Sitton Becomes the X Factor on an Improved OL...............
Sept 6, 2016 7:54:46 GMT -6
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Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2016 7:54:46 GMT -6
Sitton becomes the X factor on improved O-line
Brad Biggs
For the second consecutive year the Bears have reached Week 1 and pushed reset with the offensive line.
Circumstances of the shuffle are more encouraging this time as the Packers surprised the NFL by releasing veteran guard Josh Sitton on Saturday and the Bears were the beneficiaries a little more than 24 hours later.
While you could say the Bears mis-evaluated personnel last summer in waiting until the week of the opener to slide Kyle Long to right tackle, this situation couldn’t be planned for and was too good not to pursue with gusto.
That’s what the Bears did when they convinced Sitton his first visit as a free agent should be to Halas Hall, just a 21/2-hour drive from Green Bay. Once they got him in the building, they put on a full-court press, knowing what he could mean for an offensive line that was shaky in the preseason.
The most likely scenario is that Sitton will line up at left guard when the Bears open the season Sunday against the Texans at NRG Stadium.
Long returned to practice Monday after missing the last two weeks with a shoulder injury and is entrenched at right guard. That makes center a bit of a question.
It’s worth highlighting that coach John Fox believes center is the best position for second-round pick Cody Whitehair, who started all four exhibitions at left guard and got only 10 snaps at center in the preseason opener. Veteran Ted Larsen could figure in the mix, but Whitehair has impressed.
If center Hroniss Grasu was not lost for the season to a torn ACL in his right knee, the Bears may not have pursued Sitton. They were setting up to have a young line, one with which to grow. Now, they have a 30-year-old Sitton who, as general manager Ryan Pace says, has “skins on the wall.”
The fear is the Packers know something the Bears don’t, that Green Bay general manager Ted Thompson wouldn’t shed Sitton — reportedly to turn to unproven Lane Taylor — without some kind of issue. But the Bears did their homework. They sat down to watch all of Sitton’s snaps from last season and liked what they saw.
“That’s the first thing that pops into your head,” Pace said. “That’s when you do a ton of research.”
Pace said director of player personnel Josh Lucas and pro scouting director Champ Kelly had the team prepared for a multitude of scenarios over the weekend, and the grades on Sitton were strong. It made his addition on a three-year contract for roughly $21 million an easy call.
Sitton liked the idea of staying in the division and was motivated to make a decision quickly in order to pick up a play-book and get ready for the start of the season.
“It didn’t have anything to do with sticking it to the Packers,” said Sitton, who is from Pensacola, Fla. “(I’m) more familiar with the division (and) close to where I was. I like the weather up here. We had a few other teams interested, (but) it’s too damn hot in the South.”
Pace didn’t discount the reality that moves on the offensive line this close to the start of the season will create challenges for a group that values continuity and repetition.
“We’re also thinking what’s best long term,” he said. “You’re always weighing the pros and cons.
“All of these guys are intelligent players that I feel can adapt quickly and our coaches are going to work around the clock. It was just, ‘Hey, let’s get the best players in here and then get them acclimated as quick as we can.’ ”
If Sitton turns out to be what the Bears believe he is, they could be as strong as any team at guard. Long texted Sitton from the jump and they’ve become friends over the years meeting at the Pro Bowl.
Long, who is going to receive his own new contract any day now, has admired Sitton’s game because he has seen as much tape of the Packers offense as any team when evaluating the Vikings and Lions defenses.
“Effortless,” Long said in describing Sitton, an interesting word to choose in assessing a lineman. “He doesn’t waste steps. There is no wasted movement. It almost looks (like) slow motion. He’s like an artist.”
If Sitton and Long can make the X’s and O’s look like art when they team up during games, Pace’s aggressive play will be rewarded.
bmbiggs@chicagotribune.com Twitter @bradbiggs
Brad Biggs
For the second consecutive year the Bears have reached Week 1 and pushed reset with the offensive line.
Circumstances of the shuffle are more encouraging this time as the Packers surprised the NFL by releasing veteran guard Josh Sitton on Saturday and the Bears were the beneficiaries a little more than 24 hours later.
While you could say the Bears mis-evaluated personnel last summer in waiting until the week of the opener to slide Kyle Long to right tackle, this situation couldn’t be planned for and was too good not to pursue with gusto.
That’s what the Bears did when they convinced Sitton his first visit as a free agent should be to Halas Hall, just a 21/2-hour drive from Green Bay. Once they got him in the building, they put on a full-court press, knowing what he could mean for an offensive line that was shaky in the preseason.
The most likely scenario is that Sitton will line up at left guard when the Bears open the season Sunday against the Texans at NRG Stadium.
Long returned to practice Monday after missing the last two weeks with a shoulder injury and is entrenched at right guard. That makes center a bit of a question.
It’s worth highlighting that coach John Fox believes center is the best position for second-round pick Cody Whitehair, who started all four exhibitions at left guard and got only 10 snaps at center in the preseason opener. Veteran Ted Larsen could figure in the mix, but Whitehair has impressed.
If center Hroniss Grasu was not lost for the season to a torn ACL in his right knee, the Bears may not have pursued Sitton. They were setting up to have a young line, one with which to grow. Now, they have a 30-year-old Sitton who, as general manager Ryan Pace says, has “skins on the wall.”
The fear is the Packers know something the Bears don’t, that Green Bay general manager Ted Thompson wouldn’t shed Sitton — reportedly to turn to unproven Lane Taylor — without some kind of issue. But the Bears did their homework. They sat down to watch all of Sitton’s snaps from last season and liked what they saw.
“That’s the first thing that pops into your head,” Pace said. “That’s when you do a ton of research.”
Pace said director of player personnel Josh Lucas and pro scouting director Champ Kelly had the team prepared for a multitude of scenarios over the weekend, and the grades on Sitton were strong. It made his addition on a three-year contract for roughly $21 million an easy call.
Sitton liked the idea of staying in the division and was motivated to make a decision quickly in order to pick up a play-book and get ready for the start of the season.
“It didn’t have anything to do with sticking it to the Packers,” said Sitton, who is from Pensacola, Fla. “(I’m) more familiar with the division (and) close to where I was. I like the weather up here. We had a few other teams interested, (but) it’s too damn hot in the South.”
Pace didn’t discount the reality that moves on the offensive line this close to the start of the season will create challenges for a group that values continuity and repetition.
“We’re also thinking what’s best long term,” he said. “You’re always weighing the pros and cons.
“All of these guys are intelligent players that I feel can adapt quickly and our coaches are going to work around the clock. It was just, ‘Hey, let’s get the best players in here and then get them acclimated as quick as we can.’ ”
If Sitton turns out to be what the Bears believe he is, they could be as strong as any team at guard. Long texted Sitton from the jump and they’ve become friends over the years meeting at the Pro Bowl.
Long, who is going to receive his own new contract any day now, has admired Sitton’s game because he has seen as much tape of the Packers offense as any team when evaluating the Vikings and Lions defenses.
“Effortless,” Long said in describing Sitton, an interesting word to choose in assessing a lineman. “He doesn’t waste steps. There is no wasted movement. It almost looks (like) slow motion. He’s like an artist.”
If Sitton and Long can make the X’s and O’s look like art when they team up during games, Pace’s aggressive play will be rewarded.
bmbiggs@chicagotribune.com Twitter @bradbiggs
