7 Dudes to Watch Saturday Night

By Mike Maguire | Aug 09, 1:54 PM

Just in case you are not in football game shape yet, here is your friendly reminder that the Chicago Bears kick off their pre-season schedule with a game against the Texans in Houston @ 7:00pm on Saturday night. Though the Bears are once again returning a heap of starters, keep an eye on the following new faces on Saturday in Houston. If these new guys can step up and deliver, 2007 could be even more fun than 2006.

1) Garrett Wolfe - The Bears have drawn some criticism for spending a third round pick on the undersized back from NIU, but the front office sees Wolfe as a player who could contribute right away. There is no doubt that Wolfe's speed will create some mismatches, but the big question seems to be if the 5'7" back can stand up to the punishment in the NFL. 2^nd string tailback Adrian Peterson will also be a critical part of the Bears offense, but Wolfe could develop into a true homerun hitter out of the backfield. You can never have too much speed on a football field, and Garrett Wolfe gives the Bears another burner on what is shaping up to be a very quick squad on both sides of the ball.

2) Devin Hester - OK, so Hester isn't a new guy, but his role on offense is new and untested. If last year is any indication, this experiment is going to be fun to watch at the very least. If all goes to plan, the Bears are going to be a much more explosive group in 2007 than they have been for a long while… perhaps ever.

3) Darwin Walker - The Bears landed this starting caliber defensive tackle to replace Tank Johnson. On Saturday, we'll see if Walker can fit into the new system and just how much gas the 30-year old veteran has left in the tank. There should be a pretty good battle for the second starting tackle spot between Walker and Dusty Dvoracek (another player to watch), but both players should get a chance to contribute in the Bears rotation.

4) Greg Olsen - So far so good in Bourbonnais for the Bears top pick… now let's see what he's got in a game situation. The Bears say that they might use more two-tight end sets with Olsen and Desmond Clark. Perhaps we'll get a glimpse of this new wrinkle on Saturday.

5) Cedric Benson - Cedric has wanted to be the man since day one. Now he's getting his chance… details to follow.

6) Adam Archuleta - Archuleta, a notorious bopper in the secondary, may be an odd fit for a team built for speed. With the talent and speed surrounding him in the Bears secondary, Archuleta's biggest strength for the Bears may be his ability to provide support against the run. The Redskins say the 29-year old Archuleta has lost a step; once again, details to follow.

7) Mark Bradley - None of us will ever know if Mark Bradley can fulfill his vast potential until he can stay healthy for a full year. Perhaps the time is now for the talented, unsung receiver.

Keep your eye on these 7 players not only on Saturday night, but throughout the rest of the preseason. The Bears are counting on these boys to help make them one game better than they were in 2006, and the time to figure out exactly what their new toys can do is now.

Playing time for starters will be limited, the game won't count, and you may not recognize many of the names on the jerseys in the second half… but football is back folks. The Bears quest to win the second Lombardi Trophy in franchise history begins Saturday night.