| Today is
2007 Bears Camp Dates
      |
August 14, 2007 Chicago Bears position previews: Offensive guards, tackles
CENTERS Olin Kreutz Height: 6-2 Weight: 292 College: Washington Years of Experience: 10 Kreutz could very well be the best center in the NFL. He has been selected to six consecutive Pro Bowls, the third-most All-Time in Bears history for offensive players behind Walter Payton (9 selections) and Jay Hilgenberg (7). Kreutz is a workhorse as well, having started 99 of the last 100 Bears games and also riding a streak of 70 consecutive games played. Kreutz has a notable mean streak that suits him well in the trenches. He is all you can hope for from your center and also holds a valued leadership role and was the anchor of an offensive line that allowed just 25 sacks last season, tied for the sixth-fewest in the NFL.
GUARDS Ruben Brown Height: 6-3 Weight: 300 College: Pittsburgh Years of Experience: 13 Brown has put together a very productive pro career, but now with 12 seasons behind him concerns about how much tread he has left on his proverbial tires have become relevant. Last year was the first time in three seasons he didn't miss any time due to injury and due to his contract status (a one-year deal) the Bears won't push him too hard. Brown is a crafty veteran with nine Pro Bowl appearances in his past. He certainly is capable of providing solid line work but alternatives should be explored because Brown won't be there much longer to fill a void.
Roberto Garza Height: 6-2 Weight: 305 College: Texas A&M-Kingsville Years of Experience: 7 Garza was obtained as unrestricted free agent from Atlanta two years ago and has become a valuable and versatile member of the Bears linemen. He has established himself as the starter at the right guard position also serves as the only player in camp that could serve as the back-up to Kreutz at center if the need arises. Garza was well thought of in college, but never found his niche in the Atlanta system. With the Bears he seems to have found a comfort level and certainly doesn't weaken the overall feel of the line when he is in there.
Terrence Metcalf Height: 6-3 Weight: 318 College: Mississippi Years of Experience: 6 Metcalf seems to have been relegated to a reserve role with the veterans in front of him, but should something happen to almost anyone on the line, Metcalf would likely be plugged into whatever void that was created. Both Garza and Metcalf are locked up through 2011, leading some to believe that the duo will be the guard tandem when Brown retires or succumbs to injuries. Metcalf has 62 career starts under his belt and it doesn't appear that the line would experience much of a fall-off in productivity if he were placed in the lineup.
Joshua Beekman Height: 6-2 Weight: 310 College: Boston College Years of Experience: Rookie As a collegiate lineman, Beekman earned first-team All-American honors from the Associated Press. It was actually surprising that Beekman lasted 130 picks into the draft as he was considered by many to be one of the better interior lineman prospects in the draft. Listed as a guard, he also has the flexibility to play center and gives the Bears a viable backup at both positions. Beekman's height is a minor issue, but he seems to have the mental makeup to overcome physical liabilities and become a productive pro should the opportunity present itself.
Anthony Oakley Height: 6-4 Weight: 298 College: Western Kentucky Years of Experience: 2 A fringe player, Oakley has spent an awful lot of time on practice squads, but has never appeared in an NFL game. Last season he was on the Bears roster for the entire season but never played. He spent the entire 2005 campaign on Chicago's practice squad, which followed a stretch on Cleveland's practice squad in 2004. He spent the offseason prior to 2005 in NFL Europe, where he was a valued member of the Frankfurt Galaxy's line. Oakley's chances of making the team weren't helped by the Bears' selection of Beekman.
Tyler Reed Height: 6-4 Weight: 307 College: Penn State Years of Experience: 1 Reed is another guard that will have limited time to develop as the Bears placed another guard into the mix, and one that is more highly regarded than Reed was, as a sixth round draft choice in 2006. However, Reed does come with a solid pedigree and has lots of experience on a high level of college football. But despite the fact that the Bears did spend a draft pick on Reed, he'll have to show more this time around if he wants a spot somewhere on the roster. Another stint on the practice squad would have to be considered a possibility.
Tyler McMeans Height: 6-4 Weight: 325 College: Miami (Fla.) Years of Experience: 1 It is hard to see McMeans as much more than roster filler. At 27, McMeans is older than most newcomers that enter the league because of a four-year stint that he served in the Marines. He was an All-ACC performer in 2005 starting all of the Hurricanes games at left guard. Was sidelined during his junior season because of a knee injury that he seems to have completely recovered from. McMeans will get a look, but will likely need to outplay both Reed and Oakley to give himself any sort of a chance for a future with the Bears.
TACKLES John Tait Height: 6-6 Weight: 312 College: Brigham Young Years of Experience: 9 Tait has proven to be all that was advertised while holding down the critical left tackle position on the Bears offensive line. Although he was signed away from Kansas City as a right tackle, Tait has been very successful at the position most feel is the lichpin of the offensive line. For the second consecutive year, Tait had missed time with an ankle injury as he missed weeks 14 and 15 with that ailment. But other than that, Tait has proven to be a reliable offensive line performer that can be counted on to protect the quarterback's blindside.
Fred Miller Height: 6-7 Weight: 314 College: Baylor Years of Experience: 12 Miller will never be mistaken for being flashy, but he has proven to be durable and dependable. Miller has missed just one game out of his last 146 games, because of a broken jaw suffered in a 2005 altercation with a teammate. That number would be impressive for a low-impact position, but even more so in a rigorous position like the offensive line. Miller probably doesn't have a lot more tread left on his NFL tires, but he can be counted on to deliver a few more years of steady play before the inevitable decline begins.
John St. Clair Height: 6-5 Weight: 315 College: Virginia Years of Experience: 8 Although St. Clair hasn't evolved into an anchor-type lineman that many expected and the St. Louis Rams hoped for when he was a third-round pick in 1999, he has emerged as a player who can provide some depth to an offensive line. St. Clair has appeared in 71 games in his pro career and has started a little over half of them. St. Clair played center in college and eventually moved outside as his body frame isn't ideal for interior line play. However, the move to tackle has exposed one of his weaknesses, a lack of side-to-side mobility.
Aaron Brant Height: 6-7 Weight: 315 College: Iowa State Years of Experience: Rookie Brant had bounced all over the offensive line during his career at Iowa State and has shown some versatility in the process. But there is a reason this hulking athlete lasted until the seventh round of the draft: Brant struggles with speedy defenders and hasn't shown much explosion off the line. He certainly isn't lacking in the area of measureables, but unfortunately for Brant, his future might be in the line's interior positions, where he won't have to deal with a myriad of quicker athletes.
Mark LeVoir Height: 6-7 Weight: 310 College: Notre Dame Years of Experience: 1 LeVoir still has some things to learn about the tackle position, having converted to the position in 2002 from tight end. Basically, LeVoir could simply use a lot more repetitions at the position to learn what it will take at the pro level to be successful. Strangely, LeVoir doesn't often show the flashes of athleticism that you would expect from a converted tight end and despite a huge frame to work with he could probably use some more bulk. A project player that has yet to pay off any dividends. |
Check out the Weather!! | |||||||||
