BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- More than a we...

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- More than a week away from the first exhibition in San Francisco, it's too early to begin paring down the Bears' roster unless one area is sorting itself revealed quickly.

The defensive line, common of the strengths of last year's team, was supported in the draft, and a certain quantity of players who might've wondered in the spring if they'd be casualties of a unfathomable group will find themselves in position to make the 53-man roster That's going between the walls of the mind of coach Lovie Smith, who said he's constantly formulating a 46-man game-day roster for the family 10 opener at Lambeau Field.

It's not single a talented group, with Pro goblet tackle Tommie Harris and extreme points Alex Brown and Adewale Ogunleye who were Pro receptacle alternates last season, but it has extent -- and that's something the Bears require with as plenteous rotating as they do. Smith says seven linemen are be in want ofed for the 46, so esteem on nine making the roster and possibly a 10th

There are 13 in succession the roster, including newcomers in third-round tackle Dusty Dvoracek and fifth-round completion Mark Anderson, and tackle Tank Johnson whose health will proceed a long way toward deciding at least united cut.

any were surprised general manager Jerry Angelo used brace draft picks for an area that already was a puissance and line coach Don Johnson admitted he didn't think he would prepare a pair of newcomers. still the choices were made for a link of reasons. Smith's cover-2 scheme is predicated forward a consistent pass rush from the effrontery four.

Dvoracek was insurance for Johnson who tore a quad in February, and restrain in mind that starting tackle Ian Scott will be a exempt agent after the season. The association has yet to approach him about a of the present day contract. Remember, he was drafted when Dick Jauron was coach. Smith likes to say he can in no degree have too many edge rushers, and that's what Anderson, public with a hamstring pull, does best.

Angelo and Smith believe a defense is built from the front rank and then backward, and the GM said it was important to make certain a solidity remained a strength. He didn't want to be spread thin up face In fact, when all other factors are equal, Angelo says he'll advance with a lineman every time. Smith says the same policy can clinch true for defensive backs.

forward the ends, about $50 million are invested in Ogunleye and Brown and then there's Israel Idonije, former first-round pick Michael Haynes, now at tackle and veteran tackle Alfonso Boone to go on with end Jamaal Green, tackle Antonio Garay and cessation Khari Long.

"This is a fit problem to have," Ogunleye said. "A accident of these guys are not merely playing for the Bears, they're playing for maybe another 31 teams. From what I'm seeing, it's going to be a tough time deciding who's going to be here and who's not."

Complicated decisions could be made easier with Johnson a suitable bet to open the season forward the non-football injury list, meaning he wouldn't be eligible until after the sixth week of the season. Anderson's hamstring twitch isn't minor, and if he plays little or not at all in the preseason, the fifth-round pick is ensur of being deposit on injured reserve.

bbiggs@suntimes.com

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