By Brad Biggs
What the Bears do in practice today on the offensive line isn't necessarily an indication of what they will do Sunday against Green Bay, but at least it's a clue.
Former first-round draft pick Chris Williams is expected to remain today at left tackle, where he started for the first time in his career last Sunday vs. St. Louis. Veteran Kevin Shaffer likely will remain at right tackle, with Orlando Pace expected to be limited in drills as he comes back from his groin muscle injury.
What the Bears do in practice today on the offensive line isn't necessarily an indication of what they will do Sunday against Green Bay, but at least it's a clue.
Former first-round draft pick Chris Williams is expected to remain today at left tackle, where he started for the first time in his career last Sunday vs. St. Louis. Veteran Kevin Shaffer likely will remain at right tackle, with Orlando Pace expected to be limited in drills as he comes back from his groin muscle injury.
Bears coach Lovie Smith has been adamant he will use the lineup he believes gives
the team the best chance to win each week, but Williams is considered
the left tackle of the future and the future started when the Bears
slumped to 4-7.
Perhaps Pace gets more practice time as the week moves on and reclaims his position, but general manager Jerry Angelo surely wants to see Williams developed in the position he drafted him to play. Shaffer could prove to be the right tackle of the future, too. He had been working primarily at left tackle before last week.
"Whatever the situation is, I think I'll continue to work on the right side more as far as practice or if I am the swing guy or whatever it is,'' Shaffer said. "Now, I want to do more on the right. I am definitely more comfortable on the right and things come back to me more quickly. If you haven't been doing it for eight or 10 weeks, the brain starts switching hands and switching feet. It comes back quick. It came back quick last week, but there are still some things I need to work on like hand placement.''
Pace signed a three-year contract, and if he's not starting it will raise natural questions about his future.
Perhaps Pace gets more practice time as the week moves on and reclaims his position, but general manager Jerry Angelo surely wants to see Williams developed in the position he drafted him to play. Shaffer could prove to be the right tackle of the future, too. He had been working primarily at left tackle before last week.
"Whatever the situation is, I think I'll continue to work on the right side more as far as practice or if I am the swing guy or whatever it is,'' Shaffer said. "Now, I want to do more on the right. I am definitely more comfortable on the right and things come back to me more quickly. If you haven't been doing it for eight or 10 weeks, the brain starts switching hands and switching feet. It comes back quick. It came back quick last week, but there are still some things I need to work on like hand placement.''
Pace signed a three-year contract, and if he's not starting it will raise natural questions about his future.
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I wanna Hear,"Williams is our Left Tackle" Come On Lovie