Chicago Bears: 5 Starters Who Must Step Up in the Team's 3rd Preseason Game

The preseason is a time for evaluation and for getting players in top shape while hopefully avoiding injury. Yet the third game is often the one in which teams look at the most for playing time for its starters and also to help them make decisions on the final roster.

With that in mind, there are still a couple of starting jobs that could be swayed one way or the other depending on game performance. Coaches evaluate during practice, to be sure, but it's the game situations that matter most.

Despite a short week to prepare, the Bears will be looking at several key areas for improvement. Again, the goal shouldn't necessarily be to win the game, but it's time for the starters to show something.

Obviously, some players will keep their starting jobs no matter what, save for injury. But for every Brian Urlacher, Julius Peppers and Matt Forte, there is a Major Wright, Lance Louis and Roy Williams who need to step it up in order to retain those jobs.

So let's take a look at players who need to start showing the Bears what they are capable of in Saturday's game against the Titans. Roll the tape.

Roy Williams

Williams is still listed atop the depth chart at wide receiver, but another lackluster performance and Johnny Knox could take his spot.

Williams was incredulous when first asked about the drops he had in the Giants game, but the fact is the man hasn't caught a pass in a Bears game yet.

Meanwhile, Knox does everything he's asked and that doghouse he's in may open a crack if Williams doens't start showing something.

Despite almost 1,000 yards receiving last year, Knox was criticized for not running good routes and for failing to make adjustments to go get the ball in traffic. But just what has Williams done lately?

It's been awhile since he's had a 1,000-yard season, and while that career year was in Mike Martz's system, Martz and QB Jay Cutler need to start seeing improvement from Williams.

He came into camp out of shape and seems to have a nonchalant attitude at times. This must change, starting on Saturday.

J'Marcus Webb

Webb showed marked improvement in Monday's game against the Giants, but the key is to keep on showing improvement or the Bears may need to take a look at either moving Gabe Carimi to his natural left side or using Frank Omiyale at left tackle.

The Bears want Webb to succeed at LT, because he has all of the physical tools you want in a player at that position. He is athletic, long and has good footwork, but in the end, it ultimately comes down to production.

Webb is protecting Cutler's blind side, so this will be a very critical position on the offensive line if the Bears offense is going to succeed, particularly in the Martz system.

So, Webb got better but needs to continue stepping it up in Game 3.

Lance Louis

Like Webb, Louis showed improvement in the Giants game. And, in his case, that may have saved him from becoming a camp roster casualty.

Still, for Louis to maintain a starting position, he needs to prove that Monday night was no fluke.

Mike Tice knows he has options if Louis falters.

"With Edwin Williams and Chris Spencer and Frank Omiyale in the mix, we have some depth, something that I think we didn't have at any point last season,'' Tice said. "… If things don't go as planned, we're able to adapt.''

Major Wright

With the departure of Danieal Manning, second-year player Major Wright is atop the depth chart, but to stay there he needs to prove he can cover receivers, especially in a division that has Aaron Rodgers and those terrific wideouts in Green Bay.

So far, he has looked good tackling, but coverage continues to be a problem. Don't be fooled by his whiff on a tackle against the Giants Brandon Jacobs TD on Monday, the man knows how to tackle.

The other issue with Wright is staying healthy. He missed five games in his rookie season and parts of the camp with various injuries.

Henry Melton

Veterans Julius Peppers, Israel Idonije and Anthony Adams will hold three of the four starting spots on the Bears' defensive line in 2011.

But Henry Melton is competing for a starting job with Amobi Okoye, Stephen Paea and Matt Toeaina. Melton added muscle this offseason and has looked good in practice.

But if Melton doesn't step it up, Paea, a second-round pick this year, is versatile enough to play nose tackle or three-technique, and he could steal the starter's job away from him. 

With the injury to Corey Wootton, the Bears could move Melton to the DE position.