The Chicago Bears’ offensive line is a problem. This is nothing new. It was a problem last year too. Pass protection has been an issue with this group dating back years. Justin Fields has been sacked 23 times in six games. Many fear he won’t make it to the end of the season without getting injured. Something has to change. The line can’t go on like this. Not without head coach Matt Eberflus changing things up to maybe find a combination that works.
One possibility fans are clamoring for is getting Sam Mustipher off the field. The beleaguered center has been a major liability in protection for the past three weeks. Whenever Fields is under significant pressure, it seems like Mustipher is one of the primary culprits. What makes it hurt worse is it was never their intention for him to play at all. The Bears had wanted Lucas Patrick at center, but several circumstances got in the way. Beat writer Mark Grote of 670 The Score said on the Bears Down Chicago Podcast that the change is still likely coming.
“I don’t think they want to necessarily be in the predicament that Sam Mustipher has to continue to start at center. I think they had envisioned that by now, Lucas Patrick would be playing the part of center and you would hope you would have Cody Whitehair and Teven Jenkins and Mustipher would take a seat in that scenario.
I still think that’s coming unless they pull a fast one and think Mustipher can slide over to the guard spot. It’s going to be interesting to see how that goes. I don’t know if by the Monday night game in New England that change in the lineup can be made, but it’s going to come eventually. You will see Lucas Patrick playing center eventually.”
Sam Mustipher in pass protection on the sack that got called back… #Bears pic.twitter.com/2JzvwaV4sS
— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) October 14, 2022
This was ruled a “pass block win” for Sam Mustipher (67), just in case anybody thinks this stat is relevant pic.twitter.com/F82uhBMAnQ
— . (@FieldsSzn69) October 17, 2022
Head coach Matt Eberflus said the team would use the 11 days off until the Monday night game in New England to evaluate the entire roster. If they felt changes were needed, then they’d be made. It was a strong hint that the coaching saw the same things fans and media did. They just needed some time to find and implement the right combination. Cody Whitehair isn’t due back from injured reserve yet, so there are likely two possibilities in play.
The simplest is moving Patrick to center and inserting veteran Michael Schofield at left guard. Another option would be putting Patrick at center, moving Teven Jenkins to left guard, and letting Schofield play right guard, where he’s started most of his career. Either option seems preferable at this point for the Chicago Bears. The Mustipher experiment has to end. He is doing far more harm than good. Either way, it’s beyond evident the team will be active on the offensive line next off-season.
