Blog Down, Chicago Bears

PRESEASON WEEK 1

Kansas City 24, Chicago 20 – ESPN Box Score

When your first-round pick, and instrumental cog piece to a seemingly, already mediocre offensive line, undergoes potential season-ending surgery, you have the right to worry.

A day after left tackle, Chris Williams, had surgery to repair a herniated disc in his lower back – an injury unrelated to the one that had been keeping him out of practice — the Bears took the field against the Kansas City Chiefs for both teams’ first preseason game of the year.

Suprisingly, starting in place of Williams, veteran John St. Clair and the rest of the Bears offensive line looked anything but worried. All night, quarterbacks Kyle Orton, Rex Grossman, and Caleb Hanie had ample time to throw the ball. Better yet, gaping holes were aplenty for the team’s slew of running backs, as Matt Forte, Adrian Peterson, Garrett Wolfe, P.J. Pope, and Lousaka Polite all looked impressive at times.

What’s more inspiring is that projected starting left guard, Terrance Metcalf, was also absent from the game, out after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery.  Even so, second-year pro, Josh Beekman, played admirably in his place. As a matter of fact, Beekman played quite well. The O-line would do well for themselves to carry this momentum foward through the rest of the preseason and into the season opener. At least then, any period of time Williams could miss would fall under disappointing and not devastating.

Safety net:  Starting strong safety, Brandon McGowan, was all over the field tonight. With free safety, Mike Brown back in the fold, the Bears’ have themselves a more-than-solid duo. And despite what I might think, having Troy Polomalu hair does not make you Troy Polomalu. Regardless, I’m excited about safety Leonard Peters’ energy and aggressiveness. Special teams kamikaze, anyone?

Return woes: Watching other people, not named Devin Hester, return punts and kicks made me realize that I never want to see someone other than Devin Hester return punts and kicks. Ever.

Quarterback stalemate: Neither Kyle Orton or Rex Grossman did anything substantial to distinguish themselves as the clear favorite to win the starting job, tonight. Grossman, however, did remind us of how easy it is to trip over your own two feet. Ah, football is back, baby.