Bears’ focus on offensive linemen at combine?

All things considered, the Bears probably would be content to enter the alleged 2011 season status quo on defense and special teams.

But the offense is another matter, which is why general manager Jerry Angelo and Bears coaches and scouts will be looking more closely at players on that side of the ball during this year’s NFL Scouting Combine, which begins Wednesday in Indianapolis.

“I’m excited about the direction our offense is going,” Bears coach Lovie Smith said. “Our defense … we have some special players on that side of the ball. We made a stand this year to get back on top and hopefully all three phases we’ll be talking about next year.”

But that won’t happen without an infusion of talent on offense. Since the Bears aren’t expected to be major players in free agency, which is uncertain with the labor dispute still unresolved, that leaves the draft.

While the defense was top 10 in most of the significant categories and special teams finished fourth overall in the Dallas Morning News’ comprehensive rankings, the offense did not rank above 21st in any key category.

The offense was decidedly better at the end of the season than it was when the season opened, and it showed some encouraging signs for the future.

“It just has to come together,” Angelo said. “I feel good about what the offense did given we had a first-year coordinator (Mike Martz) coming in here, a new offensive line coach (Mike Tice), a whole new offense, (and) a new cast of young players.”

But the offensive line struggled all season to protect quarterback Jay Cutler, and it stumbled through some difficult games against top teams.

The Bears scored just 3 points in a 14-point loss to the New York Giants in which Cutler was sacked nine times in the first half. And they were held to 7 points in a 29-point loss to the New England Patriots and just 3 points in the regular-season-ending loss to the Green Bay Packers, in which the defense allowed just 10 points.

That’s why the Bears are expected to use their first-round pick (No. 29 overall) on an offensive lineman.

There are several offensive tackles with first-round ability, led by USC’s Tyron Smith, Colorado’s Nate Solder, Wisconsin’s Gabe Carimi and Boston College’s Anthony Castonzo, a Lake Zurich High School graduate.

Many early mock drafts have all four off the board by the 29th pick, but if any of them fall to the Bears, they’d be thrilled.

Mel Kiper’s latest mock draft has them taking Villanova offensive tackle Ben Ijalana in the first round, but Mississippi State’s Derek Sherrod is rated higher on many draft boards.

Another consideration could be Florida guard-center Mike Pouncey, whose twin brother Maurkice was a Pro Bowl center for the Pittsburgh Steelers last season as a rookie.

Other than offensive line, the most likely offensive position to receive draft-day attention is wide receiver. Although that position isn’t a desperate need for the Bears, a big, physical weapon would complement the youthful speed that already exists.

Georgia’s A.J. Green will be long gone by No. 29, and so will Alabama’s Julio Jones. Maryland’s Torrey Smith, Boise State’s Titus Young and Pittsburgh’s Jonathan Baldwin all could be available to the Bears, but it would be a shock if they passed up an offensive lineman with their first pick.

Only once in the past eight years have the Bears used a first-round pick on an offensive lineman, and in that time they’ve only selected one offensive lineman in the first three rounds. They took Chris Williams 14th overall in 2008, with inconsistent results.

The intention was for Williams to be the Bears’ left tackle for the next decade. So far he has started seven games at left tackle, 11 at right tackle, and the final 13 games last season at left guard with mixed reviews.

ŸFollow Bob’s Bears reports via Twitter@BobLeGere. Check out his blog, Bear Essentials, at dailyherald.com.