Bears: Idonije gets settled

Israel Idonije was born in Lagos, Nigeria, raised in Western Manitoba, Canada, where he played college football before playing in NFL Europe and got his foot in the NFL door as a special teams player.

Now, he's found a permanent home on the Chicago Bears' defensive line.

Last week against the Seahawks, Idonije was the star of the game with 2 tackles, a sack, 2 quarterback hurries, a tackle for loss and a pass breakup as a starting defensive tackle playing in place of Tommie Harris.

Tonight at 7 against the 49ers (Channel 32; WBBM 780-AM) at Soldier Field, Idonije may see more time at defensive end. Harris is expected back, but end Mark Anderson will miss the game after having minor thumb surgery.

Either position is fine with the 6-foot-6, 297-pound Idonije, who added 20 pounds to his frame this year because the Bears wanted him to focus more on becoming a full-time tackle while putting his special-teams skills on the back burner. Amazingly, the freakish athlete looks even more ripped at 297. And after five years in the NFL, he is pumped about becoming a full-fledged member of the d-line rotation for the first time.

"Special teams is a very important phase of the game, but I want to play defense," said the Manitoba University product. "I want to play as many downs as I can on Sundays - d-tackle, d-end, wherever it may be. That's my goal. Being given an opportunity to make more of an impact on defense is big. That's what I'm trying to do."

While special-teams coordinator Dave Toub loved having a player with Idonije's size, speed and athleticism as as wedge buster on coverage teams, the former undrafted free agent has become too valuable as a defender. Coach Lovie Smith called his performance vs. Seattle "outstanding," especially as an inside rusher.

"He's our starter inside in nickel situations," Smith added, "but we'd also like to get him some plays at defensive end. We feel like he can do that, too. He won't do a lot of the special teams this year, which will be a little different from what he did last year."

Idonije, who has batted down 3 field goals and an extra point in the past two seasons, is still expected to be on the kick-block teams.

At 27, Idonije doesn't hide the fact that he's ready for a full-time job on a defense that underachieved last season, due in large part to a preponderance of injuries at defensive tackle. He provides a different kind of play inside, where short and squatty is the norm. He towers over the Bears' other tackles - Harris, Anthony Adams, Dusty Dvoracek, Marcus Harrison and Matt Toeaina - who are all between 6 foot and 6-3.

"Inside, I think I can bring some quickness to that three technique or that nose position and just use some of my length and ability," Idonije said. "I'm a lot taller than the average tackle, and a lot of guards are short-armed guys, so I just use some quickness, continue to work on my technique and using my arms."

The Bears are less likely to wind up short-handed this season with Idonije committing his full attention to his new place on the defensive line.

• Long-snapper Pat Mannelly (stinger) is out for tonight's game, along with tight end Desmond Clark (knee), who has served as the backup long-snapper. That means Thomas Gafford, who was signed on Tuesday, will handle those duties tonight. The only other Bear listed as a long snapper is tight end Greg Olsen, whom the team doesn't want to expose to unnecessary mayhem. Fifth-string tight end Marcus Stone also got some practice reps as the long snapper during the week.