Chicago Bears Tight Ends…Not so Good…
[picappgallerysingle id="9580961"]For those of you that know me, you know that I have never been a fan of Greg Olsen. He has never seen a block that he likes. Additionally, while he makes catches there are many occasions when he is out of a play before it begins. He will get caught up in interference or not be able to shed a defender. The Chicago Bears have claimed that he is now a recognized target, but so are Dallas Clark, Tony Gonzalez and Antonio Gates. However, the difference is that the three guys not in a Chicago Bears uniform make plays on a regular basis.
[picappgallerysingle id="9469343"]Speaking of Gates, the Chicago Bears signed his former teammate Brandon Manumaleuna as one of the big three with Julius Peppers and Chester Taylor. Manumaleuna is supposed to be a devastating blocker and will occasionally catch a pass when he’s open. Well this preseason, he hasn’t caught a pass or blocked very well. Now in his defense, he was hurt. For a guy that is considered by many to be such a great blocker, I ain’t seeing it. He was a key player for the Mike Martz offense in St. Louis, so let’s hope this is just him getting his legs back after an injury. But like with Marv Cook, the Chicago Bears haven’t had the best track record of bringing in tight ends from free agency.
[picappgallerysingle id="3196792"]Desmond Clark has been one of the more underrated Chicago Bears during his career. This season, he has made the transition to h-back as well as playing some tight end. H-back is a combination between the two positions, but one of the primary jobs of an h-back is to block for both the quarterback and running game. Clark has struggled with both of these tasks. In his defense, it is a new season and he is learning a new position. However, it better improve really quickly or this could be a disaster.
[picappgallerysingle id="9580886"]Kellen Davis isn’t a lock on this roster. He is used primarily as a special teams player and catches occasional short passes. Quite honestly, he has looked the best of the four this preseason (although I have to say that Olsen is a far superior pass catcher, but I think blocking is as big of a part of the tight end position as catching passes…unless you’re Jay Novecek). He seems to get a pad on someone and helped with the running game. That does not mean I think he is more talented than the other three (well more than Olsen in the blocking department, my two-year old son can block better), I just am giving him credit for being the best of the tight ends this preseason.
Closing Preseason Thoughts…
I think one of the dangers of the preseason is the ability of us fans to gripe about something. When teams play four games, fans want to see what his or her team can do. In the case of the Chicago Bears, we saw very little from this squad. If this team finishes 13-3, people will forget the preseason fairly quickly.
I have no issue with Lovie Smith holding out some of his star players. That being said, it would seem that learning a complicated offense like Martz’s one require a lot of practice. The lack of blocking really did not allow this group to find a rhythm. Maybe this is getting done at Halas Hall, but based on the results (and I am sure most of you would agree), we do not have much to feel good about at this point. This can all change a week from Sunday against the Detroit Lions.
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4 Rants to “Chicago Bears Tight Ends…Not so Good…”
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Looking forward to the first week of regular season and praying Cutler isnt just putting on a brave face for the media with his ” It’ll be ok ” diatribe. If his blocking doesnt improve drastically from what we’ve seen he may as well get shoe implants in his arse and save defenses the trouble of losing theirs. BEAR DOWN!!
Well put… let’s hope the Bears are like the Colts from the preseason
So much hope, so little time. For Martz to supposedly be a guy who doesn’t feature the tight end much, keeping four is kinda curious. My concerns aren’t due to the preseason, it’s the past three seasons and all those blowouts we absorbed that has me worried. Are the few players they added combined with projected growth from within going to be enough to get us back on the map? Just like the last three years, all we can do wait and see.
Great point on the tight ends, although my guess is that Martz would consider Clark an H Back. Olsen can’t block so hes really sort of an H Back too I guess.
You’re right about the blow outs too… it’s gotta take a toll