Bears’ O-line shuffle continues
DETROIT — Shuffling the deck has part of Mike Tice’s job since he took over as the Bears’ offensive line coach last season and was forced to use five different O-line combinations in the first eight games.
Monday night featured the fourth different lineup this season in five weeks.
“The whole season is a jerry-rigging,” Tice said. “With injuries in this league and the amount of guys we suit up — remember we only suit seven up — you have to have a plan: If this (happens), then that; if this, then that.”
Monday night Lance Louis was back at right guard, where he started on opening day but was sidelined by a sprained ankle and replaced by Chris Spencer for the next three games. Spencer suffered a fractured hand in the second quarter in Week 4, and he was active Monday night, but did not start. Even though he wasn’t 100 percent last week, Louis replaced Spencer temporarily. When Spencer returned for the second half, Louis filled in for right tackle Frank Omiyale, who was benched but back in the lineup vs. the Lions.
Omiyale, who had 1 of the Bears’ 8 false starts, was benched Monday night in the second half again, with Louis moving over to right tackle and Edwin Williams taking over at right guard. Left tackle J’Marcus Webb had 3 false-start penalties.
“It was loud, but coaches definitely did their job of trying to prepare us for that and we just have to be able to step up and make plays when our number’s called,” Omiyale said. Hopefully it will be a good experience for down the road. I don’t know what else to say. It’s just one of those things.”
Looking for direction:Defensive end Israel Idonije was disappointed with the Bears#146; performance in the first quarter of the season. He saw the Lions game as a chance for redemption and a reversal of fortunes, even though the Bears were 6-point underdogs.But it didn#146;t happen.#147;They had three big plays that we gave them, and they capitalized,#148; Idonije said. #147;It#146;s disappointing.#148;Idonije picked up his second sack of the season in the first half, but it was the only time the Bears got to Matthew Stafford, who completed 19 of 26 passes for 219 yards, 2 TDs and a 107.7 passer rating.For the second straight week, nickel corner D.J. Moore got the Bears#146; only interception.The big stage:The Bears were a bust on Monday night after having won four straight under coach Lovie Smith, who was clearly not satisfied with the performance.#147;It was not a well-played game by us,#148; he said. #147;We are better than that. We can#146;t use the loud crowd as an excuse. I can#146;t say any of us played great, but Jay (Cutler) kept us in there at times. But their defense made us earn every point we got. Our defense did not make them earn their points.#148;Smith said he was not concerned over the continued abuse that Cutler has been taking.#147;That#146;s part of football,#148; Smith said. #147;Jay#146;s a big boy; he can take it. Sometimes quarterbacks get knocked down.#148;Getting closer:Robbie Gould entered Monday night#146;s game as the third-most-accurate field-goal kicker in NFL history at 86.1 percent (167-for 194), having made all 8 of his attempts this season. He needed to make 7 more in a row to surpass Nate Kaeding (86.5) as the most accurate kicker of all time. He got 2 of them Monday night, a 44-yarder early in the second quarter and a 49-yarder in the fourth quarter.Down, not out:Defensive end Julius Peppers suffered a knee injury late in the first quarter and left the game. His return was considered questionable, but he was back by the midway point of the second quarter.#147;He was able to suck it up and keep going,#148; Lovie Smith. #147;That#146;s what you expect from him.#148;Sitting it out:Monday night#146;s inactives were defensive ends Mario Addison and Corey Wootton (hand), defensive tackle Stephen Paea, wide receiver Earl Bennett (chest), offensive tackle Gabe Carimi (knee), running back Kahlil Bell and quarterback Nathan Enderle.Bears G.M. Jerry Angelo said Bennett could be #147;a few weeks away.#148;