Chicago Bears: The New and Improved Offensive Line

I know everyone is excited about Jay Cutler, but the thing that is going to carry the Bears this year is the new and improved offensive line.

The new additions include:

No. 76 Orlando Pace—A seven-time pro bowler with enough fuel in the tank for two more years, plays left tackle.

No. 78 Kevin Shaffer—Started for the Browns at right tackle last year and also has experience at left tackle.

No. 68 Frank Omiyale—A backup for the last couple of years but got a good amount of playing time last year at guard and tackle and did very well.

The Bears starting line-up right now looks like this:

Left tackle—Orlando Pace, a seven-time pro bowler...enough said.

Left guard—Josh Beekman, played well last year and was very consistent, Beekman is a versatile player because he can also play center, he will go on and replace Olin Kreutz when he retires.

Center—Olin Kreutz, a six-time pro bowler. What can I say? He's been the most reliable offensive Bear since 1998 when he was drafted.

Right guard—Roberto Garza, has had an okay Bears career, but struggled last year, hopefully he improves his game.

Right tackle—Chris Williams, hurt all last year, but I have no doubt he will be better than John Tait and John St. Clair.

Reserve players/possible starters

Kevin Shaffer—Will most likely be the backup at both right and left tackle, is a solid player and a huge upgrade from from the tackles the Bears had last year.

Frank Omiyale—Will challenge Beekman for the starting job at left guard, but can also play tackle. He will add depth at every position besides center.

No longer with the team

John St. Clair—played okay, but had no reason being in the lineup.

John Tait—passed his prime, was solid in '05 and '06, but went down hill after that.

Why you should be excited about the new additions?

No. 1—Shaffer the third best tackle on the team would of been the best tackle on the team last year.

No. 2—The last time the Bears had a line that looked this good it was '05 and '06.

No. 3—Forte had an amazing rooking year last year behind the likes of St. Clair and a washed up Tait. I don't see a sophomore slump, expect him to have an Adrian Peterson type year.

The only negatives on the O-Line

Roberto Garza—This is a big question mark on the O-line, if anyone watched the O-line as I did during the Carolina Panthers game this past year, they would of seen him get knocked on his butt at least three times by Chris Harris. Garza was pulling and Harris laid him out. O linemen cannot get knocked down by defensive backs.

Chris Williams—Hopefully he can step up, but he's still unproven.

Orlando Pace—Does he have enough gas in the tank at this point in his career.