Jerry Angelo wants John St. Clair back; Omiyale at guard

By Vaughn McClure

 

Bears general manager Jerry Angelo made it clear that the signing of Frank Omiyale did not mean the team will stop pursuing John St. Clair.

 

"This has nothing to do with how we feel about John St. Clair," Angelo said Friday. "Really, when you go into negotiations, we can't determine the timetable on when we're going to get these deals done. ... We would have certainly liked to have gotten John St. Clair done first because we know John and feel real good about John."

 

St. Clair was offered a three-year deal but became an unrestricted free agent late Thursday night. With John Tait expected to retire, the Bears want to bring St. Clair back to start at right tackle. Chris Williams, last year's first-round pick, is expected to start at left tackle.

 

Angelo said Omiyale's immediate future is at guard.The team is not pleased with the performance of right guard Robert Garza, so Omiyale might have a chance to compete for a starting role there. If St. Clair doesn't re-sign, Omiyale could find himself starting at right tackle."We told him that we wanted to look at him at guard first,'' Angelo said of Omiyale. "But we're not going to limit him in terms of reps only at guard. ... We'll expose him to tackle, which is where he's been predominately playing. But we want to expose him to guard as well."

Angelo admitted Omiyale is not a household name but was impressed with Omiyale's play at the end of the season with Carolina, especially when lined up at tackle opposite New Orleans defensive end Will Smith.

 

As far as bringing in any other free agents, Angelo said he plans to monitor the situation, but the team won't jump to spend.

Funny how were not pleased with Garza at guard. but no mention of how herrendous the WR corp is. Davis couldnt catch a cold, no vets, Hester barely a #2 or #3

At this point I don't think we can believe a damn thing we read until after free agency and the draft. Our immediate most pressing need on o-line is:

1. A starting right tackle

2. A quality back-up LT in case Williams sucks is or injured.

 

So we sign a quality back-up tackle with the intention of moving him to guard??? Does that make anyone else's head hurt?

 

Jerry Angelo wants John St. Clair back; Omiyale at guard

By Vaughn McClure

 

Bears general manager Jerry Angelo made it clear that the signing of Frank Omiyale did not mean the team will stop pursuing John St. Clair.

 

"This has nothing to do with how we feel about John St. Clair," Angelo said Friday. "Really, when you go into negotiations, we can't determine the timetable on when we're going to get these deals done. ... We would have certainly liked to have gotten John St. Clair done first because we know John and feel real good about John."

 

St. Clair was offered a three-year deal but became an unrestricted free agent late Thursday night. With John Tait expected to retire, the Bears want to bring St. Clair back to start at right tackle. Chris Williams, last year's first-round pick, is expected to start at left tackle.

 

Angelo said Omiyale's immediate future is at guard.The team is not pleased with the performance of right guard Robert Garza, so Omiyale might have a chance to compete for a starting role there. If St. Clair doesn't re-sign, Omiyale could find himself starting at right tackle."We told him that we wanted to look at him at guard first,'' Angelo said of Omiyale. "But we're not going to limit him in terms of reps only at guard. ... We'll expose him to tackle, which is where he's been predominately playing. But we want to expose him to guard as well."

Angelo admitted Omiyale is not a household name but was impressed with Omiyale's play at the end of the season with Carolina, especially when lined up at tackle opposite New Orleans defensive end Will Smith.

 

As far as bringing in any other free agents, Angelo said he plans to monitor the situation, but the team won't jump to spend.

At this point I don't think we can believe a damn thing we read until after free agency and the draft. Our immediate most pressing need on o-line is:

1. A starting right tackle

2. A quality back-up LT in case Williams sucks is or injured.

 

So we sign a quality back-up tackle with the intention of moving him to guard??? Does that make anyone else's head hurt?

 

IMHO I think this just means that we are fixing the line problems and are going to draft one or maybe two linemen in the draft and or go after more in FA

IMHO I think this just means that we are fixing the line problems and are going to draft one or maybe two linemen in the draft and or go after more in FA

 

I hope you're right. The one thing that bothers me is Angelo saying, "We want St. Clair to be our starting RT." To hell with that. Why not, "We want Khalif Barnes to be our starting RT." Realistically, we could sign both of those guys, and we'd have great depth and a real solid group. Our entire starting o-line would be comparable to what Haynesworth is making.

I hope you're right. The one thing that bothers me is Angelo saying, "We want St. Clair to be our starting RT." To hell with that. Why not, "We want Khalif Barnes to be our starting RT." Realistically, we could sign both of those guys, and we'd have great depth and a real solid group. Our entire starting o-line would be comparable to what Haynesworth is making.

Because no GM is stupid enough to spill their cards in that fashion. Take note...we heard absolutely nothing about how the Bears were unhappy with Garza until they managed to beat out the offers for reportedly 10 other teams to sign a guy that Angelo thinks can push Garza to a backup role.

I could live with St. Clair and the FA signing, Williams and Beekman. It isn't bad, but the Bears would still need to try and pick up a tackle or a guard in the middle rounds of the draft, imo. I do think signing both would take away the immediate need to tackle a guy in RD 1.

I could live with St. Clair and the FA signing, Williams and Beekman. It isn't bad, but the Bears would still need to try and pick up a tackle or a guard in the middle rounds of the draft, imo. I do think signing both would take away the immediate need to tackle a guy in RD 1.

 

I don't think so. If you can find a true road grader of a RT in round one I still see that as an IMMEDIATE need. St. Clair is a good guy to have around, but he is not an ideal RT. Having him and Omiyale gives us depth and competition for the 2 guys inside, but I still want that massive guy to open holes for Forte on the right side.

Because no GM is stupid enough to spill their cards in that fashion. Take note...we heard absolutely nothing about how the Bears were unhappy with Garza until they managed to beat out the offers for reportedly 10 other teams to sign a guy that Angelo thinks can push Garza to a backup role.

 

On one hand it's a damn good point you make about JA not showing his hand . . . on the other hand, how the heck does not sharing the fact they are upset with Garza have anything to do with signing Frank Amiyale? Amiyale is primarily an offensive tackle. The Bears need a starting RT, AND a back-up swing-tackle. The fact they went after Amiyale should have surprised nobody.

 

Unless you're suggesting the Bears lured him here partially by the fact that he would be able to start, something the other teams weren't able to offer him.

 

Of course, usually these things all come down to dollar signs. Four years and 14 million is a lot of money for a player that most perceive to be a back-up.

On one hand it's a damn good point you make about JA not showing his hand . . . on the other hand, how the heck does not sharing the fact they are upset with Garza have anything to do with signing Frank Amiyale? Amiyale is primarily an offensive tackle. The Bears need a starting RT, AND a back-up swing-tackle. The fact they went after Amiyale should have surprised nobody.

 

Unless you're suggesting the Bears lured him here partially by the fact that he would be able to start, something the other teams weren't able to offer him.

 

Of course, usually these things all come down to dollar signs. Four years and 14 million is a lot of money for a player that most perceive to be a back-up.

I think the reason Omiyale is here is because it allows them flexability as to what they do on the offensive line and he has a upside. Williams is more of a question mark at this point than Omiyale. If Williams is a bust you can slide him in there, if St Clair doesnt resign you can slide him in there. If they take a high pick on a tackle he might not be ready to play this year. Hopefully he resigns St. Clair and still take a tackle in one or two of the draft. The more bodies the better shot of us having getting a quality line going again. Also we have Buening in the wings for a guard spot, he's twenty lbs. heavier than either of our guards right now and was a starter for a while in the league before he was hurt. If we dont resign St. Clair then I hope we go after Barnes to play RT or Willis from Seahawks has shown promise as a RT. So we still have options, hopefully he makes a play before those options are gone.

If he gets benched will he still be the figurehead for the "Super Donut"?

On one hand it's a damn good point you make about JA not showing his hand . . . on the other hand, how the heck does not sharing the fact they are upset with Garza have anything to do with signing Frank Amiyale? Amiyale is primarily an offensive tackle. The Bears need a starting RT, AND a back-up swing-tackle. The fact they went after Amiyale should have surprised nobody.

 

Unless you're suggesting the Bears lured him here partially by the fact that he would be able to start, something the other teams weren't able to offer him.

 

Of course, usually these things all come down to dollar signs. Four years and 14 million is a lot of money for a player that most perceive to be a back-up.

 

They have said that he will be primarily looked at guard.

They have said that he will be primarily looked at guard.

 

Angelo said it, but it's tough to believe it. Currently on the roster:

Guards: Garza, Beekman, Metcalf, and possibly Buenning.

Tackles: The injury prone Chris Williams & the new guy. That's it.

 

For us to truly look at him as a guard, we need to add not one, but two quality tackles. If we resign St. Clair and draft a tackle in the first round, then hell yes he's a guard. But until that happens, it's tough to view him as such.

 

As far as adding a tackle via the draft, I'd previously been convined we'd draft a DE. But if you look at the current mocks that have came out since the combine, the ones I have seen don't have a DE anywhere near where the Bears are picking. A safety would also be a reach. I believe JA when he says he doesn't like drafting WR's in round one, so offensive tackle seems like it'd be the most logical choice for the Bears. If that happens I could easily see the new guy (who's name I will misspell so I don't want to type it) moving into the guard spot.

I think the reason Omiyale is here is because it allows them flexability as to what they do on the offensive line and he has a upside. Williams is more of a question mark at this point than Omiyale. If Williams is a bust you can slide him in there, if St Clair doesnt resign you can slide him in there. If they take a high pick on a tackle he might not be ready to play this year. Hopefully he resigns St. Clair and still take a tackle in one or two of the draft. The more bodies the better shot of us having getting a quality line going again. Also we have Buening in the wings for a guard spot, he's twenty lbs. heavier than either of our guards right now and was a starter for a while in the league before he was hurt. If we dont resign St. Clair then I hope we go after Barnes to play RT or Willis from Seahawks has shown promise as a RT. So we still have options, hopefully he makes a play before those options are gone.

 

Agreed! Although isn't Buenning a restricted free agent? I'd have to check on that.

Agreed! Although isn't Buenning a restricted free agent? I'd have to check on that.

No he is not a restricted free agent because he has more than 4 years in the Nfl. We signed him to a two year contract which expires 2010, and them he is a unrestricted free agent again