Rookie center Grasu fast learner for Chicago Bears

When the Chicago Bears used their third-round pick (71st overall) on Oregon center Hroniss Grasu in April, they saw him as a future starter.

Well, the future is now.

With opening-day starter Will Montgomery lost for the season with a fracture fibula, the rookie got tossed into the fray last week. He came through in good shape and should be the man in the middle going forward.

Less than seven minutes into his NFL debut, Grasu's mettle was tested. He was beaten by a Kansas City stunt through the middle of the Bears' line that got to Jay Cutler, who fumbled when he was sacked in the end zone. The Chiefs recovered for a 7-0 lead.

“They drew up a great play against us,” Grasu said. “We knew that stunt was coming, we studied it, but then they just added a little wrinkle to it. So kudos to them. They caught us in a bad position.”

The fact that Grasu brought up the botched play unsolicited says a lot about him being a stand-up guy.

The way Grasu explained the stunt, the Chiefs lined up 346-pound nose tackle Dontari Poe shaded to his left shoulder. The Bears expected inside pressure from the linebackers, which they had seen on tape, but instead the Chiefs brought 3-technique tackle Jaye Howard — something they hadn't shown previously.

“Great coaching by them,” Grasu said, “and we just moved on from it.”

After the game, Cutler blamed himself.

“I just need to hang on to that ball and take the safety,” said Cutler, who was impressed with Grasu's demeanor and said he likes his upside.

“He did a great job,” the quarterback said. “Very calm. It wasn't too big for him, and he didn't panic at all. The next step for him is taking control of that group, and whenever he makes a call be sure of it. But he's going to be great. We're looking for big things from him.”

The next big thing for Grasu, this week at Detroit, could be 6-foot-4, 345-pound defensive tackle Haloti Ngata. But the five-time (2009-13) Pro Bowler missed the Lions' 42-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals last week because of a calf injury and hasn't yet practiced this week.

If Ngata can't play, Grasu's second NFL game would be a bit less intense than his first. Bears offensive coordinator Adam Gase knows there won't be many breaks for the rookie center, but he's hopeful Grasu can hold his own.

“He's absolutely sure of the speed of the game, and he knows how physical guys are at the top level,” Gase said. “He played one of the best (Poe) that you can go against for your first game.

“Every week's going to be a new challenge for him. He's going to experience something different. Hopefully we can keep him getting better from week to week.”

Coach John Fox said he was impressed with the rookie's composure in his first game.

“The way he conducted himself,” Fox said, “(you knew) it wasn't too big for him. He's a young player, but I thought he handled it like a vet.”

Grasu credits the Bears' older linemen with helping him be prepared, especially left guard Matt Slauson.

“He's played a lot of football games, and I came in (last week) and I've played zero,” Grasu said of Slauson, who has 74 NFL starts. “I thought we worked really well together. He's been great with me since Day One, teaching me the game and taking me under his wing.”

Grasu said it also helped during the two fourth-quarter touchdown drives that won the game last week that Cutler pushed the pace. Cutler's intent was to keep his teammates engaged and focused and to not give them time to think too much, but to just react.

“That's right up my alley,” said Grasu, who was well-versed in the hurry-up offense after starting for four years in Oregon's rapid-fire attack. “I love to play fast. When there's a lot of chaos, I love it. I love those situations when the pressure's on.

“If you're prepared, the pressure shouldn't get to you, and our coaches do such a great job of getting us prepared. Once it comes to the game, it's just like how we practiced it.”

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