O-line change a constant for Bears

For the fourth time in six games, the Bears' offensive line will feature an altered starting five on Sunday.

The group, which has featured eight different starters, has struggled to protect the quarterback and to open consistent holes in the running game. The Bears are last in percentage of sacks allowed, 23rd in rushing yards and 20th in average gain per rush.

Constantly Juggling the lineup isn't the most effective way of achieving continuity, given the importance of needing five players working together as one. Ideally the starting five are identified early and unchanged throughout the season.

“We wanted to do that the first preseason game, Bears coach Lovie Smith said. “But it normally doesn't work that way.

Injuries, position changes and ongoing evaluations have played a role. It started when left tackle Chris Williams suffered a hamstring injury on the first series of the second game. The 2008 first-round draft pick is expected to return to the starting lineup this week, but at left guard, a position he hasn't played since his sophomore season at Vanderbilt.

The Bears drafted Williams to protect the quarterback's blind side for the next 10 years or so, but they may be reassessing his skills and potential.

“If, say hypothetically, he was to go inside, he's a great knee-bender, offensive line coach Mike Tice said, complimenting Williams' technique. “At this stage of his career he probably wouldn't agree he's probably a better run blocker than anything.

The one constant on the evolving O-line has been 13-year center Olin Kreutz, who has started 123 straight games and knows how difficult it is when players are moved in and out of the lineup and to different positions.

“It's always hard because offensive line play is about playing together, Kreutz said. “But this is the NFL; that's what happens. Guys go down and guys have got to step up.

So, when will the shuffling, juggling, mixing and matching end so they can begin to gel?

“Sunday. This week. That's the time, Tice said, thinking wishfully. “We're not going to look back. Hopefully we'll make the right decisions, and get the right five guys in there and have the right seven guys suited up so we can sustain injuries and move forward and gain some continuity with the group. We haven't been able to have that. Now, with Chris coming back, I think the chances of us having that are pretty good.

There has been speculation that Williams' switch to left guard Sunday is just to ease him into the lineup before moving him back outside. For now, Tice is only worried about Sunday.

“I just want to beat Seattle and find a way to put the best five guys out there, he said. “I really can't give you an answer about down the road.

When Williams was injured, Frank Omiyale moved from right tackle to left tackle. He played the last three games there with mixed results. Despite a false start penalty last week and a holding infraction, he was effective.

“Like every guy that's played left tackle, he has a glaring boo-boo and it's like playing cornerback, Tice said. “It shines, and everybody can see it and they say, ‘Aw boy, he played like crap today.' But really, in the scheme of things, Frank played pretty good football Sunday for us.

Roberto Garza started the first five games at left guard but was essentially playing on one leg for about half that time because of a knee injury that required arthroscopic surgery this week. His 69-game streak of starts will end Sunday.

Veteran Kevin Shaffer moved into the right tackle spot for two starts, but he was replaced by rookie J'Marcus Webb last week. It's anyone's guess what happens when Garza returns.

Last year's seventh-round pick, Lance Louis, started the first four games at right guard but was sidelined with a knee injury. He has been replaced by Edwin Williams, who is expected to make his second start Sunday, even though Louis is fully recovered.

Williams, who played a few series against the Packers and Giants when Garza and Louis were both hobbled, did enough good things to warrant a start last week.

“Edwin gets a chance (to play), and we win, Tice said. “Sometimes, if it ain't broke, you don't fix it. He didn't make any mental errors.

“He's trying to play physical, (but) he's got a long way to go technique-wise, especially as it pertains to pass protection. But he gets after it pretty good.

Follow Bob LeGere's reports via Twitter@BobLeGere.