McClure: O-line frustrated by failures

[UOK]

When the offensive line struggled during the preseason, offensive line coach Mike Tice talked about the 37 protection schemes he had to help cure the woes.

He might want to think about exhausting all those possibilities.

Not every sack endured by the Bears on Sunday night could be attributed to the line, but the guys up front definitely had their share of issues against a swarming Giants defensive front.

Quarterback Jay Cutler was sacked nine times in the first half alone thanks, in part, to some breakdowns along the line. Cutler suffered a concussion and did not return for the second half. He didn't help his cause by holding on to the ball too long at times.

"To rectify the problem, we have to (bleeping) block people,'' center Olin Kreutz said. "That's not hard to figure out.

"I feel horrible about Jay getting hit that much. Obviously that's our job. We just got beat bad tonight.''

The nine first-half sacks were one more than the Bears surrendered in the first three games combined. The Bears gave up just one sack in the second half, when they were more intent on running than passing.

"The coaches tried everything,'' Kreutz said. "We ran the ball (and) couldn't get first downs. … Slid the protections. Kept tight ends in. Kept backs in. Got the ball out quick. We just got beat in every way you could imagine.''

Being banged up along the line to start the game certainly didn't help. Starting left tackle Chris Williams missed his second consecutive game with a hamstring strain. Starting left guard Roberto Garza missed one day of practice last week with a knee injury. During Sunday night's game, starting right guard Lance Louis left the game with a knee injury and did not return for the second half.

Tice said last week he was pleased with the progress of young players such as second-year man Edwin Williams. But the coach surely didn't anticipate having to use Williams for an entire half, as he was forced to do following Louis' injury.

"As far as pass protection, I was aggressive,'' Edwin Williams said. "But on the bad side, a lot of mental errors. There are really no excuses, even though I've been here for a limited amount of weeks.''

Tight end Greg Olsen wasn't making excuses, either. Offensive coordinator Mike Martz yelled at Olsen after one of those first-half sacks.

"Horrible, horrible effort,'' Olsen said. "When there's that many sacks, you can't just pin in on any one position.

"We'll look at the film tomorrow and see exactly where the breakdowns were. But everyone has their hand in this.''