Jeff Davidson

[PurpleMustReign]

Has their been any talk about his job security? The reason I Ask is because with Atlanta firing Mike Smith, it is possible that Mike Tice would be available, and I would like to see what he can do with our Offensive Line, especially Kalil.

[dead_poet]

Has their been any talk about his job security? The reason I Ask is because with Atlanta firing Mike Smith, it is possible that Mike Tice would be available, and I would like to see what he can do with our Offensive Line, especially Kalil.

Not much other than Zimmer mentioning today that he thought most of the staff would be returning ("If they want to be here"). WRs coach took a job at KU.

[Pondering Her Percy]

I have a feeling they will keep Davidson around. In all honesty, our make-shift offensive line played pretty decent for have 3 backups in there. I think another big part of that was because Teddy was getting the ball out a lot quicker by seasons end. With Kalil playing better and everyone back healthy next year, I see our only real need right now as LG. Some depth at OT would help as well but that can be found fairly cheap in FA or in later rounds of the draft. I truly believe that if we can get a good LG and have everyone back next year which we should, our offensive line will be night and day compared to this year.

[jackal]

Yes Johnson needs to go he can't hold anyone up at all and fumbles around like an idiot half of the plays.
I actually think a lot of Kalil's issue is not being able to depend on Johnson assignments.

[PurpleKoolaid]

There was a time I thought Johnson (G) was playing better then Kalil. But Kalil snapped out of it. He was a fairly decent tackle at the end of the season, and Johnson was a decent guard. I would like to hear someone else's side of it, but that's how it seemed to me.

One thing that had me wondering. CP had been playing poorly, much like Kalil. But then they benched CP, and let Kalil play out, which in turn help both Johnson and Kalil. But it also helps, by sitting CP, Johnson (wr) and Wright to become better WRs.

[mansquatch]

I would imagine that part of benching CP in favor of Johnson was because they had a guy like Johnson available. Who would have been the "Charles Johnson" at Left Tackle? My guess is they felt that even though Kalil was struggling, the guys behind him would have been even worse. Also one has to consider what that would mean to the Rookie QB they were trying to protect.

I think the CP84 - Charles Johnson comparison is just not the same thing as the Kalil situation. Definitely not an Apples to Apples comparison.

[mmvikes]

I have a feeling they will keep Davidson around. In all honesty, our make-shift offensive line played pretty decent for have 3 backups in there. I think another big part of that was because Teddy was getting the ball out a lot quicker by seasons end. With Kalil playing better and everyone back healthy next year, I see our only real need right now as LG. Some depth at OT would help as well but that can be found fairly cheap in FA or in later rounds of the draft. I truly believe that if we can get a good LG and have everyone back next year which we should, our offensive line will be night and day compared to this year.

I was on the fire Davidson bandwagon, but you are right. The line played better late in the season with back-ups in. Maybe the early struggles were a result of learning the new blocking assignments in the new system. I agree also that a good LG could solidify our line. Hopefully Rick can pick up a free agent coming off his rookie contract, as has been suggested by some here, rather than putting a rookie in and waiting for him to develop in the pro game. A good one will not come cheap though. Rob and Rick will be busy this offseason trying to get some players to restructure their contracts to give us more wiggle room in free agency.

[mmvikes]

Not much other than Zimmer mentioning today that he thought most of the staff would be returning ("If they want to be here"). WRs coach took a job at KU.

I like Mike Tice and think he got shafted as our HC by giving him a cheap, skeleton coaching staff, but I saw a lot of his work here in Chicago as offensive line coach when Cutler was getting knocked around like a pinata and was less than impressed. Aside from Sucklers tendency to hold onto the ball forever looking for the deep ball, the line improved tremendously after he left.

[Mothman]

I like Mike Tice and think he got shafted as our HC by giving him a cheap, skeleton coaching staff, but I saw a lot of his work here in Chicago as offensive line coach when Cutler was getting knocked around like a pinata and was less than impressed. Aside from Sucklers tendency to hold onto the ball forever looking for the deep ball, the line improved tremendously after he left.

I think that had a lot more to do with giving it a serious personnel overhaul than with Tice's departure. He was practically coaching with mirrors with the OL "talent" he had in Chicago. If I'm not mistaken, the Bears replaced 4 out of 5 starters on their o-line between the end of 2012 and the beginning of the 2013 season.

[Pondering Her Percy]

I was on the fire Davidson bandwagon, but you are right. The line played better late in the season with back-ups in. Maybe the early struggles were a result of learning the new blocking assignments in the new system. I agree also that a good LG could solidify our line. Hopefully Rick can pick up a free agent coming off his rookie contract, as has been suggested by some here, rather than putting a rookie in and waiting for him to develop in the pro game. A good one will not come cheap though. Rob and Rick will be busy this offseason trying to get some players to restructure their contracts to give us more wiggle room in free agency.

Yeah I was wondering if the blocking scheme was part of the struggles as well. When it comes to LG however, I really can't see us signing a LG in free agency unless it's for depth purposes and we get them for next to nothing. Sully, Fusco, and Phil are all sitting on good size contracts. I can't see them paying big money for another offensive lineman.

[Welsh Vike]

Interesting point PHP. But why should that actually be? Is free agency not simply an opportunity to pick up experienced upgrades wherever they are most needed? If you build through the draft you quick fix through free agency, and if the biggest need on the team is (arguably) left guard, then why should it matter if there's already a ton of money committed to other positions on the same line?

Personally, if they see a guard in FA they like, I think they should go get him, but only if he's the guy they really like, rather than simply being desparate for any fill in.

[Pondering Her Percy]

Interesting point PHP. But why should that actually be? Is free agency not simply an opportunity to pick up experienced upgrades wherever they are most needed? If you build through the draft you quick fix through free agency, and if the biggest need on the team is (arguably) left guard, then why should it matter if there's already a ton of money committed to other positions on the same line?

Personally, if they see a guard in FA they like, I think they should go get him, but only if he's the guy they really like, rather than simply being desparate for any fill in.

I understand where you're coming from. I'm not saying its out of the question because I would like a guy like Clint Boling from Cincinnati. However, that is a lot of money to have bottled up on an offensive line. Especially with Sully being 30 by the start of next season, Loadholt being 29, and Fusco being 27. I just feel like we need more youth on our offensive line or we are going to get old real fast. If we take a guy out of free agency this offseason, chances are, he'll be 26 or probably older because they will be coming off their rookie contract. In turn, that will make Matt Kalil our youngest lineman still and we drafted him 4 years ago this April. Again, I'm not saying it's out of the question or wrong to snag a good LG in FA but thats a lot of money tied up into a line that won't be very young at all.

One thing I will definitely give Jeff Davidson credit for though, he has done a pretty good job developing late round linemen. I mean granted, Sully was already there when he arrived but still. Fusco was a 6th round pick out of a no-name school called Slippery Rock and is our best offensive lineman. It still makes me wonder if we have a hidden gem in Yankey. Yankey was very good at Stanford and was a 1st team All American guard. My guess is, he has all the tools but just needs to get stronger, something that Zimmer came out and said

[jackal]

I am hoping Yankey is a steal for us.. I wanted him taken in round two last year and he went to fifth round...

I am just hoping the kid has an awesome work ethic ..