Offensive line nearly un-Bearable
Just when I thought that the miracle arm of Jay Cutler could muster the Monsters of the Midway from the murky depths of mediocrity, it hit me.
Well actually, it hit him.
Cutler had just fired off another frozen rope of a laser beam to a downfield receiver for a second-half first down while staring down an imminent big hit from the oncoming Falcon rush Sunday in Atlanta.
After seeing the pass was complete, one of my fellow Bears’ viewers asked the question on everyone’s mind ...
“Is Cutler still alive?”
The replay showed the quarterback with the City of Broad Shoulders resting squarely on his own pads, was still among the living, although surely no better for the wear put on by large angry men slamming him to the turf repeatedly.
And I realized this year’s incarnation of the Bears won’t be doing much of anything this season without shoring up their offensive line.
After Sunday’s loss, the Bears (who “get off the bus running” according to coach Lovie Smith) are currently ranked 27th in rushing offense with just under 90 yards per contest.
That’s bad, even worse than squads like Tampa Bay and St. Louis, who have yet to sniff a victory in 2009.
Cutler, while flashing an uncanny ability to target receivers while backpedaling from hordes of loose defenders, can’t simply will his team to victory; he’s going to need some help from a real running game and some time to throw.
The 0-line needs to go from porous to protect, from turnstile to taking names, if the Bears are going to have any shot of a playoff push.
Swapping out Frank Omiyale for Josh Beekman at left guard may be a step in the right direction.
But missteps, like Orlando Pace’s inexcusable false start on fourth and goal with the game on the line, can not keep happening if the Bears are going to make a playoff appearance.
Chris Yucus is a sports writer for the BCR. He can be contacted at cyucus@bcnrews.com.
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