Milton Waddams
Well-known member
- Joined:
- Sep 8, 2012
- Posts:
- 4,327
- Liked Posts:
- 1,688
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/ct-hroniss-grasu-bears-center-spt-1009-20151008-story.html
The Bears offense understands the challenge that awaits Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium. For the second time in three weeks, it will be playing in one of the NFL's more boisterous road environments. It will do so this week against a Chiefs defense that is loaded up front.
And — oh, yeah — the Bears offensive line remains depleted and in flux, in the middle of another critical reshuffling and needing to cement a starting center soon.
The options: seventh-year veteran Matt Slauson, a guard by trade, or rookie Hroniss Grasu, a third-round pick in May.
So how hard would it be to thrust a rookie center into the middle of such chaos?
"I don't know," offensive coordinator Adam Gase said Thursday. "I've never done it before."
Neither has quarterback Jay Cutler. Shortly after practice Thursday, Cutler rattled through the list of centers he has played with — from Tom Nalen and Casey Wiegmann in Denver to Olin Kreutz, Roberto Garza and Will Montgomery with the Bears.
The common denominator: All were well-established veterans.
"I've always had older centers who make your life a little bit easier," Cutler said.
Still, the Bears may need to put the ball in Grasu's hands this weekend. He continues to prepare for that possibility. Yet it's difficult to determine whether his insertion into the starting lineup would be more of a choice by the coaching staff or a necessity due to injuries across the line.
Patrick Omameh, who played 74 snaps at left guard last week, has missed the last two practices with an ankle injury. So keeping Slauson at center, where he finished the win over the Raiders in relief of Montgomery, might also require naming a new left guard.
And the only other option on the roster at that slot appears to be Nick Becton, a third-year pro who joined the practice squad four weeks ago and is a better fit at tackle.
In other words, Grasu's chance to start may be inevitable. And while the rookie has been knocked as undersized — he's listed at 6-foot-3 and 300 pounds — he believes he has more than enough to excel.
"You just have to be a technician," Grasu said. "And then you go out there and be nasty and trust that the guys next to you will be there and help make your job easier."
Internally, the Bears recognize the dangers of pushing Grasu into action after a preseason in which he was too often overpowered and struggled to anchor. At center, they understand, any pronounced struggles can quickly obliterate the momentum of the entire offense.
Outwardly, however, the Bears have expressed confidence in the strengths Grasu showed to become a third-round pick.
Gase highlighted Grasu's athleticism and ability to get to the second level as a run blocker. Coach John Fox complimented Grasu's intelligence and football character. And Kyle Long, who played with Grasu at Oregon in 2012, expressed his belief in the rookie's mental toughness.
"I've seen him in a leadership role," Long said. "I've seen him step up in big games and be the guy who's the communicator and the leader. So I have the utmost confidence in him."
Gase insisted Thursday that a decision at center has not been finalized. The coaching staff was impressed with the composure and persistence Slauson showed against the Raiders when forced into an unfamiliar role. Slauson's ability to handle the line calls and keep the offense steady resonated.
"That's why he was one of the guys who got a game ball," Gase said. "It was unbelievable."
Cutler, meanwhile, eagerly awaits the final decision on who will snap Sunday.
"With Hroniss you just know that there are going to be some mistakes out there," Cutler said. "With Slau though too. There are going to be things they just haven't seen. But I know those guys are going to give me everything they've got. And that's all I can ask for."
dwiederer@tribpub.com
Twitter @danwiederer
The Bears offense understands the challenge that awaits Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium. For the second time in three weeks, it will be playing in one of the NFL's more boisterous road environments. It will do so this week against a Chiefs defense that is loaded up front.
And — oh, yeah — the Bears offensive line remains depleted and in flux, in the middle of another critical reshuffling and needing to cement a starting center soon.
The options: seventh-year veteran Matt Slauson, a guard by trade, or rookie Hroniss Grasu, a third-round pick in May.
So how hard would it be to thrust a rookie center into the middle of such chaos?
"I don't know," offensive coordinator Adam Gase said Thursday. "I've never done it before."
Neither has quarterback Jay Cutler. Shortly after practice Thursday, Cutler rattled through the list of centers he has played with — from Tom Nalen and Casey Wiegmann in Denver to Olin Kreutz, Roberto Garza and Will Montgomery with the Bears.
The common denominator: All were well-established veterans.
"I've always had older centers who make your life a little bit easier," Cutler said.
Still, the Bears may need to put the ball in Grasu's hands this weekend. He continues to prepare for that possibility. Yet it's difficult to determine whether his insertion into the starting lineup would be more of a choice by the coaching staff or a necessity due to injuries across the line.
Patrick Omameh, who played 74 snaps at left guard last week, has missed the last two practices with an ankle injury. So keeping Slauson at center, where he finished the win over the Raiders in relief of Montgomery, might also require naming a new left guard.
And the only other option on the roster at that slot appears to be Nick Becton, a third-year pro who joined the practice squad four weeks ago and is a better fit at tackle.
In other words, Grasu's chance to start may be inevitable. And while the rookie has been knocked as undersized — he's listed at 6-foot-3 and 300 pounds — he believes he has more than enough to excel.
"You just have to be a technician," Grasu said. "And then you go out there and be nasty and trust that the guys next to you will be there and help make your job easier."
Internally, the Bears recognize the dangers of pushing Grasu into action after a preseason in which he was too often overpowered and struggled to anchor. At center, they understand, any pronounced struggles can quickly obliterate the momentum of the entire offense.
Outwardly, however, the Bears have expressed confidence in the strengths Grasu showed to become a third-round pick.
Gase highlighted Grasu's athleticism and ability to get to the second level as a run blocker. Coach John Fox complimented Grasu's intelligence and football character. And Kyle Long, who played with Grasu at Oregon in 2012, expressed his belief in the rookie's mental toughness.
"I've seen him in a leadership role," Long said. "I've seen him step up in big games and be the guy who's the communicator and the leader. So I have the utmost confidence in him."
Gase insisted Thursday that a decision at center has not been finalized. The coaching staff was impressed with the composure and persistence Slauson showed against the Raiders when forced into an unfamiliar role. Slauson's ability to handle the line calls and keep the offense steady resonated.
"That's why he was one of the guys who got a game ball," Gase said. "It was unbelievable."
Cutler, meanwhile, eagerly awaits the final decision on who will snap Sunday.
"With Hroniss you just know that there are going to be some mistakes out there," Cutler said. "With Slau though too. There are going to be things they just haven't seen. But I know those guys are going to give me everything they've got. And that's all I can ask for."
dwiederer@tribpub.com
Twitter @danwiederer
