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Bears defensive line boasts talent, depth
By Larry Mayer
July 13, 2005



LAKE FOREST, Ill. - With a mix of veterans and promising young players, the Bears defensive line is arguably the strongest position on the team.

Adewale Ogunleye is attempting to rebound from a leg injury and produce like he did in 2003 when he led the AFC with 15 sacks for the Dolphins.
Adewale Ogunleye returns from a leg injury that hampered him most of last season to team with Alex Brown at end, while 2004 first-round pick Tommie Harris looks to build on a successful rookie campaign alongside the hard-working Ian Scott at tackle.

Reserves Michael Haynes, Alfonso Boone, Tank Johnson, Israel Idonije, Alain Kashama, Shurron Pierson, Quinn Dorsey and Darrell Campbell will be among those who challenge for playing time and roster spots in training camp.

Bears defensive line coach Don Johnson answers questions about the position:

How healthy is Adewale Ogunleye and what's the key to getting him to perform like he did in 2003 when he led the AFC with a career-high 15 sacks while playing for the Miami Dolphins?

I think he's pretty healthy at this point in time. The key is keeping him healthy and that could be a matter of how we pace him in game situations in terms of how many snaps he gets in the preseason. We want to make sure that he's 100 percent and ready to go on Sept. 11 (for the regular season opener at Washington).

What type of player can he be for the Bears?

He showed how great he can be a few years back. It's just a health issue right now, getting him back healthy where he's comfortable doing all the things that we're asking him to do.

How talented is Alex Brown and what's the key to getting him to step up his game to the next level?

He's a very talented player. I think overall it's got to be group participation. If you want to pressure the quarterback and sack the quarterback, you need four guys working at the same tempo getting up the field, condensing the pocket and being able to contain the quarterback. Alex has the potential to do that. We just need to get everybody on the same page.


Defensive tackle Tommie Harris registered 58 tackles with 3.5 sacks during a productive rookie season with the Bears in 2004.
What are your expectations for Tommie Harris?

He set a pretty good standard for himself last season as a rookie. There's a lot of potential growth from year one to year two, but there's also the sophomore jinx. So we've just got to keep him going. He's got a great motor and he's a great player. He's got great instincts. We've just got to hone those and keep him playing at that level. His intensity and work ethic are unbelievable.

Ian Scott really came out of nowhere last season to contribute. What are your impressions of him?

Ian Scott's going to bring his lunch bucket and his hard hat to work every day. He's going to outwork guys that might be better athletes and might have more potential. He's going to come in and give you an honest eight hours of work every day.

How entrenched are the four starters on the defensive line?

I don't think we'll really be set on anything until we get into the first and second week of the preseason. All these guys are being challenged. Nobody's guaranteed a starting position.

What excites you most about the line?

The depth and the talent.

Who are some of the top reserves who could challenge for playing time?

Israel Idonije is a great talent. Alain Kashama is very athletic with good speed off the edge. You've got Tank Johnson inside who could be pressing for a starting position. Alfonso Boone has turned into a very seasoned veteran with great knowledge of the game and knowledge of some of the players in the league. It's unusual to have the balance and depth that we have.

What's the biggest question or concern you'd like to see answered in camp?

The biggest thing is discerning who the four starters are going to be and then keeping the other guys motivated to keep pressing them throughout the course of the season. It's a long season and you've got to have guys who are ready to step in and not lose a beat and keep the same tempo you had no matter who the four guys are on the field.

Which young player are you most eager to see when the pads come on in training camp?

I would say Tank Johnson, just based on his ability, his quickness and his athleticism. I would like to see him put the complete package together and get on the field with it.

What's the key to success for the defensive line this season?

First and foremost, we've got to play together as a unit. And then we have to maintain our health and utilize our depth to keep the guys fresh. I think the biggest things are being able to win the fourth quarter and getting pressure on the quarterback when it counts.