Wanted: Offensive Lineman In Chicago

During a year of disappointment in Chicago, you can point out many of flaws.  You have a Quarterback in Cutler who just seems to end up being a bust, you have a Running Back in Matt Forte who just can't seem to find that spark that he carried all last season.  You can say that well Cutler was overrated to begin with and Forte is just having a sophomore slump.  Well it should be obvious that what is leading to the demise of these two once promising players can be tied to the Offensive Line.

Take a look at the current line for them, they have pro bowler Olin Kreutz at center and arguably one of the greatest tackles in the game with Orlando Pace.  Following up with Roberto Garza and Josh Beekman controlling the interior line at the guards, and the young Chris Williams at Right Tackle.  Taking a look at the names, you have three highly skilled veterans in Garza, Kreutz, and Pace.  Not to mention you have a promising young Guard in Beekman, one would wonder how can these guys be struggling?

The woes are pretty much self evident and blatant.  The fact that more than half the game you see Cutler on his back or throwing to the other team with his league leading 20 interceptions and was sacked 24 times, a number that is equal to his 06 and 08 campaign (13 and 11 respectively).  Not to mention that the career high for him being sacked is 27.  Sure you can blame a lot of his interceptions on poor decisions, but when you get sacked 4 times in 3 separate games and was only sacked less than 2 times for only 2 games this season, that is something that cannot go unnoticed.

Matt Forte last year was a 1000 yard rusher with 8 touchdowns.  He averaged 3.9 yards per touch and was a guy who could be trusted as a rusher.  This year however, all of those stats are down and he is struggling to find a hole to bust through.  He faces criticism for not being able to find that hole, but how can one find a hole that as soon as it opens, it gets filled in a split second.  A young running back needs that offensive line to help him as he develops and matures as a player.  Yet this offensive line is constantly being man handled by the opposition and cannot get a good enough push to give time for the play to develop.

At the end of the day, this offensive line is talented and should not be having these problems.  When you got three veterans out there making dumb mistakes and penalties not only are you hurting your Quarterback and Running Back, you are sending a bad message to those young guys out there.