Bears' Long willing to play right tackle if needed

If the Bears shift right guard Kyle Long to right tackle, a move that remains a strong possibility, it won't be easy, according to coach John Fox.

But the two-time Pro Bowler has what it takes to make a smooth transition in his third year. Finding a replacement for him at guard will be the more difficult proposition.

Since the starters won't play much, if at all, in Thursday's final preseason game (Cleveland Browns, 7 p.m., FOX), such a move would send Long into the season opener against the Green Bay Packers having never played right tackle in the NFL — even in a preseason game.

“It's all problematic,” Fox said. “You're going against the best in the world at what you do, regardless of what position you play.”

But in the next breath Fox said there's still time to make the move.

“It's never too late,” the Bears' head coach said. “You've got what you've got, and you try to put your best 11 out there. You're asking if it's difficult? It's all difficult. But it's been done before.”

Long says he's all for anything that makes the Bears a better team. And since he made his first Pro Bowl as a rookie after starting just five games of major-college football, he probably wouldn't require much time to get acclimated to a new position.

“I don't really have a preference,” Long said after Tuesday's practice at Halas Hall. “I'd like to help the team wherever that is.

“I'm really sincere when I say that. If they ask me to play receiver, I'd be out there running routes now, practicing.

“It's football. It's not that complicated. We've got a lot of guys who are competing and ready to roll. We're excited about getting this season started.”

While there are some similarities, Long admits there are distinct differences in playing guard and tackle.

Guards play in a phone booth in the close quarters found in the interior of the offensive line. Tackles are more alone on an island with more spacing between themselves and their opponent.

“At guard, things happen a lot quicker,” Long said. “On the snap of the ball, you're either beat or you've won — right now.

“At tackle, you can either see your death happen really slowly or you can see success happen really slowly. There's a lot of space out there.”

But often the goal is the same.

“Honestly,” Long said, “you're just trying to keep somebody away from Jay Cutler. At the end of the day, that's the assignment.”

At either position, the 6-foot-6, 328-pound Long has a primo set of tools and skills that will serve him well.

“I see a tremendous young player regardless of what position he plays,” Fox said. “He's got the right mindset, the right skill set. He's capable of, other than center, playing any position up front. That's a good thing.

“He's tough. He's competitive. He enjoys the game.”

But Long admits he's not sure how long it would take him to get familiar at a position he has only played on rare occasions in practice since joining the Bears.

“I'm figuring that one out,” he said. “Any time they put me out there, I'm trying my best to focus in on my technique, to get my assignment and alignment correct.

“It's all about playing football, really. I'm (only) moving two feet (over) if I'm going to move.”

• Follow Bob's Bears and NFL reports on Twitter@BobLeGere.