Things done changed: Chapter 1

Published on January 12, 2011 by Seahawk Fanatic     

This is a rematch of the regular-season game, but a lot has changed since Oct. 17 when Seattle played at Chicago. In the four days leading up to the game, we’ll be counting the many ways it’s different.

1) Chicago’s pass protection

Chicago was two-thirds of the way through its offensive-line makeover on Oct. 17, moving Chris Williams from left tackle to guard for the first time. That left Frank Omiyale at left tackle and rookie J’Marcus Webb slid in at right tackle.

“We’ve moved some guys around,” quarterback Jay Cutler said Wednesday in a conference call with Seattle-area reporters. “Chris Williams is now playing guard, we’ve got a rookie out there at right tackle. We’ve pushed some stuff around a little bit, and the last six games, they’ve really gelled and played well.”

The results weren’t pretty in October, Chicago allowing six sacks to Seattle. But almost three months later, things look very different. While the Bears allowed six sacks in the regular-season finale to Green Bay, that was an aberration. The Bears gave up 27 sacks in the first six games and 29 over the past 10.

Cutler was asked if he has had more time in the pocket since the changes.

“Definitely the last three weeks,” he said. “Those first couple of games, they were just kind of getting a feel for each other. Any time you put a rookie in there, it’s going to take a little bit of time, but he has come along extremely well. Olin (Kreutz) is doing a great job of keeping everything organized up there and they’re playing well.”

Tags: Aberration, Bears, Conference Call, Frank Omiyale, Green Bay, Jay Cutler, Job, Little Bit, Makeover, Marcus Webb, Offensive Line, Olin Kreutz, S Pass, Sacks, Season Finale, Season Game, Seattle Area, Six Games, Three Months, Two Thirds