How does this 2013 OL strike you?

**Coolhandluke** · 02-10-2013, 12:48 AM

1 sign FA OG Louis Vasquez and move him to LG. He's a very good pass blocker which s/b perfect for LG. He won't come cheap either, probably 5/37.5mil, first year cap hit around 4mil. He should definitely help Webb and they could gel in Kromers ZBS. I know a FA LT is the wish, I just don't think its going to happen.

2 draft RT D.J Fluker at #20 6-5 355

3 draft C Travis Frederick at #50 6-4 338

Each move appears to be very feasible with Vasquez possibly being the toughest by outbidding other teams

2013 Bears starting OL - (age)

LT Webb(25) 6-7, 333
LG Vasquez(26) 6-5, 335
C Frederick(22) 6-4, 338
RG Carimi(25) 6-7, 316 – can probably add 10 pounds this off season
RT Fluker(22) 6-5, 355

Anyone remember the old Wendys commercial “wheres the beef?”
Well here it is!

**Wounded Bear** · 02-10-2013, 01:13 AM

To me, any line that has J'Marcus Webb still in the picture is a bad line.

(In my best Dr. McCoy voice):
Damn it, Jim! Kromer is a coach, not a magician!

**Mikefive** · 02-10-2013, 01:48 AM

If Webb is playing, I want him at RT. He's better suited there.

**NEBEAR** · 02-10-2013, 02:40 AM

Originally Posted by Mikefive

If Webb is playing, I want him at RT. He's better suited there.

My thoughts exactly... We have to upgrade the LT position... After that, we should bring in 2-3 other lineman to compete at the other positions...

**Coolhandluke** · 02-10-2013, 02:39 PM

Here are Pro Football Focus's FA LT ratings. I am using these as a guideline because Emery uses them in his evaluations. When PFF grades their players, they consider anything worse than a -1.0 to be a negative grade, anything better than a +1.0 to be a positive grade, and grades between those two ranges are average.

Ryan Clady +26.9
Will Beatty +22.4
Branden Albert +13.8
Sam Baker +11.6
King Dunlap +7.1
Bryant McKinnie +1.8
Jermon Bushrod +1.5
.
J'Marcus Webb -0.7

I am going to assume that Clady, Beatty and Albert will be kept by their teams, you just dont let good LT's hit the open market. One could speculate that Albert could be tagged and traded if the chiefs decide to take Joeckel but I doubt that happens. Moving down the list, Baker is inconsistent and injury prone, this was Dunlaps first year starting after backing up for 3 years and btw, he's another 7th round pick. Mckinnie is 34 so that really only leaves Bushrod as a likely FA candidate. According to the ratings, Webb is on the bottom side of average where Bushrod is just a hair above average. Now add into the equation that Bushrod has played 6 years(29) and played next to 2012 FA pickup Ben Grubbs (5/36mil) within Kromers ZBS. I think that it is wiser to sign Vasquez(26) who is highly rated at +12.7 then to sign Bushrod who will probably even cost more because he somehow is a 2 time pro bowl bowl OT. Whatever opinion we may have of Webb, he has clearly improved from total sucky to the bottom side of average in his 2nd year at LT within Tice's system. I don't think its too much of a reach to expect greater improvement from Webb playing next to a very good experienced guard within the WCO using ZBS this coming year. Also, its highly unlikely that there will be a rookie LT that we can draft that will supplant Webb this year and thats why I went in this direction.

**Wounded Bear** · 02-10-2013, 03:24 PM

If PFF rates J'Marcus Webb as low average, they really need to revisit how they grade out talent. I'll agree, Webb has improved, but he still sucks. Maybe he doesn't look so bad since everyone else sucks as well.

Regardless if we replace him through FA or if we have to draft a rookie and wait a year, we NEED a plan to get him off the field. If he can work out at RT, great. But from what I've seen, I don't think he's starter talent at any position.

**PC Load Letter** · 02-10-2013, 04:01 PM

Originally Posted by Wounded Bear

To me, any line that has J'Marcus Webb still in the picture is a bad line.

Originally Posted by Wounded Bear

If PFF rates J'Marcus Webb as low average, they really need to revisit how they grade out talent. I'll agree, Webb has improved, but he still sucks. Maybe he doesn't look so bad since everyone else sucks as well.

Regardless if we replace him through FA or if we have to draft a rookie and wait a year, we NEED a plan to get him off the field. If he can work out at RT, great. But from what I've seen, I don't think he's starter talent at any position.

Holy hell, WB and I have been on the same page lately. You're welcome for Nemo, Northeast.