Bears prepared to move John Tait to LT

[CSF]

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

[Scwible]

Finally

[AddisonStSox]

About damn time.

 

Hopefully this is the first step towards securing the offensive line.

[ChWRoCk2]

omg when did they figure out he was capable of playing lt

[knightni]

DUH!

 

 

The best OL should always play Left Tackle.

 

This should of been done last year.

 

Lovie should of known that Shea was full of s*** from the beginning.

[GoodAsGould]

another thing that makes me like this move is Columbo finally getting his shot and it should be easier for him to do it at RT hopefully... only spot im a bit worried at is LG though dont trust Rex Tucker.

[VenomSox]

If they are planning on moving Tait to LT and let Colombo compete for RT, is it more likely the bears will turn their att to Mike Williams and Braylon Edwards instead of Alex Barron.

[LDF]

another thing that makes me like this move is Columbo finally getting his shot and it should be easier for him to do it at RT hopefully... only spot im a bit worried at is LG though dont trust Rex Tucker.

 

not really, they can secure the ol, spend money of fa's wr and trade down in a weak draft and get who i think may be the best tackle in the draft in j brown.

 

i am not too sure on m williams wr. he does not have the deep threat speed that the bears need and is looking for.

[WilliamTell]

I don't know how well Tait did last year but he was always good for K.C.