Bears' offensive line in a holding pattern
BOURBONNAIS - A former NFL player who is now a member of the media glanced across the Olivet Nazarene University practice field late last week to where the Bears' offensive linemen were working on individual drills and said, "Garbage, total garbage."
In defense of the Bears' O-line, which struggled along with the rest of the offense last season, the group was without six-time Pro Bowl center Olin Kreutz and first-round draft pick Chris Williams, who is expected to become the starter at left tackle.
Both are being brought back slowly from injuries - Kreutz has an Achilles' injury that has kept him from practicing at all, while Williams suffered a strained back strain early in the second practice.
The line will be much better when they return, and that could be very soon.
The Bears are solid on the right side with guard Roberto Garza entering his fourth year as a starter and John Tait entering his fifth season as a starter, although he played the more difficult left-tackle spot the past three years.
Kreutz did individual work on the side Monday and looked close to full speed, as he was able to come out of his stance quickly and sprint downfield. Williams also worked on the side but at a slower pace.
Bears offensive-line coach Harry Hiestand doesn't think Kreutz will miss a regular-season game, and no one else has even mentioned that possibility. Hiestand wouldn't offer a timetable for the return of the Bears' line leader, but he was encouraged by what he saw Monday.
"He looks good to me," Hiestand said. "I saw him with his ankles taped up (Monday), and I figured, 'Here he goes; maybe today.' "
In his 11th season, Kreutz needs training camp like Bill Gates needs more money. But Williams needs to get back in a hurry if he's going to provide an upgrade at left tackle over veteran John St. Clair, who's doing more than just keeping the spot warm until the rookie steps up.
"It's real frustrating," Williams said of his downtime. "You get drafted and you want to get out here and play and prove yourself. Being limited kind of (stinks), but they told me you can't rush it back.
"Obviously, I feel like I'm a little behind. I've missed basically all the padded practices, so in that regard, yes (I'm behind), but I don't think it's anything I can't make up."
Until Williams does catch up, or even if he doesn't, the versatile St. Clair will fill in where he's needed.
Mostly a backup in three previous seasons with the Bears, the 6-foot-5, 315-pound St. Clair has started four games at left tackle, three at left guard and two at right tackle. In earlier NFL stops, he was a full-time starter for the St. Louis Rams in 2002 and the Miami Dolphins in 2004.
He was the Bears' starter at left guard for the final three games last season, and he could wind up challenging Terrence Metcalf for that job if Williams eventually shows he can handle left tackle.
For now, St. Clair is concentrating on his own play at left tackle.
"I focus on myself, just going out every day and working hard like I always do," he said. "That's all I can bring to the table right now. That's what I really believe. You worry about nothing else. You can't control certain things. That's how I play."
Metcalf lost the left-guard spot to St. Clair last season partly because of a broken hand, but in his seventh season the former third-round pick may be running out of opportunities.
"It was really difficult to punch with that hand," Metcalf said of the injury. "The break was in the palm of my hand, and I had a cast (with) my fingers straight, so every time I hit with it, it bent back on the break.
"Mentally, if you haven't played with something like that, it may (mess) with you. But I got all that corrected now and I'm glad to be back out there."
The Bears hope it won't be long before they get everything corrected along the offensive line.