Game of musical Bears continues on offensive line

If you’re keeping score at home, the Bears will start a guard at center Sunday night against the Minnesota Vikings, a center at right guard and a right guard at right tackle.

It might not seem that way, but that’s probably the only way for them to get their five best offensive linemen on the field.

Of course, all that changes when rookie Gabe Carimi returns from a partially dislocated knee cap, but that probably won’t be until after the bye week.

So, for now, 11-year veteran Roberto Garza, who played guard in his previous 10 seasons, remains at center.

Seven-year veteran Chris Spencer, almost exclusively a center in his first six seasons, should be back at right guard, where he started three straight games until a broken bone in his right hand sidelined him temporarily.

Third-year man Lance Louis started four games last year at right guard. He also started the 2011 season opener at right guard but missed the next three games with a sprained ankle before returning to start at right guard last week.

But that’s not where he finished the game. He slid over to right tackle when starter Frank Omiyale was benched for the second straight week.

It’s not surprising that the Bears are No. 29 at preventing sacks.

“The problem is we don’t have a lot of offensive linemen,” offensive coordinator Mike Martz said. “We’ve got guys moving all over the place.

“We just have to realize that. We’re doing the best we can. But we’re very thin in the offensive line, and (offensive line coach) Mike (Tice) is doing a great job with them.”

In an admission that the line is having trouble providing adequate protection for quarterback Jay Cutler, Martz is entertaining the option of shorter drops and quicker passes.

“We’re working on it,” Martz said. “We’ve talked about it as a staff. We’ve addressed this issue. And until we get it stabilized a little bit in that offensive line — same thing happened to us last year.

“So we’ve got to make sure we’re giving him a better chance with some of these quicker throws and things. There’s no question there.”

As a group, the Bears expect their offensive line to be more effective run-blocking than pass protecting, especially with Carimi at right tackle and Louis back at left guard.

Even without Carimi they rushed for 122 yards in Week 5 and 224 the week before, averaging 5.1 yards per carry.

“We have moments where it’s pretty (darn) good,” Tice said, “and then we have some moments where technique falls apart, like some (plays against the Lions) in critical moments.

“The thing that I’m encouraged by the most is a lack of mental errors. They’re understanding what we’re asking them to do. We’ve got to do a better job of putting them in position to succeed, and we will.”

Despite the loss in Detroit, Tice was encouraged by the effort he saw in practice this week.

“Fortunately, I didn’t lose them yet,” Tice joked. “So we’ll just keep forging ahead and try to get better.”

Until that happens, armchair quarterbacks have suggested having Cutler roll out to take advantage of his ability to throw on the run while also allowing him to avoid the rush.

A popular, but incorrect, assumption is that a moving quarterback is not an option in Martz’s offense.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Martz said. “Sure, it is. It can be. Sure. Absolutely, and we certainly have done that before. We can certainly do that.”

Until the line is solidified, it seems as if moving Cutler around as much as possible might be the best way to keep him healthy.

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