Bears still believe Harris can have impact
INDIANAPOLIS - Despite the almost unanimous opinion that defensive tackle Tommy Harris was a disappointment again last season, Bears coach Lovie Smith still holds out some hope for the former Pro Bowler.
"He can still be an impact player," Smith said at the NFL scouting combine. "He'll be an impact player, and our defense is counting on him to do that.
"When you go through some injuries, sometimes you say, 'Well, maybe a guy can't do it anymore.' He can still do it, and he needs to do it this year. We need Tommie to play the way he's capable of playing every snap."
Since his third straight Pro Bowl season in 2007, Harris' production has slumped drastically while he battled a lingering knee injury.
He has a total of 60 tackles the past two seasons, after he had 58 as a rookie in 2004 and 59 the following season. Harris also has a combined 71/2 sacks in the past two seasons, including just 21/2 last year. He had 8 sacks in 2007.
"When you look at his flashes (last year), you saw the same player that went to three Pro Bowls," general manager Jerry Angelo said. "What you didn't see was the consistency of play throughout the season, and that was probably the most disappointing (aspect).
"But we feel that all that he can be and what we need him to be he still can be. We're optimistic. He's not had any surgeries in the off-season. That's a first probably in the last few years.
"There's no reason that we can't get that kind of play from him."
Meeting of the minds: Lovie Smith downplayed the potential clash of philosophies between pass-happy offensive coordinator Mike Martz and the more ground-oriented offensive line coach Mike Tice. But later he indicated they have different approaches.
"I think that's a misnomer there," Smith said. "Once you really get the guys together, they're a lot alike. Both of them believe in their beliefs. They have a strong opinion about that, (but) they know how to work (together). They know the system. They know what we're trying to do.
"I don't think that will be a problem. I've been excited seeing it all come together, meshing a great running-game coach and a great passing-game coach."
On the move: The addition of former Bears offensive coordinator Ron Turner to the Indianapolis Colts' staff as wide receivers coach makes sense, considering Indy's longtime offensive coordinator Tom Moore, 71, is expected to retire and be succeeded by Clyde Christensen.
Last season Christensen was the Colts' wide receivers coach/assistant head coach, but he's considered the offensive coordinator in waiting. Christensen actually was supposed to become the Colts' offensive coordinator last year when Moore retired, but Moore later changed his mind and returned.
Turner had taken a job on former Bears quarterback Jim Harbaugh's Stanford staff as quarterback and receivers coach Feb. 17, after he was fired as the Bears' offensive coordinator on Jan. 4.
Looking for work: Nose tackle Dusty Dvoracek, who was waived/injured in August with a knee injury, is a free agent. After four injury-ravaged seasons in Chicago, Dvoracek will not receive an offer from the Bears, but coach Lovie Smith hopes he catches on somewhere.
"I think he deserves another chance," Smith said. "He's a great guy. I hope he gets another chance, (but) right now he's not (part of our plans)."