| 02 January 2010
This as I said in my earlier preview article was the best way to deal with Allen. Cut him, chip him and double team him from every angle possible. Because the more you frustrate Allen the more neutralized he becomes and the less effective he can be.
Jared Allen is a player who best succeeds by out thinking his opponent. He does one thing over and over and then sets them up with something else. Often times he's effective this way, but as Rod Marinelli would tell you, you have to rush and not think. With Allen's game plan often times it can take him most of the game to finally get his opponent set up to get his win.
Then there are times, as in the case of the Packers game where he can just over power or or just flat out beat his opponent. Same with Orlando Pace in the first Bears game, Allen was just flat out able to be the old future hall of famer and it showed. Sadly, but thankfully (I don't wish injury upon anyone let me be clear) Allen's success wound up with Pace suffering an injury followed by an benching.
With that benching came the line shuffle and the emergence of the Bears' best starting offensive line to date. Oddly enough the Bears' best group so far has been from left to right, LT Chris Williams, LG Frank Omiyale, C Kreutz, RG Garza and RT Kevin Shaffer. This line has proven the most effective working together this season, especially with the improvement from Frank Omiyale.
But this isn't why I'm doing this article, this article is to focus in on Chris Williams and to see just how well he did even when he did get help on the left side.
Bears win the toss and open up on offense possession number one:
First play is a run to Forte away from Allen, a play that has Allen taking a hard move to the outside and Chris Williams locking him out and sealing him off. There isn't much real effort from either player on this play, they almost seem to be going through the motions of pre-game warm ups. It's such a slow moving rush from Allen that Williams almost has time to think about what he's doing as he executes his block. Grade C
Cutler's first pass of the night comes up next with Allen lining up extremely wide of Williams. This forces Williams to get to the outside quickly with his feet and get a good punch on Allen....he does and is just able to steer Allen around Cutler who feels enough pressure to not get rid of the ball cleanly. Williams is able to hold on (not literally a holding penalty) to Allen and get him around and push him to the ground. Allen partially slips on the turf which makes Williams' job all that much easier in this case.
Based on this first one on one situation I don't know if Williams will be able to hold off Allen in one on one situations this early in the game. Allen is just too fast for him and this hard speed rush to the outside leaves Williams with barely any chance to catch him. Grade C
The second pass of the game Allen just does a simple speed bull rush. He gets Williams moving his feet backwards on a speed looking rush but then is just into him with a bull rush as soon as he gets close to Cutler. Two rushes, two one on one situations and Williams is barely keeping up with Allen. Grade C
Bears punt
Bears' second offensive possession:
Bears run directly at Allen and block him with Desmond Clark with Williams executing a down block on the DT. Clark has his hands full from the start, but shows why he's the best blocking TE on the team. He battles Allen to a stalemate and then finishes off by getting Allen to stop his feet. This allows Clark to drive through and knock Allen backwards. Williams does a decent job with his down block. Grade C for Clark and for Williams.
Bears run directly at Allen on this next play and there is a hammering double team block to seal off the edge that Allen is on. Williams and Clark hammer Allen to the inside, seal off the edge and give Forte room to get the corner. This type of hammering double team block are the types of blocks that wear down a DE. Allen wasn't expecting to get hammered to the inside like this as it was almost a delayed block by Clark. Williams engages him and then Clark hesitates gets up a head of steam and then plows into Allen knocking him to the inside. It's this type of block that took it's toll on Allen and gave the Bears room to operate their offense. Grade B.
Allen sorta wins this battle on this one....he takes a hard rush to the outside and then is picked up by Forte and chipped back to the inside...he turns to the inside on a spin move and is clear of Williams and flushes Cutler from the pocket. Cutler thankfully rolls out of it and fires a pass for the first down. Execution not as clean as you'd like to see on this play, but Allen has fresh legs right now, a move like this later in the game and he'll get no where near Cutler. Grade C
Bears run directly at Allen again with Forte on the carry to the outside. Williams and Clark double team Allen, the Vikings' defensive alignment has the LB over the TE Clark, but the Bears pull Kreutz around to deal with the "over" 'backer. The double team block on Allen is executed perfectly....Kreutz who has been playing a lot better as of late (likely enough to justify returning for one more year) gets a good pull block and Forte gets a good chunk of yards here. Bears' O-Line is executing well right now. Grade B
Quick drop by Cutler fires out to Rashied Davis...Allen doesn't have much of a chance to set up his move Williams sets his feet well and is ready for the rush but the ball is gone before anything really needs to happen. Grade INC.
Williams with a quick combo block and then he shoots to the second level as Clark engages Allen. Williams' quick combo block helps Clark and then Williams gets another block down the field. Grade C.
I know I'm supposed to be paying attention to Williams on this review but I have to say Omiyale catches my eye in a positive way. It's finally clear that Omiyale is starting to find a nice comfort level playing the left guard position. With Kreutz he gets a quick and powerful combo block on the DT, it's primarily his block that opens up the hole and knocks the DT back and way off the ball. It caught my eye instantly because of the punch and drive Omiyale gets on the defender. He then scrapes off and gets to the second level and gets a good block on the LB. This is something Omiyale struggled with early this season. He had a hell of a hard time winning the battle at the point of attack, much less getting to the second level and making that block. But here Omiyale is essentially flawless in his execution so I give major props to him. Grade B on that one.
Williams helps with a quick combo block on Allen with Greg Olsen. Olsen can't block for spit most of the time and can't hold off Allen who crashes down and makes the tackle on Forte. Grade B for everyone by Olsen.
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Cutler drops back to pass and fires it into Olsen who can't quite hang on. Williams gets a good pass block set here and blocks well on Allen by himself on this one. Unfortunately the Bears have to settle for a field goal. Grade C
Bears third offensive possession.
The next play the production truck is slow cutting back to the action so I can't really see what happens on the play: Grade INC.
Perfect execution on this second down naked boot leg. Bears go play-action, roll Cutler out....Allen collapses down so hard thinking it's a run that Cutler had a clear lane to throw to the TE Olsen. Perfect execution, Allen never has a chance, easy completion on this play. Grade B
On this play Williams gets a good kick out block on Allen but it's for not as Kreutz was leaning head heavy and the DT just pushed him aside and got to Forte quickly. Grade C for Williams.
Pass play Williams does a good job on Allen but Cutler isn't settled into the pocket yet or trusting Williams on his block so he steps up in the pocket and then takes off down the field. Cutler delivers a crushing blow on the CB and gets a couple more yards out of it. Endearing himself to Chicago fans by running over a CB instead of simply sliding to the ground. Grade C.
This play is a disaster from the start but Forte works his ass off and gets a first down out of it by running completely back against the grain from the direction the play is designed to go. Blocks were missed all over the field, but as Forte made his way back to the left from the right some of his lineman pick off defenders as they come back across in pursuit.
The next play Cutler rises up to hit Olsen on a quick hot route but the ball slips out of his hand.
Another quick throw to Desmond Clark, negates any real pass rush Jared Allen may have had...but Allen did beat Williams pretty cleanly in a very short time span. Grade D.
Cutler again a quick throw on a hot route falls incomplete on the play Greg Olsen never turns around and looks for the ball on the hot route that's going to him. These types of miscommunciations this late in the season are completely inexcusable....on third and seven Bears goes no where Robbie Gould hammers home the field goal.
Bears' fourth offensive possession lead 6-0.
Allen beats Williams pretty easily on this run block, with an up the field speed move. Allen barely misses Bell, but does and this slow down allows Williams to reset and get a small passing block on Allen. Overall Williams was beaten pretty badly here. Grade D.
An attempted cut block that doesn't really get the job done. Allen is able to regain his balance and force Bell to the outside where he gains minimal yards. Grade D.
Rolling out of the pocket goes Cutler, Williams gets a decent shove on Allen to slow any rush. He sells run more than pass and Cutler hits Olsen for a nice gain on roll out pass.
Cutler calls an audible and the 'back gets a chip block on Allen and Cutler wings the ball to his first man. It's nearly picked off, his third near INT of the game. Block Grade INC.
Out of the shot gun a zone read delayed hand off to bell that gets good yards on second and 10. Allen's rush essentially takes him out of the play leaving Williams with not much blocking responsibility. He gets a pick on Allen, and a pick on the DB in pursuit. Grade C
Third and four upcoming here, snap infraction on Olin Kreutz....five yard penalty third down and 9 now. Cutler drops back to pass here and with Olsen lined up in the slot and Allen thinking he's going to have a one on one shot on an obvious passing down with Cutler Olsen from his slot receiver position gets a nice chip block on Allen is essentially like a crack back block. The block knocks Allen completely off of his feet and Olsen is able to flare out to the flat wide open as a check down option if Cutler needs it. The nice chip block combined with great pass protection across the board gives Cutler the chance to nail Aromashodu across the middle for the first down.
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First and goal Roberto Garza moves here, this is the second penalty on this drive that could have really destroyed some momentum the Bears had on this drive. There were numerous occasions this season where a stupid penalty on a near scoring drive killed any momentum the Bears had. This time the Bears overcome the stupid penalties.
Cutler play-action first read first throw to Greg Olsen for the touchdown. A nice double team block to help sell the play action on Allen. TE and Williams grind on him slow him down, continue to frustrate him.
Bears up 13-0 now as the defense holds Green Bay scoreless yet again
Bears' fifth possession of the game.
Another good sell on the play-action here by Williams to lean on Allen and pound on him and slow any up the field momentum he might muster. Cutler JUST misses Aromashodu on the deep pass. Under throws him just enough that the safety is able to make the play over the top.
Quick bubble screen here to Earl Bennett, Williams gets a block on Allen, get a chip from Olsen, Williams jumps out to the second level to get on the LB. Nice hustle here by Williams Grade C.
Allen beats Williams pretty good up the field on this outside rush a one on one situation. Again not sure Williams could have handled Allen one on one the whole game. Not many LTs in the league can though. So while Williams played well, he played well when he had a lot of help and when Allen was already pretty frustrated and worn down.
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Bears' sixth possession of the game here:
Bears with a quick draw from the shot gun here to Forte. Williams stands Allen up pretty solidly here and they battle to a stalemate. Williams with a win here to help Forte get yards up field. Good fundamentals, good set pop and and lock out.
Quick slant to Knox, Allen never really gets up the field on a rush...Matt Forte does a decent job blocking him.
Allen one on one with Williams here Williams has a good set the whole way, but is slightly helped out by the turf as Allen slips just enough to slow his rush. Good protection set here by Williams he was never really in danger of getting beat. Grade C.
Allen gets up the field quick in single blocking and gets some pressure on Cutler who steps up and out of the way and completes a quick pass. Again Williams is struggling just enough in one on one blocking that there isn't a lot of evidence he could handle Allen one on one the entire game. Grade C.
Williams gets a good set on Allen and gets a small amount of help from Matt Forte on the play. Cutler just overthrows Knox on the play. Williams does well enough on his own on this play but Cutler has the ball out of his hand pretty quickly.
Earl Bennett from his slot receiver spot gets a chip on Allen to slow his momentum...this allows Williams to get a great pass protection set and protect Cutler for a long time. This allows Cutler to go through his progressions and find a wide open Aromashodu in the middle of the field. First down Bears. Grade B.
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Cutler gets pressured here by Allen as Williams is in a one on one pass set against him. Allen can pretty much beat Williams one on one most of the time as evidenced by the first half here.
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End of the first half Bears 16 Vikings 0......
Bears' first possession of the second half they still lead 16-0.
A run to Matt Forte, Desmond Clark gets the call to block Allen one on one and answers the call locking Allen out so Forte can get some positive yards on the play. Hell of a run block by your TE on the Vikings' best defender. Williams with a crack down block on the inside on the NT Jimmy Kennedy. Grade B.
Sweeping away from Jared Allen on this play instead of going at him. Williams with an outside kick out block on Allen. Well executed but not necessary since the play is going so far away from Allen. Good run regardless with Kreutz leading the way on the pull. If Kellen Davis does a slightly better job of sealing off the edge so Kreutz doesn't have to block the outside 'backer on this play...Kreutz is leading Forte down the field for a LONG LONG time. A game of inches right here but it's still a good run gaining nearly eight yards. Grade B.
Bears run again Allen rushes hard up the field I guess thinking that since the Bears pass 65% of the time that they're going to throw here since they've ran the ball so much already in this game. Not sure what Allen was thinking but he took himself completely out of the play Forte goes by and gets some yards.
Allen rushes initially but when he gets chipped by the WR he tries to flare out into a zone almost acting like he never intended to rush anyway. Grade C.
Quick slant minimal pass rush. Johnny Knox stops on his slant route after the CB gets a little physical with him. Failure on Knox's part to continue the route....Cutler could have been picked off on the play because Knox stopped on his route. Cutler shows his major frustration to Knox for stopping on his route. Grade INC. Bears punt
Bears lead 16-6 after a blocked extra point. Big time kickoff return by Danieal Manning, Bears with great field position to start here.
Play action pass here Cutler rolls out and find Clark for a minimal passing game. Good sell on the play action fake by the O-Line.
Bears run the ball again Williams with another inside seal block on the DT here as Williams runs to the outside. Good block by the TE on Allen, Allen also gets caught up in the wash of pulling O-Linemen and Forte gets good yards by his rush to the outside. Grade B
Cutler drops back on an obvious passing play here as Forte motioned out to the wide right side of the formation. McKie left in the backfield slides over and hammers Jared Allen on a double team block. Williams again gets more help, slows down Allen, frustrates him even more. Allen not able to get into a rhythm because you never know where a chip block is coming from. Any time he gets is motion he's leaving himself vulnerable to chip blocks and it's working to slow him down immensely. Grade B
Inside crack block on the DT, Olsen in motion on the play sets then fires as if he's pulling to get after Jared Allen. It's a cut block a weak attempt at that, but Forte gets good yards. Bears run a double team block on the DT here.
This next play is awesome in that Desmond Clark gets a simple clean release into the end-zone on the play action fake. He's wide open and Cutler simply has to flick his wrist and complete the wide open touchdown pass to make it 23-6 Bears.
Bears lead 23-13 after the Vikings get on the board for the second time
Cutler sacked from pressure on the right side of the line. Williams got help from Forte and held his ground. The pocket just completely collapsed from three different angles on the field.
Second down and long here after a loss of nine yards on the sack.
Draw play to Khalil Bell on second and 19 trying to get some of the yards back. Not sure I agree with this call but I guess when you're down in your own territory and it's an obvious passing situation it helps to be somewhat conservative so as not to risk an INT. Let your defense try to hold onto the lead at this point.
This was what I was talking about, about being conservative here. Cutler throws a pick even though he's got good protection. Turner runs a draw here on second and 19 to avoid the INT that Cutler throws on third and 19. Trying to make a play trying to force a ball into coverage and Cutler is picked off. It's inexcusable to throw an INT in this situation.
Bears back out on offense up 23-16 here their first drive of the fourth quarter:
Bears run the ball and give Desmond Clark the responsibility of blocking Jared Allen. Clark is very much up to the task and stays on Allen the entire time. He's driving and battling and frustrating Allen to no end and he does so through the whistle. Clark is frustrating Allen so much that Allen gives Clark a couple shoves after the play is over sort of expressing his frustration. Clark always the class act pretty much ignores Allen. Grade B
Williams on the other hand gets his best block of the game on Kennedy...he drives Kennedy to the turf for a pancake. Not much else needs to be said on this play. When your opponent is pancaked then your job was done well. Grade A
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Second and seven Cutler drops back to pass, Allen shows just how tired he is at this point as Williams is able to simply stand him up and lock him out. Allen makes an attempt to jump and bat the pass down, but is so well locked up he barely gets off the ground. Grade B.
Allen gets a better rush on this pass play, but Williams is still completely up to the task. Cutler is flushed primarily because the DT gets more pressure. Cutler rolls right and fires a completion for a first down to Aromashodu.
Double team block by Williams and Omiyale on Williams who is lined up opposite of his normal spot. Kreutz doesn't get a good block so the penetration prevents Forte from getting much in the way of good yards.
Williams one on one with Allen again and he has no problem holding his own against Allen. Allen doesn't have much left in the tank after being beat on and frustrated for three quarters. Allen is so an emotional player that if you frustrate him, his emotions swing the other way. If Allen were able to keep things in perspective and keep the same level head throughout the whole game he'd probably be less likely to have problems once he gets frustrated.
Third and nine on this play upcoming, Robison cleanly beats Williams around the edge. The Vikings DE just uses a speed rush and loops under around Williams and makes the sack on Cutler. Williams' worst pass set of the game, he barely got a hand on Robison. 4th down here. On the one hand it was a good set up by the Vikings as Allen was lined up looking like he was going to rush, but instead dropped into coverage. Williams was slow to react to the actual rushing coming from Robison. Yes it's a well designed rush/zone look by the Vikings but Williams still needs to be ready for ANY rush.
Vikings tie it up at 23 now, Bears come back out on offense after the huge kick return by Danieal Manning that nearly goes for a touchdown. Bears start out just short of the 20-yard line on this drive in perfect position to score.
Williams and Omiyale get a combo block on the DT Omiyale tries to head up to the second level to get the LB but he's late getting off and getting to his target. Williams block is strong all the way through Grade B for Williams.
Second and nine, and at this point you can say Jared Allen has pretty much quit on the game. He doesn't even try to rush in this circumstance he just sort of runs towards the QB. The pressure on Cutler comes from an outside blitz that Forte doesn't pick up as well as he usually does. No matter, Cutler stands in the pocket in the face of the oncoming pressure and delivers one of his best passes on the season. He drives off of his back foot and launches a perfect strike on the skinny post to Earl Bennett for the touchdown, Bears lead 30-23 now.
Bears can do nothing to stop Favre and the Vikings on defense, it's now tied at 30-30 and headed into OT.
First and 10 to start OT Cutler brings out the offense raring to go here to go down and punch it in and end the game on the first drive.
One pass perfect protection for Cutler and he hits a wide open Devin Aromashodu. The protection by the O-Line is perfect Allen is too tired to even really rush at this point. Williams can simply set his feet and wait for the rush to come to him and keep Allen at bay. Cutler's pass is perfect yet again and D.A gets big YAC on the play. Bears nearly in field goal range on one play.
Bears run the ball with Forte and Williams fires off and punches Allen in the mouth. Allen has no answer as he's just too tired and doesn't care anymore. The one punch shove by Williams completely neutralizes Allen and he doesn't even bother to try and pursue anymore.
Olsen gets a chip on the blitzer, Omiyale takes on Allen, no problem for him, no problem for Williams and the blitzing LB. Protection is good for Cutler here.
Draw play Allen has already quit so Williams has no problem setting and locking him out from the play. Bears just setting up for what should be the game winning field goal. Robbie Gould misses the kick Bears still tied.
After the three and out by the Packers Bears take over.
Allen gets chipped and loops around to where Cutler rolls out to gets a bit of pressure on him and knocks him to the turf. Allen finally shows effort in the form of a free roaming rush with no blocker on the stunt.
Williams slips on his block attempt on Allen and then stumbles head long into the open grass. It's a draw play so Allen can only get some backside pursuit on Forte.
Third and seven for the Bears now, Vikings blitz and get pressure, the pressure is no where near Cutler when he makes his throw though. Williams has a good pass set and block on his play. Inexcusable throw by Cutler here, it should have been picked off. He had no reason to make this throw right here other than just simply throwing the ball for the sake of throwing the football.
Packers start a drive by Adrian Peterson fumbles and the Bears recover.
Cutler just sets and throws and Aromashodu floats under the pass for the catch and the touchdown. Game over Bears win.
On the pass protection Jason McKie gets a chip on Allen who quits on the play after he's chipped. Cutler takes a quick drop and the protection is perfect anyway. Grade B.
Chris Williams blocking report card wrap up:
Williams overall performed pretty well, especially late in the game. There is still PLENTY he needs to work on and there are still problems he has in one on one situations. The Bears did enough to slow Allen down and frustrate and late in the game Allen flat out quit.
The funny part about Jared Allen is he was demanding so much accountability after the game about how the team needs to play better. Yeah how about you point the finger at yourself there cowboy, because you quit from about the fourth quarter on. Once the Bears made a concentrated effort to slow Allen down he just quit on his team because he knew that the Bears had game planned to stop him.
Williams does have the footwork and athleticism to get the job done, but you can see his short arms hurt him at times in getting his hands on a defender first. Williams probably has better success with short quicker rushers than with taller and longer rushers because he is able to better get his hands on the rusher. As evidenced in the Pittsburgh game earlier this year with the shorter faster LBs the Steelers utilize in their 3-4 defense. I think this might be a smart move on the part of the Bears, with so many teams switching to the 3-4 defense and trying to use quicker faster smaller rushers to get pressure on the QB, Williams can have long term success against those players.
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