With Garza gone, Slauson set to step up for Bears
After spending the past two seasons lining up shoulder to shoulder with center Roberto Garza on the Bears' offensive line, left guard Matt Slauson accepts that there will be an adjustment period after the 14-year veteran was released last week.
Slauson is optimistic that Garza's replacement, eight-year veteran Will Montgomery, will help facilitate a smooth transition. But the former line leader's guidance will still be missed, and Slauson plans to assume more of a leadership role to pick up the slack.
"One of his most incredible strengths was bringing us all together," Slauson said of Garza, who spent the past 10 years with the Bears. "We are the only position (group) on the field where five guys have to work as one.
"A lot of times you're out there grinding and battling, and tempers can start to go a little bit. He just had a way of sucking everybody back in, (saying) 'Hey guys, we are the core here. Let's get it together, and we're going to win the game on us.' He had a real knack for doing that."
Slauson spoke Tuesday at Maryville Academy in Des Plaines, where he was honored as the Bears' recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award. It is given to one player from each NFL team who, in his teammates' opinion, best exemplifies the qualities of inspiration, sportsmanship and courage. The Ed Block Courage Award foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of abused, neglected and at-risk children.
Slauson will also be dealing with another transition this season, battling back from an injury-plagued 2014 that included his first-ever trip to injured reserve.
An early-season sprained ankle last year snapped Slauson's streak of 65 straight starts, and then, after he returned, a torn chest muscle after he played in just five games.
"It was a devastating experience for me," the 28-year-old, six-year veteran said. "It was a real trying time, as my wife will tell you. I didn't expect it would be that tough to watch all the trials that our team went through, and I couldn't do a whole lot to help. But I'm back, everybody's excited, everybody's energized and ready to roll under the new staff."
Slauson said he's almost 100 percent strength-wise and expects to be cleared by the time the Bears' off-season program kicks off next week.
Slauson (2009-12) and Montgomery (2007) both previously played for the New York Jets previously, although they never played together, Slauson says there is a connection.
"I knew about him because he held just about every weight-lifting record at the Jets, and I was trying to come after (his records)," Slauson said. "Ever since (then), I wanted to see what he was all about, so I've been watching him now for about six or seven years, and I've been really impressed by him."
With Garza gone, Slauson knows he'll be asked to take on a greater leadership role on the O-line, which includes third-year players Jordan Mills (24) and Kyle Long (26).
"It's one of the tough parts about the game," Slauson said of Garza's release. "It'll be a little bit of an adjustment getting to know a new guy with a new style, but I've got all the confidence in the world in Will, got all the confidence in the world in myself, and it'll be fine.
"I'm looking at it as a great opportunity and a positive challenge on myself, to establish myself as one of the core guys on the team. I really want that."
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