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Angelo confident offensive line will gel in training camp - Chicago
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Angelo confident offensive line will gel in training camp
 By: Larry Mayer | Last Updated: 7/1/2009 12:59 PM

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LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Today marks the latest installment of a regular feature
on ChicagoBears.com. Senior writer Larry Mayer sits down with general
manager Jerry Angelo to discuss the most pressing issues involving the Bears
on the first and third Wednesday of each month during the offseason and
every Wednesday throughout the season.

This unique feature will provide you with inside information directly from
Jerry that you can’t get anywhere else. Jerry will candidly discuss relevant
issues affecting the Bears that avid fans are most interested in.

*LM: The Bears could have as many as three new starters on their offensive
line this season. What’s the key to the unit gelling and how long does that
typically take?*

JA: Since I’ve been here, we’ve been able to get that done through training
camp. I’m not saying they’re going to be as good as they can be in Game 1,
but they’re certainly going to be good enough and will continue to grow as
the season goes on. I’ve always said that the two key components are the
line coach and the health of the players. In some cases, staying healthy so
the unit can play together is every bit as important as the talent itself.

*LM: I haven’t heard a lot of talk about Chris Williams. How confident are
you that the 2008 first-round draft pick can step in at right tackle and
perform at a high level?*


*Offensive tackle Chris Williams was selected by the Bears with the 14th
pick in the 2008 NFL Draft.*  JA: I’m very confident. Chris was a very good
player coming out of Vanderbilt. He was one of the better tackles I’ve seen.
He has everything you look for at the position: size, athleticism,
intelligence, work ethic and strength. He possesses all the components to be
a very good tackle in this league. It’s just a matter of him getting
acclimated to the right side. It’s something that we’ve seen other quality
tackles do in previous years, most recently with Pro Bowler Jordan Gross of
the Carolina Panthers. Last year was his first season as a left tackle. He
came into the league as a right tackle and, like Chris, was a left tackle in
college.

*LM: The Bears made significant personnel changes on offense during the
offseason. On defense, the key changes involved the coaching staff with
Lovie Smith assuming play-calling duties and veteran position coaches Rod
Marinelli and Jon Hoke coming on board. How big of a difference can coaching
changes make?*

JA: I think they’ll make a huge difference. When you have quality coaching,
you’re going to see it reflected in the performance of the players. It’s a
coaching league. We see that because of all the attrition that each team has
every year. Coaches have to get players up to speed right away. I anticipate
that our coaches will have a very big impact, just as much as a quality
player would have.

*LM: After setting NFL records for kick return touchdowns in each of his
first two seasons, Devin Hester didn’t have as much success in that aspect
of his game last year perhaps due in part to his role expanding on offense.
How confident are you that he will revert to form in the return game, and
how important is that to the team?*

JA: It’s very important because he impacted games; not just field position,
but the outcome of games in a positive way. I think he’s going to be much
better in that role. Danieal Manning takes some of the load off his back
with the kickoff returns. We also expect Devin to take a big step as a
receiver this year. How prolific of a punt returner will he be? I can’t say
that. He set the bar to the point where it was ridiculous. But I anticipate
him doing a lot better this year in part because he’ll be more understanding
of his role as a receiver. He needed to go through that experience, which he
did, and I feel that he will be more comfortable with that role and it won’t
be as demanding as it was last year given his experience.
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