Frank "the Tank" Omiyale: What Does He do for the Bears' Offensive Line?

The Bears recently signed a little known offensive lineman named Frank Omiyale (OH-mee-YEL).

So far Frank "the Tank" Omiyale's highlights of his career have been these two things:

1) On October 5, 2008, Omiyale made his first NFL regular season start, replacing the injured left tackle Jordan Gross who was out with a concussion.

2) Omiyale signed a four-year, $14 million deal with the Chicago Bears on February 27, 2009.

Omiyale was asked why he chose Da Bears:

“Because it’s the Bears. I’ve heard a lot about the tradition here. From talking to other players around the league, I know it’s a family-oriented organization, so that’s what really made it attractive.”

Omiyale sounds like a Chicago Bear to me.

With the retirement of John Tait and John St. Clair maybe not returning, I have come up with the Bears starters at the o-line:

LT- Chris Williams (The Bears' 14th overall in last year's draft, was injured for most of the season).

LG- Josh Beekman (He started all 16 games for the Bears last season and did a solid job, some say he might take over at center once Olin Kreutz retires).

C- Olin Kreutz (The soon to be 32 year old, struggled at times last season, but still can be the pro bowl player he was three seasons ago).

RG- Roberto Garza (31 year old lineman was shaky at times through last season, and Bears' GM Jerry Angelo has said Frank Omiyale could compete with Garza at RG if John St. Clair doesn't resign).

RT- Frank Omiyale (From what you read above, Omiyale is very inexperienced, but many Panthers players have said he was overshadowed by Pro Bowler Jordan Gross).

Backups:

G- Dan Buenning a reserve lineman for the Bears last season could be in the mix with Garza for the starting RG job.

G- Terrence Metcalf- was suspended for four games last season and has struggled at times when he was able to start.

LS- Patrick Mannelly- Strictly a long snapper, but is listed at center.

T- Cody Balogh- spent all last season on the practice squad last season.

G- Tyler Reed- also spent all last season on the practice squad.

quotes from chicagosuntimes.com

Lance Briggs lone bear heading to Honolulu

Lance Briggs was selected to his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl today

Lance Briggs leads the Bears in tackles with 122.

He also has three interceptions, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble.


Briggs on Pro Bowl:

"Obviously, I'm ecstatic about it, I'm extremely excited. It's always nice to get voted to the Pro Bowl, and this is going four years in a row."


Urlacher on Briggs' Pro Bowl vote:

"He’s having a great year, man, after the first game of the year I told him, 'You should be defensive player of the year. There’s no doubt in my mind.' He just makes plays."

Brian Urlacher was named a third alternate at MLB.

Tommie Harris was named a first alternate at defensive tackle.

Center Olin Kreutz, punter Brad Maynard, and tight end Greg Olsen were named second alternate.

Also, Devin Hester was named a third alternate kick returner.

All quotes from Chicagotribune.com

Wednesday's injury update

Fullback Jason McKie (quad), nose tackle Anthony Adams (foot), linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer (Achilles') and defensive end Adewale Ogunleye (shoulder) were held out of Wednesday's practice.

Defensive tackle Tommie Harris, safety Mike Brown, and center Olin Kreutz rested.

Orton Update

Kyle Orton was on the practice field for the second consecutive day as his right ankle continues to heal.

The ankle was wrapped, and the Bears' starting quarterback didn't run during warm-ups.

Orton's role in practice was expected to be limited, and no announcement was expected regarding his availability for Sunday's game at Green Bay.

Linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer (thumb) and cornerback Charles Tillman (shoulder) were limited as well.

Backup tackle Fred Miller sat out nursing a sore shoulder.

Safety Mike Brown, defensive tackle Tommie Harris and center Olin Kreutz were back at practice after a day of rest.

Running back Kevin Jones was back as well after missing Wednesday for personal reasons.

Guess whose back? Back again. Rex is back. Tell a friend.

Rex had this to say back in August:

“I’ll never fully get over it and I don’t think anyone would expect me to, my motivation is to be a great player in this league and a starter again, but for right now I’ve got to be the best quarterback ready at a moment’s notice. That’s my goal and that’s my job.”

Rex had this to say after the big win:

“The last couple months have been tough, but when you have a role and your number is called to fulfill that role, I was happy to come in and help us win the game.

“It was tough, I didn’t have any reps in practice. I was [Lions quarterback] Dan Orlovsky all week. I just had to memorize the game plan and go through it, pay attention, all those types of things. It’s not easy to just sit there for an hour or hour and a half not thinking you’re going to play at all and then, boom, be brought into the mix.”

Orton was being reevaluated Monday after exiting the game with :26 remaining in the second quarter when his ankle bent awkwardly while being tackled by defensive end Dewayne White.

“You always want to play, but never under those circumstances, I had the whole half[time] to think to myself about my game plan; how I was going to go out there and get ready. So that was nice. After that first series I started feeling pretty good about just being out there. I got my feet wet and calmed down and everything was fine.”

“As frustrating as it was to not be the guy to start off [the season], you have a different role, and in that role, I came in and did the job.”

Lovie Smith had this to say about Rex:

“When you’re the backup quarterback and you haven’t gotten a lot of reps and you’re asked to step up and make plays like that, it was important for Rex to come in and then do some of the things that he was able to do.”

Olin Kreutz on Rex's Play:

“We believe in Rex, Rex has been our starter for a long time. Like he showed, he’s ready to play. If a guy runs the no-huddle, he’s studying his plays.

“He’s being a professional as what’s expected of him as a backup quarterback. All along he has taken his demotion well and he’s studied hard, and he showed that [Sunday].”

WR Rashied Davis on Rex's Play:

"Grossman hasn't been in there for a while, so we tried to pick him up until he could get comfortable, everyone knows what he is capable of doing."

DE Alex Brown on Rex:

"It's not like it's his first time, he has been there before. If we can just cut out some of the boos when a bad play happens, we'll be fine, Orton's our quarterback, but right now I guess Rex is, "We have two good quarterbacks."

Now backup QB Caleb Hanie talks about the possibility of playing and how Rex played:

"Rex came in and did a good job. He did what he's supposed to do."
"It was a wake-up call to both of us that you're one play away, so you have to prepare. We'll see what Kyle's injury entails. It's looking decent, so hopefully he won't be out for the year. He has earned the right to be in there. But luckily we have Rex. He's also an NFL quarterback and he's a talented guy."

Down the Road:

If Kyle Orton aka K.O. is out for a month, Rex will have to face Tennessee at home next week, and then Green Bay, St. Louis and Minnesota all on the road.

Next week will be a huge game, but also the two NFC North games will be huge.

My inside source told me that Kyle Orton drove home last night after the game and Rex Grossman has been told by Pep Hamilton (the Bears QB coach) to not be a gunslinger.

Rather be more like Kyle Orton, who was so far the Bears' best player.

If Orton finished out the season and kept playing well he would have been a sure pick for the Pro Bowl and a fantasy football stud.

Prediction:

The Bears won't be awful without Orton, but there offense must step it up for Rex and I think with this week of practice as the #1 QB will be huge for him and the team.

Tennessee will be a huge test for Rex and the Bears.

The Packers almost beat them and we are ahead of the Packers, so will see.

Bears O-line playing surprisingly well

John St. Clair on the offensive line perform:

“We don’t listen to what anybody says, we try to focus on ourselves. That’s what we did in training camp. We try to play hard and our practice carries over into the game.

That’s what we’ve been doing. We believe in each other. We’re a bunch of humble guys. We just want to work hard and win. That’s what has carried us this far.”

These Guys look good eh?

The approach clearly has worked.

The offensive line, which also includes left guard Josh Beekman, center Olin Kreutz, right guard Roberto Garza and right tackle John Tait—has played a prominent role in the resurgence of an offense that has helped the Bears average 28.0 points per game, tied for the second most in the NFL.

Matt Forte on the offensive line:

“They’re playing great, they’re playing ball like they’re supposed to, protecting the quarterback and opening up running lanes. That’s what their job is, and they’re doing it.”

Ron Turner on John St. Clair's emergence:

“He’s proven a lot of people wrong, those questions more were from the outside than they were inside. A lot of guys in that locker room and the coaches had a lot of confidence in John.

“He’s played very good football for us. He’s a great worker and we’re not surprised at how he’s playing. I think everyone on the outside is. He’s played quite a bit for different guys, and whenever he’s gotten in to play, he’s always been productive and he’s played well.”

Bears name Captains

The Bears selected their team captains for the 2008 season: Center Olin Kreutz and quarterback Kyle Orton on offense; middle linebacker Brian Urlacher and safety Mike Brown on defense; and long-snapper Patrick Mannelly on special teams.

“There are a lot of things that go into it,” coach Lovie Smith said when asked about the criteria of picking team captains.

“Most of the time, it’s a pretty good football player. It’s a guy who does it the right way most of the time. I’m talking about preparing off the field. You can count on him on the football field and just a guy that you want representing you."

“It’s always good to see that there are a couple guys who get votes because you have two guys out in front on both sides of the ball, but you’re going to need 11 leaders really always.”

Chicago Bears: Name Kyle Orton Opening Day Starter.

It was announced today, that Kyle Orton will be the Chicago Bears opening day starter, as he beat out Rex Grossman, in a QB competition which lasted from training camp to last week in Seattle.

Apparently he beat out Rex Grossman, who many think played terrible last week, played behind a terrible offensive line.

No one can be good behind that offensive line, they got no help this off-season for that glaring problem.

Matt Forte was lucky to average 3.0 yards per carry behind those guys.

Olin Kreutz is the only offensive lineman, that looked decent.

Lovie Smith had this to say about Orton's performance "Starting against the Chiefs and coming in off the bench versus the Seahawks, Orton won the competition without directing the offense to a touchdown or completing a pass of more than 17 yards. His five preseason possessions resulted in two field goals and three punts."

The Chicago Bears will open the season in Indy against the Cots on Sep. 7.

Orton started 15 games in 2005 and three last season and he has thrown for more than 2,300 yards and 12 touchdowns in his career.

Personally I think Lovie is putting in the worse QB out of the two, Rex has a better arm.

This could be the same situation as last year, where Lovie put in Brian Griese, which was terrible.

Personally I feel bad for Rex Grossman, he is hated by so many people in Chicago.

I hope this isn't a big mistake, but in the end if we have a terrible offensive line, it doesn't matter.

Chicago Bears: Highlights From Training Camp, Day 2

Welcome back to Chicago Bears Training Camp highlights. Yesterday was the second day of training camp for the Bears and again no sign of Devin Hester.

But, they brought in another wide receiver from Hawaii Ryan Grice-Mullen. They signed the undrafted free agent after they released FB J.D. Runnels.

Ryan Grice-Mullen is 5'11" weighs about 183 and has a very slim chance of making the team, but he plays the slot and he could replace Devin Hester, if he never shows up again.

Ryan Grice Mullen is a rookie that signed with the Texans as an undrafted free-agent but was cut after the mini-camps.

I was a bit surprised that they didn't keep him around for longer, I thought Grice-Mullen was the best WR on Hawaii's team last year.

Other notes from yesterday:

Rookie LT Chris Williams leaves the field with a back injury, but Lovie Smith think he will be back on the field soon.

Kevin Jones is seen doing some drills. Hopefully he will compete for the starting with Matt Forte soon.

Little known WR Mike Hass who spent most of his time with the Bears on the practice squad made a nice catch thrown by Kyle Orton.

Charles Tillman and Olin Kreutz are still out.

Here is a video of Ryan Grice-Mullen--

Colt Brennan to Ryan Grice-Mullen