Packers vs. Bears, Week 15: Phil Emery, Lovie Smith need to build depth

The Chicago Bears offensive line was dominated in another loss, this time to the Green Bay Packers in a game that pushed Chicago further outside of the playoff picture. Chicago's offensive line has been an issue for seemingly the entirety of Lovie Smith's tenure with the Bears, and it's as glaring as ever after the team gave up four sacks, four QB hits and rushed for just 3.6 yards per carry. Dane Noble of SB Nation's Bears blog Windy City Gridiron singled it out as the major area for improvement heading into next year.

The offensive line situation is as bad as we have seen in the last several seasons, with guys being rotated in and out at different positions seemingly every possession.

Certainly injuries play a big part, but those are not exclusive to the Chicago Bears. Depth is needed, and that is the job of the General Manager and Head Coach to build.

(via Windy City Gridiron)

The good news for the Bears is that this year's draft class could be as stocked with franchise offensive linemen as any draft in recent memory. With star quarterback Jay Cutler once against banged up as the season nears its close, it seems imperative to many that Chicago get serious about building a line that can protect one of their most valuable players.

In the meantime, the season is not over yet for the Bears, who visit the Arizona Cardinals and Detroit Lions to end the season and who still have as good a shot of making the playoffs as any NFC team currently fighting for position.