With Williams looking to be the starter at right tackle, why aren't we trying Kevin Shaffer at one of the guard positions, specifically right guard. Yeah, I know some people want him to be the swing tackle, but he can still move to either tackle position if someone is injured. I'm as sick of Garza as anyone, but I'm not convinced that Buenning can take his starting spot.

I, for one, want to get our best players on the field at every position. Shaffer was supposed to be our starting right tackle until Pace came along and moved Williams into that role. I'd have to say I like Shaffer at either guard position better than Garza, Buenning, Beekman, or Omiyale.

Does anyone else think we should be using Shaffer as more than just a swing tackle? Does anyone know if we already are?

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"There are only about a dozen NFL quarterbacks with the arm, charisma and willpower to carry a team to the Super Bowl. Cutler is on that list; Kyle Orton is not. Yet the Broncos gave Cutler away to the Bears because he didn’t make a positive first impression on new head coach Josh McDaniels. Franchise quarterbacks are harder to find than Super Bowl coaches. In fact, franchise quarterbacks often make Super Bowl coaches." -Rick Gosselin

So far the only competetion is at LG which is Beekman Vs Omiyale, RG which is Garza Vs Buenning and RT which is Shaffer VS Williams.

So Shaffer will get a chance but im sure Williams will be the starter...

If the Bears were honest and fair concerning skill levels Shaffer would be starting instead of Williams, but they have a big investment in Williams

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There should be competition for both guard spots, and Shaffer should definitely be in the running for RG

jschneider88:

With Williams looking to be the starter at right tackle, why aren't we trying Kevin Shaffer at one of the guard positions, specifically right guard. Yeah, I know some people want him to be the swing tackle, but he can still move to either tackle position if someone is injured. I'm as sick of Garza as anyone, but I'm not convinced that Buenning can take his starting spot.

I, for one, want to get our best players on the field at every position. Shaffer was supposed to be our starting right tackle until Pace came along and moved Williams into that role. I'd have to say I like Shaffer at either guard position better than Garza, Buenning, Beekman, or Omiyale.

Does anyone else think we should be using Shaffer as more than just a swing tackle? Does anyone know if we already are?

Has Shaffer ever played Guard?  Is he mobile enough?  I too would love to see Garza cut, but I'm not sure Shaffer can play the position.

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im not sure if he can but would it hurt to see

Probably because they are having Omiyale play guard and the Bears need a swing tack behind Pace and C-Will. But what do I know.

Continuity and competition on the line is just as important as getting the 5 best o-line players you have on the line at the same time.  If the Bears want to see Buenning get his shot at RG against Garza, to throw Shaffer into the competition creates a logjam at RG but nothing at RT with Williams just being handed a job.  Why did we trade a 6th and 7th for Buenning if we are never going to give him a shot?

Orlando Pace is not going to have to compete to play LT for us, but he is injury prone.  If he gets hurt during a game, I'd rather not have all three of our OT's on the line.   To have to move Shaffer or Omiyale to LT and then put Garza or Buenning in at guard is very disruptive since you are changing two players instead of one.  That's why you have the swing tackle position in the first place.

Have you seen Shaffer and Omiyale play guard enough that you would prefer Shaffer as your LG over Omiyale?  I know I have not.  All I do know is that Omiyale was a FA that ten teams tried to sign that we signed on the first day of free agency and  Kevin Shaffer was cut from the Browns and then replaced with John St. Clair of all people.  Omiyale is said to play LT better than RT, so he probably plays the left side better than the right side.  To have Shaffer take his spot at LG, the question arises that now what do you do with Omiyale?  RG?  Challenge for RT against Williams even though it's not his better side?  Swing tackle?  Why pay 14 million over 5 years for a swing tackle when you have an 8 million dollar over three years variety in Shaffer? 

I agree with Omelet that Shaffer should be the incumbent right tackle that Chris Williams needs to unseat from the position.  Shaffer has performed the RT duties at an NFL level over a period of 5 years.  Williams has not.

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Moe Greene, Left Tackle Mafia


Roberto Garza says donuts are delicious!

"A QB in the NFL Draft is a good QB or he would not be in the draft at all..."
- Priceless CBMB quote

Shaffer is a run blocking animal. King Lovie keeps saying we are a running team, yet they have installed Williams at RT. He has never really played there and run blocking is not his strength. Hmmmmm.......this is another reason why Lovie is so bad.

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Omeletpants:

Shaffer is a run blocking animal. King Lovie keeps saying we are a running team, yet they have installed Williams at RT. He has never really played there and run blocking is not his strength. Hmmmmm.......this is another reason why Lovie is so bad.

yeah lovie is so terrible...

 

once again, shaffer was cut in favor of saint clair (who i'm pretty sure you considered terrible), so why is it such an awful move to have williams as the inked starter pre-camp?  If williams blows, he loses his and enjoys the bench.

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Michael Crabtree and Matthew Stafford will flop big time
"In my opinion that sucked!" (Jim Mora)
Original Jay Cutler fan

bearfan25:

jschneider88:

With Williams looking to be the starter at right tackle, why aren't we trying Kevin Shaffer at one of the guard positions, specifically right guard. Yeah, I know some people want him to be the swing tackle, but he can still move to either tackle position if someone is injured. I'm as sick of Garza as anyone, but I'm not convinced that Buenning can take his starting spot.

I, for one, want to get our best players on the field at every position. Shaffer was supposed to be our starting right tackle until Pace came along and moved Williams into that role. I'd have to say I like Shaffer at either guard position better than Garza, Buenning, Beekman, or Omiyale.

Does anyone else think we should be using Shaffer as more than just a swing tackle? Does anyone know if we already are?

Has Shaffer ever played Guard?  Is he mobile enough?  I too would love to see Garza cut, but I'm not sure Shaffer can play the position.

You want to cut Garza?  We pay him 1.5 million a year.  That's peanuts.  I'll take him as a backup over the Steve Edwards and Q Mitchell's of the NFL.  He is being paid backup money, yet we start him.  He knows our system, is never hurt, and unseated Terrence Metcalf from his hold on RG almost immediately upon his arrival.  He has played every game since for the past three years.  If he is so bad, somebody should have been able to take the position from him in three and a half years. 

Are you one of those people still reeling from Chris Harris knocking him down twice last year during the Carolina game?  List your complaints of Garza other than "He sucks".

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Moe Greene, Left Tackle Mafia


Roberto Garza says donuts are delicious!

"A QB in the NFL Draft is a good QB or he would not be in the draft at all..."
- Priceless CBMB quote

goalforgould:

Omeletpants:

Shaffer is a run blocking animal. King Lovie keeps saying we are a running team, yet they have installed Williams at RT. He has never really played there and run blocking is not his strength. Hmmmmm.......this is another reason why Lovie is so bad.

yeah lovie is so terrible...

 

once again, shaffer was cut in favor of saint clair (who i'm pretty sure you considered terrible), so why is it such an awful move to have williams as the inked starter pre-camp?  If williams blows, he loses his and enjoys the bench.

Actually, Shaffer was cut before the Browns ever talked about St. Clair.

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goalforgould:

Omeletpants:

Shaffer is a run blocking animal. King Lovie keeps saying we are a running team, yet they have installed Williams at RT. He has never really played there and run blocking is not his strength. Hmmmmm.......this is another reason why Lovie is so bad.

yeah lovie is so terrible...

 

once again, shaffer was cut in favor of saint clair (who i'm pretty sure you considered terrible), so why is it such an awful move to have williams as the inked starter pre-camp?  If williams blows, he loses his and enjoys the bench.

On equal footing for the position, since Chris Williams was not the starter at RT last year and neither was Shaffer, the position should go to the more qualified player.  Shaffer is more experienced and known for run blocking.  He also has actual experience playing next to Garza in his past with the Falcons.  It should be his job to lose, and Williams should be trying to earn the position.

But Angelo needs for Williams to start this year, or he will be criticized for yet another 1st round drafting error.  He does not want to strike out again in the first round, and who knows, maybe CW will hold the postition down adequately.  This also might just be a "Give Chris Williams something to feel good about" kind of motivational touchy feely thing by declaring him the starter before camp starts.

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Moe Greene, Left Tackle Mafia


Roberto Garza says donuts are delicious!

"A QB in the NFL Draft is a good QB or he would not be in the draft at all..."
- Priceless CBMB quote

Omeletpants:

goalforgould:

Omeletpants:

Shaffer is a run blocking animal. King Lovie keeps saying we are a running team, yet they have installed Williams at RT. He has never really played there and run blocking is not his strength. Hmmmmm.......this is another reason why Lovie is so bad.

yeah lovie is so terrible...

 

once again, shaffer was cut in favor of saint clair (who i'm pretty sure you considered terrible), so why is it such an awful move to have williams as the inked starter pre-camp?  If williams blows, he loses his and enjoys the bench.

Actually, Shaffer was cut before the Browns ever talked about St. Clair.

Oh yeah.  He was a cap casualty, right?  They had Thomas, and just didn't want to pay him as much as he was earning to play RT or some such?

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Moe Greene, Left Tackle Mafia


Roberto Garza says donuts are delicious!

"A QB in the NFL Draft is a good QB or he would not be in the draft at all..."
- Priceless CBMB quote

BigBrandon44:

There should be competition for both guard spots, and Shaffer should definitely be in the running for RG

There you go, thats the right answer.

Here is the real scouting report on Shaffer-slow, can't handle speed rushers, poor footwork, and reckless. There has to be some reason why the Browns want St. Claire to play the postition over him.

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"I am a six time karate champion."

urlhacker:

Here is the real scouting report on Shaffer-slow, can't handle speed rushers, poor footwork, and reckless. There has to be some reason why the Browns want St. Claire to play the postition over him.

Here is the part you conveniently left out:

"He is a powerful man and pushes defensive linemen backwards as a power blocker. He is a thumper who plays to the whistle and is bright enough to get the most out of his physical abilities"

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I wanted him on the line, but it is true continuity is more important. I hope The line looks like this

Pace Omiyale Olin Buenning Williams

I dont know that this is the most talented group that we could assemble, but it is not bad to have the backups that we will have that actually have some quality NFL OL experience..

The OL is finally in a good place. My only question is Williams run blocking ability, other than that I am pleased with the OL across the board.

Pace may be injury prone, and Williams maybe too, but at least we have a solid backup at OT in Shaffer.

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Dear Chicago Bears,

We deserve better!

Scratch that.... THANKS!!! and keep up the good work!
Sincerely,

The Fans

Omeletpants:

urlhacker:

Here is the real scouting report on Shaffer-slow, can't handle speed rushers, poor footwork, and reckless. There has to be some reason why the Browns want St. Claire to play the postition over him.

Here is the part you conveniently left out:

"He is a powerful man and pushes defensive linemen backwards as a power blocker. He is a thumper who plays to the whistle and is bright enough to get the most out of his physical abilities"

kinda what you want in an OL man especially RT....

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Dear Chicago Bears,

We deserve better!

Scratch that.... THANKS!!! and keep up the good work!
Sincerely,

The Fans

THEY COULD

broughtupbears:

Omeletpants:

urlhacker:

Here is the real scouting report on Shaffer-slow, can't handle speed rushers, poor footwork, and reckless. There has to be some reason why the Browns want St. Claire to play the postition over him.

Here is the part you conveniently left out:

"He is a powerful man and pushes defensive linemen backwards as a power blocker. He is a thumper who plays to the whistle and is bright enough to get the most out of his physical abilities"

kinda what you want in an OL man especially RT....

Yeah, how many times do we talk about Road Graders with a bad attitude.

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gramster10:

THEY COULD

You forgot to bold.

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Patrick Mannelly Fan Club Member #4

Omeletpants:

If the Bears were honest and fair concerning skill levels Shaffer would be starting instead of Williams, but they have a big investment in Williams

i think that too, Shaffer just seems like he would be better at the right tackle position

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forte+orton:

Omeletpants:

If the Bears were honest and fair concerning skill levels Shaffer would be starting instead of Williams, but they have a big investment in Williams

i think that too, Shaffer just seems like he would be better at the right tackle position

No chit. Frankly, I don't care who plays, but to come out and say "this is out RT for the year" doesn't allow the best player on the field. One thing we know about Lovie is that he is stubborn. His ego doesn't allow him to change his mind. So, if Williams fails he will just leave him in there rather than look bad. If Lovie were intelligent he would make it an open competition. But thinking isn't one of Lovie's strong suits.

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Omeletpants:

forte+orton:

Omeletpants:

If the Bears were honest and fair concerning skill levels Shaffer would be starting instead of Williams, but they have a big investment in Williams

i think that too, Shaffer just seems like he would be better at the right tackle position

No chit. Frankly, I don't care who plays, but to come out and say "this is out RT for the year" doesn't allow the best player on the field. One thing we know about Lovie is that he is stubborn. His ego doesn't allow him to change his mind. So, if Williams fails he will just leave him in there rather than look bad. If Lovie were intelligent he would make it an open competition. But thinking isn't one of Lovie's strong suits.

you got his ego right "REX IS OUR QB"the good thing is childress is doing the same thing with jackson I KNOW THEY WILL START HIM OVER SAGE

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