Bears take the offensive
Williams, Forte display the confidence, enthusiasm necessary for NFL success
Watching the first minicamp practice of the eager army known as the Class of 2008, you couldn't help but want to fast-forward three years to know exactly what the future has in store for Chris Williams, Matt Forte and Co. They say it takes at least that amount of time to evaluate a draft effectively.
Minicamp practices are a futile exercise in terms of evaluating talent. The idea isn't so much for players to act like they've been there before as it is to look like they belong. Sure, you can put some names with faces, begin learning terminology and generally map the surroundings. But it's important to flash athletic ability and move smoothly so the coaches realize how easy the whole thing is for you.
(John J. Kim/Sun-Times)
Mercifully, Williams and Forte pulled off the trick. The two will go far in determining just how much success the Bears have this season because both will have to contribute immediately if this team is going to win. They're smart kids who understand it's best not to ruffle feathers and claim jobs before they're awarded to them, but you don't have to scratch deep to find the confidence and enthusiasm needed to play in the NFL.
Williams talked about starting at the bottom and earning the respect of teammates by working his butt off and keeping his mouth shut, but he admitted he already has been looking at the potential matchups he'll face as a left tackle this season, starting with the Indianapolis Colts' Dwight Freeney in the season opener and the Carolina Panthers' Julius Peppers in Week 2. He said he had a brief conversation with offensive line coach Harry Hiestand about it.
''I told Coach: 'I want to be an All-Pro,''' Williams said. ''He said: 'You have the season to do it. Beat all these guys, and you'll get there.''
Forte said he was brought in to ''create competition'' with running back Cedric Benson, but he seemed aware about what he'll need to show to win that competition.
''The quickest way to get on the field is to learn your pass protections and show you can block and protect the quarterback,'' Forte said. ''If you can do that and you can run your routes and catch the ball, that is the fastest way on the field.''
Bears offensive coordinator Ron Turner faces the task of replacing four starters from last season and might have six new players in the starting offense. It's the kind of overhaul that hasn't happened since 2005, the year he was hired to replace Terry Shea. The task that season was aided by the additions of receiver Muhsin Muhammad and offensive tackle Fred Miller on the free-agent market and an offense-oriented draft. Turner, though, isn't awed.
''Change is tough for an offense,'' Turner said. ''You need to get the timing and the rhythm and create all the different looks they are going to see. But it's a lot better than when we first came in. When we first came in, it was a new system for everybody. Now, at least, these guys have guys to learn from, and that is the positive thing.''
Indeed, having Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton locked into a competition at quarterback gives the Bears two guys who have been in the system since Turner arrived -- both of whom presumably understand all the little things it takes years to learn.
Orton has a chance to save that 2005 draft, in which the Bears took Benson with the No. 4 overall selection and receiver Mark Bradley with a high second-round pick. The third-rounder that year went with receiver Marty Booker to the Miami Dolphins for defensive end Adewale Ogunleye. Then came Orton in the fourth round, receiver Airese Currie in the fifth, safety Chris Harris in the sixth and linebacker Rod Wilson in the seventh. Harris has been the best of the bunch to date, but he's starting for the Panthers these days.
Booker is back with the Bears and is slated to start opposite Bradley, a total wild card who finally might break out this season or might be cut in training camp if he suffers another lingering injury.
The biggest question on offense is who will start at left guard. The Bears will hold a competition among John St. Clair, Terrence Metcalf and Josh Beekman. St. Clair finished last season as the starter and likely will get the nod because he's an experienced guy who would make Williams' life easier. But that robs the Bears of a legitimate swing tackle should something go wrong.
Of course, with the depth of the line dangerously thin, there will be big-time trouble if anything goes wrong anyway.
