The Chicago Bears and San Diego Chargers will do battle on Thursday night in a Monday Night Football presentation on ESPN and the Bears have a number of questions heading into the game, including whether the offensive line will get in order in time for the regular season.
The Bears have rookie Kyle Long on the right side and there are a number of questions along the line with Jordan Mills, J'Marcus Webb as well as Eben Britton and Jonathan Scott. New head coach Marc Trestman has made it a point to rework the offensive line after quarterback Jay Cutler was hit too much last season and now he will have the chance to see the unit in action against the Chargers. The team needs to the o-line to be more consistent this season for Cutler and that should open things up for Matt Forte as well.
Cutler threw an interception in the opening game of the preseason for the Bears against the Carolina Panthers, but the first team offense did not play long enough for any real judgments. Cutler will need to continue to utilize Matt Forte in the running game and Trestman is hoping that players like Alshon Jeffery and Earl Bennett can support Brandon Marshall, who has by far the most catches on the team last season with over 100 to Bennett's 29. Cutler and Bennett have never been able to pit up great numbers and it's odd since they were teammates in college.
The preseason will also be a chance for Trestman to see what he really has in rookies Jon Bostic, Khaseem Greene, wide receiver Marquess Wilson and defensive end Cornelius Washington and all of them should get ample playing time this game. Josh McCown will likely be the number two quarterback and depending on how he plays, Matt Blanchard may not make it into the regular season on the roster. Offensive tackle Jonathan Scott was out of practice this week, but after returning he could get some reps in the preseason after he had to drain his knee.
Jeffery is going to be looked at as a breakout candidate this season with Cutler after missing six games as a rookie. During his first year he made 24 catches for 367 yards and three touchdowns and now he could put up some great numbers of Marshall; consistently gets doubled.
