The Chicago Bears offensive line is a mess. Let’s be honest. It hasn’t really been good for a long time. They were decent in 2018 but hardly dominant. Then last season they slipped to being slightly below average. Now this year thanks in large part to injuries and a COVID-19 outbreak, they’ve become one of the worst units in the NFL. James Daniels? Out for the year. Cody Whitehair? Bad calf and infected with COVID. Bobby Massie? A banged-up knee. Even backups like Sam Mustipher and Jason Spriggs couldn’t escape the shelf.
It’s been that bad. Yet people are wondering where things went wrong. The answer is simple. This was a line that didn’t have a ton of talent or depth. Then their best blockers were all knocked out of the lineup while the depth took a hit as well. Now they’re forced to start rookie 7th round picks like Arlington Hambright or former undrafted free agents like Alex Bars.
Perhaps no position has showcased the issues more than center.
One could argue the Bears haven’t settled that position down since Olin Kreutz retired. Roberto Garza handled it well enough in his stead. After that, it became a problem. Hroniss Grasu was drafted in 2015 to fill the void. He tore his ACL before the start of 2016, forcing the Bears to go with Whitehair. He played well enough to earn the starting job long-term but his play since can best be called inconsistent. He’d have good games and then bad games.
It was felt the drafting of Daniels in 2018 might give them an exit strategy. Indeed the Bears made the switch at the start of 2019, but the line’s struggled compelled a switch back to Whitehair after just eight games. A decision Kreutz himself has said was a big mistake. Why? He explained himself on the Keeping It 100 podcast.
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“So Cody Whitehair, they kept him at center. I thought that was a mistake. I think James would’ve developed into a really good center. I know a lot of guys who I talked to who watch offensive line play couldn’t believe the 1-on-1 blocks he was making at center.”
Why is Whitehair a problem? Namely a lack of recognition up front. One way defenses have found to exploit him is by using lots of run blitzes and cross stunts. This has confused the veteran way too many times, leading to the team’s constant issues running the ball. Whitehair just can’t seem to sift through the traffic and make the right adjustments.
There is one guy who can though.
“Then Sam Mustipher comes in last week against the Saints and they average 4.2 yards a carry and I don’t think that’s by accident. Although Sam may not have the physical skills Cody has, he is a very intelligent center. I know him really, really well from my time at Notre Dame with Harry (Hiestand). Been working with Sam some in the offseason.”
Every snap of Sam Mustipher vs the Rams. He’s #67 and the one snapping the ball on every play #DaBears #BrawlNetwork
👑👑👑 pic.twitter.com/vzukmlWUlj— illwill (@79illwill) October 31, 2020
Sam Mustipher over Whitehair? That is what he’s saying
It’s quite a story. Mustipher started over 30 games at Notre Dame at center. He had a lot of success. Experts lauded him for his toughness, intelligence, and technique. Going undrafted had nothing to do with his knowledge of how to play the position. It was about his physical attributes. There were concerns he wasn’t quite big or strong enough to handle NFL defensive tackles.
The Bears ended up signing him as an undrafted free agent and he bided his time on the practice squad. When Whitehair got hurt, his opportunity arrived. Mustipher handled it pretty well. His performance against a solid Saints defense was indeed impressive. Unfortunately, a knee injury derailed his momentum before it had a chance to build.
It sounds like Kreutz is encouraging the team to keep Sam Mustipher in the middle even when Whitehair is ready to return. When it comes to playing center the right way, there’s no comparison. Perhaps they can move Whitehair to guard, which had been the original plan way back in 2016 all along. This would allow the Bears to field their best possible lineup. Something they have to do if they want any chance at surviving the second half of this season.