ought LSUs offensive line, which struggle | Forum

                                      LAKE FOREST, Ill. Charlotte Hornets Shirts . -- Jay Cutler can envision bigger things for the Chicago Bears offense.It just might take some time.The Bears will step onto the field with a decidedly different cast when they open the season at the Houston Texans on Sunday.The talent level is definitely there, Cutler said. Weve improved in a lot of different areas. How it is going to go on Sunday, I mean were confident and Im sure they are confident as well. This group I think has the potential to get better and better each and every week.The Bears certainly had plenty of room to grow coming off a last-place finish in the NFC North at 6-10.They go into their second season under coach John Fox and general manager Ryan Pace with an overhauled defensive front seven and no shortage of new players on offense. They added a major one this week when they signed three-time Pro Bowl guard Josh Sitton after he was a surprise cut by Green Bay.That had to make Cutler a happy man.After all, a quarterback who in the past took more than his share of big hits behind weak lines in Chicago now has two elite guards in Sitton and Kyle Long. That cant hurt with J.J. Watt staring at them this week.Anytime you can get a guy like (Sitton), a level of player of his nature, youve got to be excited, Cutler said. He solidifies that offensive line and hes going to help make us better.Sittons arrival allows rookie Cody Whitehair to move from left guard to center, which the Bears believe is his best position. And the way they were talking, he might be the one snapping to Cutler even though veteran Ted Larsen is listed No. 1 on the depth chart.Things come natural to him, Cutler said. Hes a natural football player, natural offensive lineman. With him, he just hadnt snapped as much as some of these other guys. He is a heck of an athlete and the last couple days have been a smooth transition for him.Its not just the line that got an upgrade. Cutler could be throwing to two top receivers in Alshon Jeffery and Kevin White.Thats assuming the Bears made the right call when they drafted White with the No. 7 overall pick in 2015. They didnt get a chance to find out last season because of a stress fracture in his left shin.White finally appears ready to make his debut, though he did show up on Thursdays injury report as a limited participant because of a hamstring issue.Fox offered few details on that, saying, Not being a surgeon or a doctor, they just tell me hamstring and thats what I report to you guys.Assuming White is ready to play, it will be a long-awaited debut. At 6-foot-3 and 216 pounds, the Bears believe he has the size and skills to become a major threat. If he develops the way they envision, they could have a dominant pair as well as a cushion should Jeffery -- playing this season on the franchise tag -- eventually leave.For now, Cutler feels comfortable with White. The two spent time together in Lake Forest and at the quarterbacks home in Tennessee during the offseason.I know a lot about Kevin, Cutler said. I know what he likes and what he doesnt like. How he runs routes. Its just a matter of experience. He just has to get out there and there are things he has to experience and go through in his first game. You got to get through the jitters and after that you just have to play football. Hes a very good football player.---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Bismack Biyombo Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. D. J. Augustin Jersey . -- Tony Stewart is 20 pounds lighter and has a titanium rod in his surgically repaired right leg. https:///...-jersey-hornets.html . White came in fourth place in the event. He was the two-time defending gold medallist. The gold medal went to Swiss snowboarder Iouri Podladtchikov. BATON ROUGE, La. -- LSU coach Les Miles said he might not announce a starting quarterback in advance of the 20th-ranked Tigers Southeastern Conference opener against Mississippi State.When Miles spoke on Monday, he said he had not had a chance to discuss his plans for the quarterback position with his players, and therefore was not ready to discuss it publicly.Miles suggested he might be more forthcoming, after discussing the situation with his team, but wasnt promising anything.Danny Etling, a junior transfer from Purdue who relieved Harris two series into last Saturday nights game against Jacksonville State, put himself in the mix by leading four touchdown drives in a 34-13 victory.He did so without the benefit of having star running back Leonard Fournette in the backfield. Fournette was given the night off to rest his bruised left ankle, and Derrius Guice was elevated to starter, backed up by Darrel Williams. But Miles said he expects Fournette to be available against the Bulldogs this Saturday night in Death Valley.Hell practice at least three days this week, Miles said. We used running back-by-committee with Leonard missing the (last) game. That kept Derrius fresh and kept Darrel Williams fresh. We are real fortunate to have quality backs without Leonard.Even without Fournette, LSUs tailbacks accounted for 220 rushing yards against Jacksonville State. Guice, whose 155 yards were six yards shy of his career high, averaged more than 8 yards per attempt. Williams and Nick Brossette combined for 64 yards on eight carries -- an 8-yard average.Their performance gave Etling the support he needed when his performance -- which began with a flourish -- tapered off in the second half.Etling was 6-of-8 for 100 yards and a touchdown in the second quarter last Saturday. However, he was 0-for-6 with an interception and a lost fumble in the second half.Danny is the kind of guy wwho really prepares. Terry Rozier Jersey. He was in the building on Sunday watching film. Danny had great weeks of preparation going into the season. As he approached game week, he performed particularly well.Miles stressed that he is not ready to disregard using Harris. According to Miles, Harris will still play a huge role in this season.We need both quarterbacks, Miles said. We are not turning our back in any way at the competition at that position. Getting a respite from being the starting quarterback and its pressures can help Brandon. He can step back and take a deep breath. Lets not turn a blind eye to a very talented player.In a season-opening loss against Wisconsin, Harris performed poorly as his day ended with an interception while the Tigers were driving into position for a game-winning field goal attempt.Last Saturday night, Harris completed one of four passes for 8 yards on two possessions -- neither of which produced a first down, never mind points.We needed a little pick me up and we put Danny in, Miles said, adding that he wont hesitate to change quarterbacks again if the offense is sluggish out of the gate.We have no first-quarter points this year, Miles said. Whoever is taking the first snap, we need a fast start.Miles also noted that he thought LSUs offensive line, which struggled against Wisconsin, played better and I think they will play better. We have six or seven guys who can really play.Right guard Josh Boutte, who started the Wisconsin game but was suspended for a flagrant foul at the end of that game, will be back in uniform against Mississippi State.Against Jacksonville State, Maea Teuhema replaced Boutte, but Miles did not indicate who will start this week.---Online: AP College Football website www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '