Bears to start Gabe Carimi, prepare other options

The Bears will start previously benched tackle Gabe Carimi at right guard this week against Seattle -- and hope his complete lack of experience inside does not handicap their already challenged offense.

Carimi will replace Chris Spencer, who is out with a knee sprain. Carimi took over for Spencer in the second half of Sunday's win over the Vikings. Carimi's only prior experience at guard was a couple of days of Senior Bowl practices, which he referred to as a joke.

"Everything is quicker, the steps are different," Carimi said about playing guard rather than tackle. "I just want to help out any way I can."

Carimi took a positive approach last week and was ready despite being benched.

"I was glad he kept in a good mind frame and went in there and did a nice job," offensive coordinator Mike Tice said of Carimi. "He looked good pulling around there."

Spencer was among those sidelined Wednesday at practice. It's unlikely he'll be ready to play by Sunday, but the Bears have two other options if Carimi flops.

One is rookie tackle James Brown, or "Hot Tub," as Tice calls him.

The other is newly signed Andre Gurode, who likely needs more than a few days in the offense to be ready to start. Gurode comes to the Bears with a bit of an edge in his favor, in that the players he could be lining up next to are players he already knows.

Gurode, a five-time Pro Bowl selection while with the Dallas Cowboys, still lives in the Dallas area and works out regularly in the offseason with new Bears RT Jonathan Scott. He also knows Bears C Roberto Garza, who is from Texas.

"I've kind of picked up a few traits from him," Scott said of Gurode. "He's a Pro Bowler. The good thing is he's on our side now. I'm kind of excited for him and ready to go to work with him."

The Baltimore Ravens had Gurode but released him when they decided not to wait on his surgically repaired knee to heal. Gurode said his knee is no longer a problem.

"It actually feels better than before," he said.

Getting the verbiage down for the Bears offense presents Gurode's biggest problem, and it could prevent him playing this week.

"Some of the things are similar," Gurode said. "Some of the things you just have to relate back to the things you know. So it's a pretty extensive playbook and I'm looking forward to getting into it and learning it as best I can."

Carimi struggled at right tackle this season before being benched. However, he got the job done playing guard for the first time. Seattle can be expected to bring confusing blitzes or stunts at Carimi, considering his inexperience inside.

"I think he's definitely ready for it because of the simple fact he has the tenacity to play the game," Scott said. "We all know what everyone else knows. I know what the guards do and the guards know what the tackles do, vice-versa. It will be a challenge but I have a lot of confidence knowing he'd be in there."

The biggest knock against Carimi as a guard might be his height. He is 6-foot-7, unusually tall for a guard, and something which might make it difficult for QB Jay Cutler to see downfield.

"I don’t care if he’s 6-10," Cutler said. "If he does his job, I’ll find a way."

Regardless who lines up at guard, Cutler said it's going to affect the type of play offensive coordinator Mike Tice can call.

"We just have to be careful with what we ask those guys to do," Cutler said. "Make sure they’re all on the same page and protect them.

"You don’t want to throw a lot of 7s (seven-step drops) and chuck the ball 40, 50 times. They’re not programmed for that. They’re in new positions, some guys haven’t even played guard. We just have to be smart with it."

Short passes, running the ball and moving the pocket sound like the best approach, much as it was last week.

Follow Bears reporter Gene Chamberlain on Twitter @CBSBears.