Running game a Bears positive

Looking for positive signs from the Bears' 1-3 preseason might cause eye strain, but it wasn't as bad as it appeared.

The running game showed signs of life, averaging 4.5 yards per attempt. That's a huge improvement over the 2007 preseason, when the Bears averaged a 2.7 yards a pop - an accurate indication of how poorly they would run the ball in the regular season, when they were dead last with a 3.1-yard average.

Rookie Matt Forte finished the preseason with a 3.5-yard average, which isn't great, but it was higher than any of the four running backs who carried the ball last preseason.

The Bears also showed much better depth at the position this season based on the average per carry of backups Garrett Wolfe (4.8), Adrian Peterson (5.5) and Kevin Jones (6.6). Although the Bears rushed 26 fewer times this preseason, they gained 107 more yards than last year, picking up 452 yards on 100 attempts.

Quarterback Kyle Orton believes the running game will be even more productive in the regular season, when the Bears are expected to make more of a commitment to it.

"You need to wear on people, especially in our type of run game," Orton said. "It's downhill running; power running. Sometimes those runs in the second half (are more effective) when you can kind of wear down those guys a little bit. We're a second-half running football team, and I'm sure it'll be working this week."

It needs to be. If the Bears' makeshift offensive line can't keep the Indianapolis Colts' defense honest by establishing a ground game, Orton could spend much of the night running for his life.

The offensive line hasn't gotten much respect from outsiders, but Bears offensive coordinator Ron Turner said the situation up front isn't as dire as it's been made out to be.

"I thought overall they did a nice job, and they're getting better and better," Turner said. "Our offensive line is not as big a concern for us as it is on the outside - at least not the starters. I like those guys."

Turner doesn't have much choice, since it's too late to make significant upgrades. But the O-line didn't allow a sack in the 16-10 victory over the Browns in the preseason finale, even though the Bears threw 31 passes, and they permitted just 4 sacks the entire preseason.

The left side of the line remains a huge question mark, though. Left tackle John St. Clair was flagged for false starts on back-to-back plays on the first possession Thursday.

"Obviously he had a couple (bad) plays, but that's what it is, a couple plays," Turner said. "John's played very well; we have a lot of confidence in John St. Clair."

At left guard, Terrence Metcalf came to camp as the starter, but he didn't play a single snap in the preseason and hasn't practiced since having arthroscopic knee surgery early in training camp.

That leaves Josh Beekman as the de facto starter against the Colts. He played in just one game as a rookie last year, but he's started all four preseason games.

"He's stepped up," Turner said. "He's gotten better. He has to continue to get better, but overall he's done a pretty good job."

The wide receiver situation remains mysterious. Brandon Rideau led the team with 127 receiving yards and 3 TD catches, but he's on the bubble, hoping it doesn't burst when the roster is trimmed to 53 at 5 p.m. today.

"I don't want to get my hopes up that much," he said. "Of course 3 touchdown catches ain't bad for a resume, but you never know what a team might need."

Orton thinks the Bears might need contributions from all their wide receivers since they don't appear to have any one dominant player.

"I think whatever the rotation is, everybody's going to see time," Orton said. "All those guys can make plays. I don't know if we have the one standout guy that is our go-to guy, but I think we have four or five guys that can really have big games week in and week out."

Roster cuts begin: Although NFL rosters don't have to be at the final 53 until 5 p.m. today, defensive end Dan Bazuin, a second-round pick last year from Central Michigan, has been told by the Bears that he will be waived, according to Internet reports. Linebacker Michael Okwo, last year's third-round pick, is also expected to be waived.

Others who have been informed they will be released include wide receiver Mike Hass, fourth-year veteran fullback Lousaka Polite, running back P.J. Pope, safety Leonard Peters and guard Tyler Reed, a sixth-round draft pick in 2006 who spent the past two seasons on the practice squad.

Three undrafted rookies have also been notified they will be released: defensive end Nick Osborn, offensive tackle Cody Balogh and guard Ryan Poles.

Guard Chester Adams, a seventh-round pick this season, is expected to be placed on injured reserve after suffering a knee injury in the preseason finale.