Noots’ Notes: Preseason Edition
Noots’ Notes: 2010 Preseason
By
Michael Nudo
The Bears head into preseason with some perplexing positional battles to consider. Instead of focusing on the battles themselves, I’m a bit curious as to the reasoning behind the current depth chart. What? Yeah, let’s dig in and see who is crazy from the summer heat. Is it me? Or is it them? What follows is a series of key positions that have clear question marks at the top of the depth chart.
OFFENSE
Left Guard: They’re being coy about who has the lead here. Why isn’t this Josh Beekman’s job to lose? Was his play there over the last two seasons so poor that he clearly doesn’t belong? Beekman’s role has been defined as the heir apparent to the center position that Olin Kreutz is holding down. If Kreutz’s surgery is as successful as they’re saying, Beekman may be already on a new team by the time Kreutz finally hangs ‘em up. Frank Omiyale (he of the sizable contract) was handed the job last year, in spite of negligible experience at guard. Anyone who watched saw Omiyale struggle to sustain even the most simple of blocks.
As it stands now, Johan Asiata and Lance Louis have been getting the majority of reps. Asiata seems to have the inside track. Louis is a guy who has gone from tight end to tackle to guard in just a few years. I’m not sure where he projects, but he is clearly a project that I wouldn’t want to see pushed into starting until he’s had at least a season of practice at the position he’s going to play. Did they learn NOTHING from Frank Omiyale’s square peg? Beekman’s detractors say he’s undersized. He’s actually heavier than both Asiata and Louis. Ah, those rosters must be full of lies. Beekman’s numbers are whipped up full of air like a good milkshake then, right? I guess I’m more apt to have confidence in the guy who actually played interior line at Boston College. Kevin Shaffer has seen some time there this off season as well. It’s pretty clear that they’re thinking of Shaffer as the backup at both tackles, however.
I’ll be keeping a close watch on this position as the preseason unfolds. In Mike Martz’s offense, pass protection is that much more important. The winner here needs to be able to hold his own and not distract from what Kreutz is doing. And when he’s uncovered, he’ll need to be smart enough to give help to Chris Williams or Kreutz but have the awareness to know when there’s a delayed blitz sneaking around from the other side. Let’s keep an eye on who can provide positive push for Mike Tice and is smart enough to get all the protection assignments correct. If it’s not going to be Beekman, I truly hope we see some convincing evidence of a better football player winning the job outright.
July 27th, 2010 at 3:22 am
Hey Noots. Great to see you back for another season. I am very happy too that the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup. Great hockey and glad to see such overwhelming response from the fans in Chicago..