Grading the Chicago Bears Blocking Vs the New Orleans Saints

Submitted by Your Boy Roy on Wed, 09/21/2011 - 11:25am

The Chicago Bears embarrassing loss the New Orleans Saints serves as a classic example of how games can quickly get out of hand when one side of the offensive gameplan fails. Couple that with a turnover on your own side of the field versus an explosive Saints offense and you have the makings of a total offensive collapse.

With the Bears being down 30-13 in the 4th quarter, the Saints had their way with them as they had plenty enough of a cushion to blitz like madmen, knowing the Bears had to pass their way back into the game. Though the Bears offensive line had their share of mistakes in the 4th quarter, the individual grades of all blockers involved reveal that a significant portion of the blame belongs elsewhere.

Offensive Line as a Unit
Though some of the linemen played well individually, each of their mistakes compounded totaling to 24.5 out of 69 gradable plays. Their performance was the poorest in the running game. This definitely was a contributing factor towards the abandonment of the running game, though only for a couple of drives. The pass blocking was actually decent until the Saints could pin their ears back in the 4th quarter. The game quickly got out of hand for the offense after Kellen Davis' blown block led to a turnover. That was also the play where Jay Cutler's throat was injured.
	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Gm
	Plays-Mistakes, %age, Grade
Overall	17-9 47.06% F	18-4 77.78% C	13-5 61.54% F	21-8.5 59.52% F	69-26.5 61.59% F
Running	7-7 0% F	2-1.5 25% F	2-1 50% F	NA	11-9.5 13.64% F
Passing	10-2 80% C+	16-2.5 84.38% B-	11-4 63.64% F	21-8.5 59.52% F	58-17 70.69% D

Chris Williams
Continues to show that pass blocking is his strength. One of his passing mistakes came due to losing the one on one battle allowing his guy to get passed him and hit Cutler. This could also be the play where Cutler hurts his throat. His other 1.5 mistakes in the passing game can actually be attributed to missed assignments and could therefore be cleaned up. On one of his running game mistakes, he showed poor hand placement allowing the defender to easily swim by him, dropping him to the ground in the process. On the other mistake he had in the running game, for some reason he doubles Garza's man from behind, actually pushing the defender into the hole, thereby stuffing the play.
	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Gm
	Plays-Mistakes, %age, Grade
Overall	17-0 100% A+	18-1 94.44% A-	13-2 84.62% B-	21-1 95.24% A	69-4 94.20% A-
Running	7-0 100% A+	2-.5 75% C-	2-1 50% F	NA	11- 1.5 86.36% B
Passing	10-0 100% A+	16-.5 96.88% A	11-1 90.91% B+	21-1 95.24% A	58 -2.5 95.69% A

Roberto Garza
Continued to play a very solid center leaving no doubt, barring injuries, he is their center for 2011. On his lone running game mistake, he doesn't hold his block and gets shed at the line of scrimmage allowing his guy to make the tackle. The biggest mistake he made was when he guessed wrong on the blitz and slid the protection in the opposite direction causing a defender to come free from Webb's side to sack Jay in garbage time.
	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Gm
	Plays-Mistakes, %age, Grade
Overall	17-1.5 91.18% B+	18-0 100% A+	13-0 100% A+	21-2 90.48% B+	69-3.5 94.93% A
Running	7-1 85.71% B-	2-0 100% A+	2-0 100% A+	NA	11-1 90.91% B+
Passing	10-.5 95% A	16-0 100% A+	11-0 100% A+	21-2 90% B+	58-2.5 95.69% A

Chris Spencer
Continuing to earn his money while filling in admirably for Lance Louis, he graded out as the third best lineman overall, proving his value. One of his mistakes in the running game came on the first play of the game when bad pad level and hand placement allowed penetration behind the line of scrimmage. His other mistake in the running game came when he doubled Garza's guy with bad body position so that when Garza slid to the next free defender, Spencer's man had a clean shot when he tackled Forte.
	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Gm
	Plays-Mistakes, %age, Grade
Overall	17-1 94.12% A-	18-2 88.89% B	13-1 92.31% A-	21-1 95.24% A	69-5 92.75% A-
Running	7-1 85.71% B-	2-1 50% F	2-0 100% A+	NA	11-2 81.82% C+
Passing	10-0 100% A+	16-1 93.75% A-	11-1 90.91% B+	21-1 95.24% A	58-3 94.83% A

Gabe Carimi
Though he graded well overall he made a few rookie mistakes which contributed towards the ineffectiveness of the running game. Graded out as the worst run blocker. Was caught with poor hand placement once, allowing him to easily be swam passed. Had bad pad level thereby allowing penetration on two other plays. Blocked very well in the passing game, making no mistakes on 24 gradable plays.
	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Gm
	Plays-Mistakes, %age, Grade
Overall	17-2.5 85.29% B-	16-0 100% A+	NA	NA	33-2.5 92.42% A-
Running	7-2.5 64.29% F	2-0 100% A+	NA	NA	9-2.5 72.22% D+
Passing	10-0 100% A+	14-0 100% A+	NA	NA	24-0 100% A+

Frank Omiyale
Filled in well for Carimi until all hell broke loose in the 4th quarter. After Jay's voice went hoarse, he false started twice. After false starting the first time, he cautiously gets off the line too late getting into bad body position and allowing his guy to get an additional hit on Cutler who was already sacked. Also gets beat with quickness on another 4th quarter Cutler sack.
	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Gm
	Plays-Mistakes, %age, Grade
Overall	NA	2-0 100% A+	13-0 100% A+	21-3.5 83.33% B-	36-3.5 90.28% B+
Running	NA	NA	2-0 100% A+	NA	2-0 100% A+
Passing	NA	2-0 100% A+	11-0 100% A+	21-3.5 83.33% B-	34-3.5 89.71% B+

J'Marcus Webb
Showed a lack of concentration on a couple of false starts. Noticing Garza move his head to the left, he flinches thinking Garza was snapping the ball. His main enemy on most of his mistakes continues to be his tendency to let his pad level slip along with poor hand placement. On the very first play, he gets stood up and then shed forcing Kellen Davis to compound the mistake by abandoning his guy to help out Webb. Graded out as the second worst run blocker, Carimi being the worst.
	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Gm
	Plays-Mistakes, %age, Grade
Overall	17-4 76.47% C-	18-1 94.44% A-	13-2 84.62% B-	21-1 95.24% A	69-8 88.41% B
Running	7-2.5 64.29% F	2-0 100% A+	2-0 100% A+	NA	11-2.5 77.27% C
Passing	10-1.5 85% B-	16-1 93.75% A-	11-2 81.82% C+	21-1 95.24% A	58 -5.5 90.52% B+

Matt Spaeth
Played like the highest paid tight end on the roster. Was sadly missed in the fourth quarter, though the game was mostly out of hand by the time the offense took the field. If the Bears could only make one move to significantly improve their overall blocking, it would be to start Spaeth over Kellen Davis.
	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Gm
	Plays-Mistakes, %age, Grade
Overall	7-1 85.71% B-	1-0 100% A+	1-0 100% A+	NA	9-1 88.89% B
Running	5-1 80% C+	1-0 100% A+	1-0 100% A+	NA	7-1 85.71% B-
Passing	2-0 100% A+	NA	NA	NA	2-0 100% A+

Kellen Davis
Deserves all the heat he's been taking this week. Though he had his positive plays, such as sealing the edge on Forte's 42 yard scamper, he makes far too many mistakes to be starting over Matt Spaeth. The only reason he must be starting is because the Bears feel he is a better receiver than Spaeth. As little as the Bears throw to the tight end, it's not worth the trade-off having him start over Spaeth. Davis' blown block on the sack-fumble of Jay led to his being injured while being piled upon. If you look very closely, you can see Turk McBride intentionally leaning his weight on Jay's throat with his forearm while getting off of the pile. If you listen, you can hear the clear difference in Jay's voice during the cadence before and after that play. If the Bears continue to start Davis over Spaeth he better have a very short leash as it will be at their own increased risk.
	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Gm
	Plays-Mistakes, %age, Grade
Overall	14-8 42.86% F	4-1 75% C-	6-1.5 75% C-	3-2 33.33% F	27-12.5 53.7% F
Running	7-5.5 21.43% F	2-1 50% F	1-0 100% A+	NA	10-6.5 35% F
Passing	7-2.5 64.29% F	2-0 100% A+	5-1.5 70% D	3-2 33.33% F	17-6 64.71% F

Tyler Clutts
Played well for the limited snaps that he saw. His lone mistake came on a short passing play when he doesn't engage his guy well, thereby allowing the defender to make the tackle of Forte. Though it would limit their playcalling somewhat, Clutts blocked well enough to allow the Bears the option to phase out Davis should he continue to struggle.
	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Gm
	Plays-Mistakes, %age, Grade
Overall	2-0 100% A+	1-1 0% F	2-0 100% A+	1-0 100% A+	6-1 83.33% B-
Running	2-0 100% A+	NA	1-0 100% A+	NA	3-0 100% A+
Passing	NA	1-1 0% F	1-0 100% A+	1-0 100% A+	3-1 66.67% D-

Matt Forte
On his limited six opportunities to pass block, he had two mistakes. On one of his mistakes, he whiffs on a block getting turned around, but makes up for it by gaining 11 yards when Jay alertly throws him the ball. His other mistake came due to bad hand placement and a lack of physicality on the engage which hurried a Cutler incompletion to Knox.
	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Gm
	Plays-Mistakes, %age, Grade
Passing	1-1 0% F	3-1 66.67% D-	1-0 100% A+	1-0 100% A+	6-2 66.67% D-

Khalil Bell
His pass blocking was terrible which had me wishing for Chester Taylor. Showed a lack of physicality during engagement on several pass blocks. His poor pass blocking contributed towards two Cutler 4th quarter sacks. Hopefully Marion Barber can return and stay healthy otherwise they might have to not pass when he's in which would eventually be a dead give-away.
	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Gm
	Plays-Mistakes, %age, Grade
Passing	NA	2-.5 75% C-	1-0 100% A+	7-3 57.14% F	10-3.5 65% D-

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2 comments posted

I'm a little confused about

I'm a little confused about the pass blocking grades, Roy. Apparently only Bell and Davis were to fault in the pass blocking? All I saw was a free-for-all in the second half. Neither Omiyale or Webb scored below 80%?

Posted by Irish_Sweetness on Sat, 09/24/2011 - 4:28am

Turk McBride is a puss and

Turk McBride is a puss and that so pisses me off. Intentionally trying to hurt someone is a dumb move and that should be send in to the NFL. STUPID

Great article. I want me some Matt Spaeth, Davis needs to not start this game to get his big head out of his @ss. Why he thinks he is anything is beyond me when he has not even done anything worth noting.

Boy i am really missing Roy and Marion, LOTS! Also missing Harris. We need them back to succeed because are back ups are just horrendous in blocking. As i am going to this game i am very worried, i dont want to see another slaughter of Cutler.

Thanks for writing another great article.

Posted by wisconsinbearsfan on Wed, 09/21/2011 - 9:28pm

Grading the Chicago Bears Blocking Vs the New Orleans Saints

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