Long appears to be moving over two feet for Chicago Bears

Although the makeup of the Bears' starting offensive line is being guarded as closely as the nuclear codes, it's a virtual lock that Kyle Long will line up at right tackle Sunday in the season opener against the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field.

A week ago, when Long was asked about the difficulty of making the move from right guard, where he has made the Pro Bowl in each of his two seasons, he said, "I'm only moving two feet."

Reminded of that after Monday's practice, Long said: "I think that was just kind of a dismissive comment on my end. But, yeah, really it's football.

"You still use the same techniques, so who knows what's going to happen? I'll try to be as ready as I can, whichever way they decide to go."

That was more information than coach John Fox was willing to divulge when asked about Long.

"I think he's going to be active for the game more than likely," Fox said. "Right now we're trying to get the best five (on the field) and also our best seven (active Sunday) because typically that's what we'll activate for the game."

Long's move is one the Bears could have made at any time in the previous eight months, and it would have provided him more time to become acclimated to the new position.

But Fox isn't worried about Long's self-confidence, and he really doesn't need to be. The 6-foot-6, 328-pound Long made the Pro Bowl as a rookie after starting just five games at Oregon.

"He's probably the guy I'm least concerned (with), about his confidence," Fox said. "Because I think he's a pretty good player and a pretty confident guy, and I think most good players are."

Following Monday's practice, the useful portions of which are off limits to the media, Long provided no hints as to where he will line up Sunday.

"I have no clue," he said, with a straight face. "We're trying to put forth our best seven guys in pads on Sunday.

"I'm just trying to be as dialed in as I can in the spots I'm possibly going to be in. There's a lot of studying, there's a lot of technique that comes into it."

With Long at right tackle, sixth-year veteran Vlad Ducasse is expected to move in at right guard, where he has made four of his 11 career starts.

Ducasse was drafted in the second round (61st overall) by the New York Jets in 2010. Six of the 6-foot-5, 325-pounder's NFL starts and all four of his starts at right guard came last year with the Minnesota Vikings.

Ducasse eventually could be challenged by Patrick Omameh, who was claimed on waivers Sunday from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who cut him after he started 16 games there last season.

Fox was as informative regarding the right-guard situation as he was about right tackle.

"We're not going to announce our starting lineup," the Bears' coach said. "I think most people would understand why. They're all options that are on the table."

Not knowing where the Bears' best lineman, Long, will line up actually could help the Packers prepare.

But Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy already is on record as saying his team will "kick Chicago's (butt)," so it might not matter to them.

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