Long's injury could give Bears' Grasu chance to shine

BOURBONNAIS - Thursday's strained calf that kept three-time Pro Bowl offensive lineman Kyle Long out of Friday's practice and in a protective walking boot sheds more of a spotlight on young offensive linemen like center Hroniss Grasu.

Last year's third-round pick was force-fed eight starts as a rookie last season because of a season-ending injury to veteran Will Montgomery.

Grasu, who was teammates with Long at Oregon, struggled through the normal rookie adjustments in an uneven season, but more is expected of him this year. Long says there's no need to worry about Grasu's development.

"Last year he was very reserved and almost a little understated," Long said of his trusty sidekick. "He was afraid to ruffle some feathers. But I think Hroniss has done a great job of getting back to who he is. Move all the football stuff aside, he's a great guy, he's got a great personality, he gets along with everybody, he's funny, he works hard, he's a blue-collar guy.

"But then you (add) in that learning curve, and you're going to see a guy who's on the ascent here for a long time in Chicago."

Grasu needed to add strength and size, which he has, but the biggest boon to his play this year could be the chemistry of having Long alongside him. That bond wasn't as strong last year when Long was outside at right tackle.

"It's so easy to talk to him about anything," Grasu said of Long. "With Kyle, there's not much that needs to be said between us. We know exactly what we need to do."

The security of having Long on his right shoulder should help put Grasu at ease, something he wasn't always able to do as a rookie.

"It's more just being calm, being relaxed," Grasu said. "That's how I (normally) am. I just have to keep doing that. You can be calm and relaxed but also play aggressively."

That wasn't the only thing Grasu needed to learn between last year and this year.

I had to learn a lot of things in the off-season," he said. "I also had to learn the playbook a lot better, and that makes you more comfortable and makes you play faster. Less thinking means you're more confident in your play."

With Long out, veteran Ted Larsen lined up with the first team at right guard during Friday's second training camp practice, while second-round rookie Cody Whitehair was at left guard. When Long gets back, Grasu, Larsen and Whitehair will be competing for the two other interior spots on a line with left tackle Charles Leno and right tackle Bobby Massie.

The only positive regarding Long's injury is the opportunity to build O-line depth.

"It's important to have them all out there," coach John Fox said. "But the reality is guys get nicked during the process of camp and preparation. The good part of it is you get some other guys some opportunities and that helps you build your depth."

Moving linemen in and out in different combinations is necessary throughout camp to allow players to work in sync to find the most cohesive unit and prepare for inevitable injures.

"All of us have to play as one, and we're getting there," Grasu said. "We're taking the right steps. And you hate to say it, but you have to be prepared for someone going down or something happening."

The Bears found that out during the first practice of camp.

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