The following is part of a series of position-by-position breakdowns at the halftime point of the 2014 season.
Here is what we expected from the offensive line coming into the 2014 season: Bushrod, Slauson, Garza, Long, Mills. The sturdiness and dependability of these five men in 2013 was a key to the club’s offensive resurgence. Yes, Mills was a weaker link but Trestman and Kromer protected him brilliantly with a combination of actual tight ends and Even Britton lined up as a de facto tight end.
It is hard to judge this group on eight games of odd configurations. Bushrod missed time and was replaced by a player (Ola) with no business playing left tackle in the NFL. Slauson will have a lost season and is, in my opinion, the Bears best offensive lineman. Garza missed a ton and while the transition to de la Puente felt seamless, the Bears certainly missed his comfort and leadership along the line. Mills has continued to struggle but injury has not allowed the Bears to provide the protection of a year ago.
Kyle Long has been the only starter to stay on the field but how does one evaluate an offensive lineman with a rotating door of starters around him?
The line haven’t been bad. They haven’t been good. They’ve been serviceable and realistically not much more can be expected when they’ve had about a dozen snaps together as the expected starting unit.
