 3rd downs, you have to be capable of blocking. Doing your bust impersonation of a hurdle ain't gonna get it done.

 

That was Wolfe.

 

[nfoligno]

Hey, Forte proved he can block last year. But I did see him make some bad decisions, as well as bad blocks. Not calling him out, but making the point just how widespread our problems were last night.

 

There was several times that Forte stayed in to block. There was several times when there was 2 guys coming in against forte so he was screwed to begin with.

 

[Wesson44]

Hey, Forte proved he can block last year. But I did see him make some bad decisions, as well as bad blocks. Not calling him out, but making the point just how widespread our problems were last night.

IMHO he had too many people to try to block, cause the line didn't block them.

[bowlingtwig]

Hey, Forte proved he can block last year. But I did see him make some bad decisions, as well as bad blocks. Not calling him out, but making the point just how widespread our problems were last night.

Great point NFO, EVERYONE is to blame for this loss. Cutler played poorly, WR/TE's need to run through there routes and get more aquainted to whatt Cutler can/will do. RB/FB/Oline must do better at blocking. Cutler proved when given time he will destroy a defense, which he did during the 3rd quarter Sunday night when he had a perfect QB rating during that period. Defense must continue to step up though. In the Trib Haugh pointed out that the coaches believed it was a run and the play call called for Afalava to cheat up to stop the run, however in defense of Afalava, Payne was supposed to go back to protect deep and give protection on the back side, which he did not and this left Vasher on an island.

[nfoligno]

Yea, I read that too on Afalava. My mistake to call him out, but I think the point is still valid. You can't bash the coaches too much for even that play. As mentioned, Afalava was moving up, but at the same time, Payne was supposed to be backing out to provide over the top support for Vasher. Thus, while there was no question the run was our expectation, we still had two players expected to defend the pass, but both failed.

 

Great point NFO, EVERYONE is to blame for this loss. Cutler played poorly, WR/TE's need to run through there routes and get more aquainted to whatt Cutler can/will do. RB/FB/Oline must do better at blocking. Cutler proved when given time he will destroy a defense, which he did during the 3rd quarter Sunday night when he had a perfect QB rating during that period. Defense must continue to step up though. In the Trib Haugh pointed out that the coaches believed it was a run and the play call called for Afalava to cheat up to stop the run, however in defense of Afalava, Payne was supposed to go back to protect deep and give protection on the back side, which he did not and this left Vasher on an island.