[CBFF] Benson Artical (and Olsen bits)

[Steve Behrens]

*September 5, 2007*



* Veteran offensive linemen believe in Benson*

  By Larry Mayer

LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Bears offensive linemen Olin Kreutz and Ruben Brown have
been voted to a combined 15 Pro Bowls, but the two close friends share more
in common than their numerous trips to Hawaii.

Both are big fans of Cedric Benson and are confident that the Bears running
back will be more productive this year than he was in the preseason when he
averaged just 2.3 yards per carry.
"Cedric did a good job this preseason," Kreutz said of the fourth overall
pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. "He ran the ball hard. We have to open the holes
for him.

"Cedric is a power running back, the strongest running back I have ever
played with, that's for sure. When he hits people, you can hear it. Last
year, I remember he broke [Patriots linebacker Junior] Seau's arm. People
tackle him, he hurts people. Cedric is a powerful, powerful back."

Benson rushed for only 82 yards on 35 carries in four preseason games. But
like Kreutz, Brown has high expectations for a back who gained 432 of his
647 yards in the final seven games last year and capped the regular season
with the first 100-yard performance of his career.

"He's going to flow through anything in his way," Brown said. "The guy likes
to run over people and not many people are going to catch him when he gets
in the open field. We're not changing anything. We're just doing our job,
and he'll pick up the slack."

Benson's physical running style pumps up his veteran teammates.

"He runs the ball angry," Kreutz said. "That brings a little attitude to our
offense."

The two offensive linemen are both predicting great things for their young
teammate.

"I think you guys are going to see what Cedric Benson is all about," Kreutz
told reporters. "Cedric Benson is going to be a great back."

"I don't think we'd have drafted that guy so high if he wasn't a talent,"
Brown added. "He's a major talent, and everybody's going to get to see."

*Just for openers:* After missing his entire rookie season with a foot
injury, nose tackle Dusty Dvoracek can't wait to step on the field for
Sunday's opener in San Diego.

"It's the first of many is the way I'm looking at it," Dvoracek said. "More
than anything I just want to go out there and play well for my teammates,
myself and my coaches, and just help this defense make a name for itself."

Although he's the Bears' only untested starter on either side of the ball,
the 2006 third-round pick from Oklahoma doesn't feel as if he's under a
microscope.

"I don't feel any extra pressure," Dvoracek said. "Anybody that's playing on
Sunday feels a little pressure to perform well, but we have a lot of good
guys. We're going to rotate all of us. I've just got to go out there and do
my job like I've been doing, and secure my job and make plays.

"It's just football. It's the same game I've been playing since I was seven.
Nothing's going to change, so there's no added pressure."

*On the mend:* Rookie tight end Greg Olsen, who sprained his left knee in
last Thursday night's preseason finale against the Browns, was the only
Bears player who missed practice Wednesday.

Olsen's status for Sunday's game remains unknown. Unlike previous seasons,
this year the NFL will not release an official injury report with players
listed as doubtful, questionable and probable until the Friday before a
Sunday game. Injury reports on Wednesday and Thursday only will indicate
which players missed practice or were limited in their participation.

"He would like to play, yes," said coach Lovie Smith. "He is definitely
ready to go [aside from the injury]. You've seen the way he's played since
he got here. He's a good player, he's a competitor. He's not there yet
[health-wise], but he's making progress."

*Comfort zone:* A year of experience in the Bears offense has given Rashied
Davis the familiarity he was lacking last season. The converted cornerback
performed well in his first year as a receiver, catching 22 passes for 303
yards and 2 TDs last year, but he was still learning.

"I'm so much more comfortable," Davis said. "I know what's going on for the
most part. A lot of the time last year I felt like I was just feeling my way
around.

"The offense isn't the easiest offense to learn, but being in it for a year
and seeing all the looks we saw all year long last year and knowing where I
have to be and what I have to do instead of learning it on the go like I did
last year is going to be so much better for me."