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From the Tribune:

Left tackle fine with Tait
Move will give Colombo shot at right tackle

By Terry Bannon
Tribune staff reporter

January 12, 2005


When coach Lovie Smith talked about the Bears' offense needing more firepower, he wasn't necessarily talking about the offensive line. But that's where Smith and new offensive coordinator Ron Turner are going to start rebuilding the unit.

After spending his first season in Chicago at right tackle, the Bears are finalizing plans to move John Tait to left tackle, considered the most important position along the line.

"John came in before he left and told me how he'd like to help the team," Smith said Tuesday. "We feel good about the situation."

Last spring the Bears ventured into the free-agent market and gave Tait a six-year, $34 million contract. It was left-tackle money for a right tackle, a move the Bears justified because their system required, in effect, two left tackles.

Coordinator Terry Shea and that system are gone, so the Bears' best tackle will be their left tackle, a move Tait always has said he would accept.

"Like in most systems, the left tackle, protecting the quarterback's blind side, is a little more important," Turner said. "Then again, this whole situation is based on help. If they have an end and we're at a tremendous disadvantage, we're going to give him some help."

A groin injury in training camp discouraged the Bears from moving Tait after it became clear Marc Colombo wouldn't be ready to start the season. Qasim Mitchell manned left tackle, but seemed to wear down late in games.

Tait played left tackle his first three seasons in the NFL after Kansas City drafted him on the first round in 1999. In 2002 he moved to right tackle when the Chiefs signed a Pro Bowl left tackle, Willie Roaf.

The move means Colombo will get a chance to compete at right tackle, often seen as the more natural position for the 6-foot-8-inch, 325-pounder.

Colombo returned to the Bears' lineup late last season, but struggled at left tackle. He gave up four sacks in the season finale against Green Bay, but often wasn't getting the help Turner says his tackles will get next season.

The other new look involving the offensive line will be a new coach. Tuesday the Bears announced the hiring of Harry Hiestand, who had the same job under Turner at Illinois. Hiestand replaces the fired Pete Hoener. The other offensive assistants will all be back.

It will be the first NFL job for Hiestand, who coached at Missouri before Illinois. Every senior who started for Hiestand at Illinois received at least an NFL tryout.

"We've been together for eight years," Turner said. "He knows what I like to do; he knows my philosophy; I know what he likes to do. We have a good understanding of the offensive scheme, and you combine that with the assistant coaches already here, and we'll take input from there."

One of their first jobs will be fixing pass protection. The Bears gave up a team-record 66 sacks, but the line isn't getting all the blame.

"I've looked at the tapes a little bit and it's a combination of everything," Turner said. "The quarterback holding the ball too long, receivers maybe not running where they're supposed to making the quarterback hold the ball, breakdowns in the offensive line, running backs, missing a sight adjustment or hot read … it's a lot of things we'll address."

Last year the Bears started four quarterbacks and 10 offensive linemen.

"No. 1, [we want to] stay healthy and try to keep the same five [linemen] on the field," Turner said. "That's one of the keys, keep that continuity. But I think there are definitely guys we can win with who we can move the ball with and score points with.

"[Pro Bowl center] Olin Kreutz is as good as there is; there are things in place."

The offense's problems were less acute the first three games of the season—before quarterback Rex Grossman suffered a season-ending knee injury.

"I think Rex will fit in real well with what we want to do," Turner said. "His style will fit in with what we want to do. And I think he has the intangibles to be a really good player."

It's clear Turner has also received word that general manager Jerry Angelo doesn't plan a free-agent spending spree to find more of that firepower.

"You look at the receivers and running backs," he said. "There are people there who can make plays, whether it's David Terrell or whoever else is there. A lot of it has to do with confidence, putting them in position to make plays and let them know you count on them."

Turner, the Bears' offensive coordinator under Dave Wannstedt in 1993-96, chose returning to Chicago over the same job with the Baltimore Ravens.

"Ron was the first guy, and really the only guy, I talked to," Smith said. "I feel real good about what he'll be able to bring to us."
Copyright © 2005, The Chicago Tribune

Tait should've been the LT from the beginning, with Gibson on the right side. And I wonder if this definitely means the Bears are drafting a WR with the 4th pick?

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imported_DarthGator

You are right about Tait

Columbo will recover even more this offseason and will be our starter at RT (I hope)

We can then either draft Mike Williams at #4 or we can trade down to add depth at other postions like RB…..either way I am happy to see things actually moving in the right direction

mouse

THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I DID NOT WANT TO HAPPEN.

DO I THINK TAIT CAN HANDLE LT? I AM SURE HE WILL HANDLE IT FINE.

BUT I STILL DON'T THINK SHUFFLING OUR LINE AROUND IS THE ANSWER TO OUR PROBLEMS. **** IS STILL **** WHETHER **** IS PLAYING ON THE LEFT SIDE OR THE RIGHT SIDE.

LEAVE TAIT AT RT WHERE HE IS ONE OF THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS AND FILL THE LT HOLE WITH A QUALITY PLAYER, WHETHER THAT COMES WITH SOMEONE LIKE WALTER JONES IN FREE AGENCY, OR JAMAAL BROWN, WESLEY BRIT, ETC, IN THE DRAFT.

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BEAR DOWN.......... AND WHILE YOU'RE DOWN THERE.....

imported_DarthGator

dont worry mouse...i have a feeling we are still going to trade down

and if that is the case, one has to think that the O-Line will be adressed in round one...but I dont see Angelo going out into F/A unless there is a bargain to be had

natas

I just dont like having question marks at two key spots on the line, and what's worse is who is going to be the backup at both tackle spots? Gibson on the right ( he did "ok" ).. and ..... mitchell... on the left great, wow..

mouse

IF THEY ARE SERIOUS ABOUT THIS SOLVING OUR TACKLE PROBLEMS, I THINK IT MAY BE SAFE TO SAY THERE IS A VERY GOOD CHANCE THAT EITHER ELTON BROWN OR DAVID BAAS WILL BE PLAYING GUARD FOR US NEXT YEAR. WHETHER THAT COMES BY TRADING DOWN IN THE 1ST OR USING OUR 2ND ROUND PICK, WE WILL HAVE TO SEE.

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BEAR DOWN.......... AND WHILE YOU'RE DOWN THERE.....

94SupraTT

Mouse,

I think since we are paying Tait LT money we are going to make him earn it. I don't see the Bears wrapping up much more money on the line. We have alot of holes in it. LG will be ok if Brown comes back but thats only a short term solution. We still don't have an answer for RG and also I'm not sure Columbo can even play RT. There are some fairly good LEs out there that he may face (Kearse and Strahan). I think if we bring in a quality RT and a good RG in the draft we will be ok with Tait and Brown on the left side.

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</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (PeanutTillman)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>Saturday Night I was just screwing around w/ a few frineds of mine playing w/ handbrake on a rainy pavement at 11 or so.So,we usually let er rip at around 35-40 just because I dont want my car blowed up.But I get a little cocky & say I can handle it @ 50.Umm..whoops.
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mala

waddell was mentioning some OL off the practice squad, saying that he'll develop into a stable lineman...i'm forgetting the name, but i'll check on it.

hopefully this year's robert gallery won't get talked up again and get picked too soon. supposedly he was going to drop to us last year

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^^updating

natas

releasing gandy becomes more and more of a bonheaded move..

mala

why can't we bring in an LT and LG, since brown and tait are all-pro RG and RT respectively

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^^updating