[CBFF] Veteran offensive line still producing at high level

[Steve Behrens]

 By Larry Mayer

Cancel the shuffleboard game and the trip to the bingo parlor. Four of the
Bears' five starting offensive linemen are on the wrong side of 30, but
they're a long way from the retirement home.

"So much is made about age," said offensive line coach Harry Hiestand. "We
just look at production. We look at how they play. If the guys are playing
good football, that's the bottom line. When they hit the field and we start
playing games, how are they playing? Are they getting their guys blocked?
Are they doing their jobs? Age is for you to talk about."

The Bears' offensive line is anchored by 30-year-old center Olin Kreutz, a
six-time Pro Bowler, and left guard Ruben Brown, a nine-time Pro Bowler who
at 35 is the oldest player on the roster.

Right tackle Fred Miller is 34, left tackle John Tait is 32 and right guard
Roberto Garza is the baby of the group at 28. Together, the five linemen
have combined to play 46 NFL seasons.

"I'm excited about it because they're very good players," said offensive
coordinator Ron Turner. "I don't know how old Ruben is; all I know is when I
put the film on I see a guy playing great football. All of those guys are
playing at a high level right now.

"I don't even give a second thought to their age. Sometimes we're going to
have to rest them a little bit or whatever and we'll do that to make sure
they're fresh. But it's a good group. They're all good football players."

The only Bears starter other than Brown (12), Miller (11) and Kreutz (9) who
has played at least nine NFL seasons is wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad, a
12-year veteran.

Kreutz, a 1998 third-round pick, is the only starting lineman who was
drafted by the Bears. Tait (Chiefs), Brown (Bills), Garza (Falcons) and
Miller (Titans) were all signed as free agents.

"You have a unique group here," Hiestand said. "You have a group of guys who
came from all different places and are particularly special people.

"I would say not everybody on the line [league-wide] can play into certain
ages, but this group—with the passion they have for it, the way they prepare
for it, how they take care of themselves, how they train, how they treat
their bodies—you don't see them breaking down."

Playing together for a few years has helped the line develop camaraderie.
Virtually every day at training camp they walk to the cafeteria for meals as
a group and also spend down-time together.

"Being a unit is really important; being together, being able to communicate
and knowing what the other guy is thinking," Hiestand said. "Also to be
there to back each other up at all times and they're able to do that."

While confident in the veterans, Turner acknowledged the need to develop
young players.

"You always have to do that all the way across the board," he said. "At
every position you've got to be bringing guys in and developing them and
that position is no different. We've got to get some young guys and continue
to work them.

"Young guys coming in here have a tremendous advantage. First, they have a
great coach to develop them in Harry Hiestand. But they also have a lot of
other great and positive influences on that offensive line with Olin, Ruben,
Roberto, Fred and John. Those guys are tremendous. They can watch and study
them and it's going to help their development."