LeGere: Garza's replacement has a history with Bears' coaches
BOURBONNAIS - In 10 years as a starter, the first six at guard and the last four at center, Roberto Garza became a fixture in the middle of the Chicago Bears' offensive line.
But at 36 and with his best days behind him, Garza was released April 2, as the Bears saw an opportunity to get younger and more athletic at the position by signing Will Montgomery.
The 32-year-old Montgomery brings the added value of knowing the intricacies of Adam Gase's offense. He started eight games last year in Denver, where Gase was the Broncos' offensive coordinator and John Fox was the head coach.
That doesn't guarantee Montgomery a starting job, especially with third-round rookie Hroniss Grasu waiting in the wings. But Montgomery is a valuable liaison between Gase and the Bears' offensive line as it transitions to a new scheme.
"These guys gotta earn their way," Fox said. "There are no free rides. They compete. (Montgomery) is a very competitive dude, going all the way back to when we drafted him. I didn't think as much of him back then because I cut him."
In 2006, when Fox was the Panthers' head coach, Carolina selected Montgomery in the seventh round but then waived him in the following year after he started four games as a rookie.
Montgomery caught on with the Jets, then spent most of the next seven seasons with Washington where he started 57 games, including each of the last 48.
"We rejoined forces in Denver, and he stepped in and did a real good job for us," Fox said. "He brings experience in our system. The center position is kind of the quarterback of the O-line, with calls and whatnot. He brings an element of toughness, and I think he has shared that with his teammates here."
While Montgomery is with a new team, he enjoys a nice level of familiarity. In addition to Gase, Fox brought several former Broncos assistants to the Bears, including offensive line coach Dave Magazu and strength coach Jason George.
"I guess it was a package deal," Montgomery joked. "They weren't going to accept their jobs unless I came too."
The players Montgomery is lining up with are all different, but he says it's been a smooth transition.
"I have some new guys around me," he said, "but they've (welcomed) me with open arms from Day One."
In turn, Montgomery has helped the holdover Bears offensive linemen adapt to the new scheme.
"I'm familiar with all of the calls and the schemes, and we're adding some (new) schemes as well," the 6-foot-3, 304-pound Montgomery said. "But definitely it's helpful that I was with Denver last year."
No one's going to compare the Bears' offense to the Broncos' high-powered attack, but Montgomery said he's impressed by the diversity he sees so far.
"I like that it's so balanced," he said. "We can run inside, outside, we can run power, we can throw the ball down the field, (throw) short routes. We don't lean heavily in one direction. I think we can really do it all."