Bears go to Plan C in punting game

The Bears started Sunday's game with a Plan B, punter Dirk Johnson, who was signed a day earlier to replace Brad Maynard (groin).But after Johnson suffered a bruised quad while trying to make a tackle, the Bears had to go to Plan C: using kicker Robbie Gould to punt.Gould was his usual accurate self on field goals, hitting his only chances from 47 and 38 yards, but he won't be doing double duty if the Bears have a choice, following punts of 25 and 28 yards. Maynard was asked if he gave Gould any advice after he was forced into emergency duty. "Stick to kicking," Maynard joked. "No, Robbie did exactly what he is supposed to do. Catch the ball and get it out of there. Good high punt; I don't care how high it goes. He did a great job."Maynard, whose groin tightened up on the plane ride back from San Diego in Week 1, said he expects to be back for the Cowboys game Sunday night at Soldier Field. He practiced all week, but the Bears decided Saturday morning they didn't want to risk aggravating the injury.Recently signed cornerback Ade Jimoh was released to make room for Johnson, who spent the past four seasons with the Eagles, averaging 41.6 yards per punt with a new average of 36.0. The six-year veteran also handled Maynard's role as holder for Gould, performing flawlessly."It was definitely a whirlwind," Johnson said. "A week ago I was in a truck with all my stuff heading back to Colorado. I was in New England on Tuesday (for a tryout) and here on Friday. I've been zigzagging across the country."On his first punt attempt as a Bear, Johnson dropped a knee-high snap but quickly recovered and launched a 51-yard boot and later added a 60-yarder.Feeding the beast: Cedric Benson has rushed for more than 100 yards in two of his last three regular-season games after getting 101 on 24 carries against the Chiefs. He had 109 yards on 13 carries in the 2006 finale against the Packers.After he was held to 42 yards on 19 carries last week (2.2-yard average) and the Bears managed just 80 rushing yards on 26 attempts (3.1-yard average), they refocused on establishing the ground game."It's a big part of our success," Benson said. "It's a wonderful opportunity for me. I take pride in running the football on a team that takes pride in running the football."So, Benson was told, this is a good team for you."Yeah," he said, laughing.Benson was more serious about his role in the fourth quarter, when the Bears were protecting a 20-10 lead and he rushed six times for 27 yards to help keep the clock and the ball moving."The fourth quarter's a running back's time," Benson said. "It's time to buckle up and pound them and move the chains and take time off the clock. I get real hungry in the fourth quarter."Go-to guy: When the call came in for a pass to 6-foot-5, 315-pound backup offensive tackle John St. Clair from the Chiefs' 2-yard line, the eight-year veteran wasn't surprised because the Bears have practiced the play for years."I wasn't shocked," said St. Clair, who played tight end as a freshman at Virginia before moving inside to tackle. "But no one checked me. I was over there wide open. Rex did a great job of floating the ball in for me."St. Clair, who caught an 18-yard pass on "Monday Night Football" as a member of the Rams, wanted to share his accomplishment with his fellow offensive linemen."I was looking for them to give the ball to them," he said. "They deserve the credit. They're out there fighting the whole game. I just made one play. I was trying to give them the ball, but everyone (crowded around) me, so I couldn't do that."St. Clair also filled in at right tackle for three snaps when starter Fred Miller left briefly after suffering a stinger late in the third quarter.Just the facts: Asked to describe Devin Hester, Tommie Harris was ready with the superlatives."He's amazing, lightning, he's fast, he's great, he's all that," Harris said. "He's Devin Hester, he's the Windy City, he's a guaranteed 7 points when he has the ball in his hands."He's The Man."Quarterback Rex Grossman was unable to get the ball to Hester, who played just a handful of snaps on offense, but he'd like to take advantage of his open-field running abilities.His only pass to Hester was too hot to handle and glanced off his hands."He just runs with so much confidence," Grossman said. "It's like he's just playing tag out there and just messing with them."Getting better: The Bears turned the ball over four times last week in a 14-3 loss to the Chargers and three times in Sunday's victory over the Chiefs, so the way coach Lovie Smith sees it, they're headed in the right direction."We had 4 the first game, 3 the second?" Smith said. "(We're) making progress. Hopefully we get it down a little bit more the next game."