Game of musical blockers continues

One thing most winning football teams have in common is continuity along the offensive line, a position that demands cohesion among all its members.

It's not unusual for the nucleus of an O-line to remain intact for years. So far this season the Bears haven't enjoyed that stability, and the game of musical blockers continues this week.

With Roberto Garza moving back to right guard when he returns to the lineup Sunday after missing two games following arthroscopic knee surgery, the Bears will make it five different O-line configurations in 2010. Garza started the first five games this season at left guard after staring at right guard the previous four seasons.

Offensive line coach and Halas Hall humorist Mike Tice was asked about offensive line stability.

“Stable?” Tice said. “As far as my guys? Stable? I have (center) Olin Kreutz. And me. Stable? I don't know about that.”

Turning serious, Tice said: “You would like to think that you could have guys play together for a long period of time. But, because of the nature of the position, there are injuries that occur. Guys get caught in piles. A guy wrenches his shoulder. A guy dislocates an elbow, and he's out two weeks. It's hard.

“The best lines in the league are the ones that play together. They might not have the best talent, but they've played together for a longer amount of time, and they communicate, and they know what the other guy's thinking, and there's continuity, and there's rhythm, and that's what we're all striving for.”

Promises, promises:

Offensive coordinator Mike Martz, who has called roughly twice as many pass plays as run plays, promises to put more emphasis on a ground game that has virtually been ignored and is tied for 26th in yards per game.

“Absolutely. We do need to run the ball more,” Martz said. As that last game went on (a 17-14 loss to the Redskins, in which the Bears had 16 run plays and 44 pass plays), we were way more effective in the second half than we were earlier (10 carries, 60 yards).”

The occasional tourist:

Linebacker Lance Briggs, who practiced with no limitations Thursday and should start Sunday in Toronto after missing most of the past two games with a sprained ankle, says he'd like to play more games on foreign soil.

“I'd love to play more games out of the country, in London and Mexico and places like that,” Briggs said. “It's a nice trip, nice to send postcards from there to home, make everybody happy and stuff. Canada's a great place. I've been there a few times, and we'll enjoy the trip.”

Even though there won't be time to see much other than the hotel and the stadium? “We get to see the ground from the airplane,” Briggs joked. “We get to see a lot; different runways. You would like to have a night game so you have more free time. It's going to be quick, but we'll get out and experience a little bit.”

Injury update:

Cornerback Zack Bowman (foot) was the only player who didn't practice for the second straight day, and he will not play Sunday.

Linebacker Lance Briggs (ankle) and guard Edwin Williams (back) were full participants in Thursday's practice after being limited on Wednesday.