Exactly which of the injured BearsSpencer, cornerback Charles Tillman, linebacker Lance Briggs, running back Matt Forte, returner Devin Hesterwill play Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks really wont be known until that morning, maybe on Friday if coach Lovie Smith announces an early out.
And exactly what any of the personnel situation mean wont really be clear until mid-afternoon that day.
But chaos is often the friend of the prepared and the Bears have managed chaos extremely well recently, particularly on the offensive line, when forced on them by injury or incompetence.
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Holding Jared Allen, Kevin Williams and Minnesota Vikings at bay after demotions and injuries was not the first time for successful chaos management.
The Bears reached the 2010 NFC Championship game with Frank Omiyale starting the last 14 games of the season at left tackle. So if there are any misgivings remaining with either JMarcus Webb (a rookie emergency right tackle for the last 12 games) or Jonathan Scott. Omiyale is now the backup left tackle for the Seahawks.
And the starting left guard beginning with the Seattle game and the subsequent 10 after than was Chris Williams, a former No. 1 pick as a tackle and whod never played guard before. Sound familiar?
Last years team went to 7-3, ranked sixth in scoring and as high as No. 9 rushing with an offensive line that went through Gabe Carimi, Omiyale and finally Lance Louis in just the first six games.
Fill-ins set a standard
The real point is how Carimi and Edwin Williams played on short notice against Minnesota. For perspective, Carimi not only had never played guard, but spent the week working entirely at tackle, albeit as the swing tackle.
Williams has been almost exclusively the backup center behind Roberto Garza. The result with the fill-ins was no sacks.
I really liked what Carimi was able to do, Smth said. When you havent played that position and the team needs you and you step in right away and play pretty goodjust like Edwin Williams, hadnt gotten a lot of time, but he stepped in and did a good job also.