Grasu would be first for Jay, not John
Toub looking forward to facing former team
After listing 13 players as questionable Friday, someone asked John Fox how he was feeling.
“I feel good,” he said. “I’m questionable.” Then again, aren’t we all? Here are 10 more questions facing the Bears as they prepare to play the Chiefs on Sunday.
1. Has Jay Cutler played with a young center before?
No. That makes the prospect of rookie Hroniss Grasu starting foreign to the Bears quarterback. Grasu is eight years younger than the youngest regular center Cutler has ever teamed with.
With the Broncos, Cutler played with Tom Nalen ( in his age 35 and 36 seasons) in 2006- 07 and Casey Wiegmann ( 35) in 2008. With the Bears, he has had Olin Kreutz ( 3233) from 2009 to ’ 10 and Roberto Garza ( 32- 35) from 2011 to ’ 14.
Will Montgomery, 32, was lost for the season Sunday.
“Hroniss would be the youngest guy, but it’s fine,” Cutler said.
2. Do the Bears have a bit of Oregon in them?
Yes. One reason for drafting Grasu was the staff’s familiarity with Oregon offensive coordinator Scott Frost, who vouched for him.
Offensive coordinator Adam Gase visited campus a few years ago to pick the Ducks’ brains.
“It was a good project for us that we did, and it had more to do than just plays,” Gase said. “It was kind of what their philosophy was.”
3. Has John Fox ever started a rookie center?
The Panthers’ Ryan Kalil in 2007. He has been to four Pro Bowls since.
“He’s played at a pretty high level,” Fox said.
4. Will it be weird for Chiefs special- teams coach Dave Toub to face his former team?
“This is the first time, and I’m kind of looking forward to seeing those guys,” he told reporters in Kansas City. “The crazy thing is there are only five players on the team that were there when I was there. That’s how much turnover they’ve had over the last three years.”
5. Five guys?
We counted six: Cutler, kicker Robbie Gould, linebacker Shea McClellin, receiver Alshon Jeffery, running back Matt Forte and cornerback Sherrick McManis.
6. Fox is good at Arrowhead Stadium, yes?
As the Broncos’ coach, he won all four games in Kansas City and went 7- 1 against the Chiefs. He was perfect with the Panthers, too, winning a home and road game.
7. Is it the Bears’ turn to win?
The teams have alternated victories in the last eight games, dating to 1987. The Chiefs won the most recent meeting, 10- 3 at Solider Field in 2011.
8. Did Vic Fangio bring the Cubs good luck?
The defensive coordinator thinks so. In his five years in the Bay Area— at Stanford in 2010 and with the 49ers from 2011 to ’ 14— the Giants won three World Series titles. He was the Texans’ defensive coordinator when the Astros lost to the White Sox in the 2005World Series.
“I bring good luck to the baseball teams,” he said.
9. Another Forte comparison?
For the second consecutive week, an opposing coach compared one of his players to Matt Forte. Jamaal Charles has 306 rushing yards and 151 receiving yards this season.
“He does everything,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “He blocks, he runs, he catches. He can do a lot of things for you. And he loves playing. He’s not a big ego guy that way. You’ve got one right there, too, that’s really good at all that stuff.”
10. Whom did center Barrett Jones knowwhen he signed thisweek?
Mike Groh. The Bears’ wide receivers coach served in the same role for Jones’ Alabama team from 2011 to ’ 12, when the Crimson Tide won backtoback national titles.
“He does a great job of getting everyone on the same page and getting guys excited about doing their job,” said Jones, who was signed this week to the practice squad.