Durkin: Ola's Versatility A Boon For Bears
By Dan Durkin-
(CBS) A year ago at this time, Bears offensive lineman Michael Ola was preparing for a matchup against the Edmonton Eskimos in the Canadian Football League. This weekend, he's preparing for his fourth straight NFL start, with this one likely coming at a different position.
Assuming left guard Matt Slauson -- who is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against Carolina after originally being called probable -- is a go, Ola will be tasked with protecting quarterback Jay Cutler's blind side at left tackle, a position Ola is quite comfortable playing.
"It's a position that I grew up playing," Ola said. "So I do have the history and background of playing that position. So I'm pretty much comfortable playing any of the positions but center."
Given the Bears' rash of injuries along the offensive line, it wouldn't be a surprise if Ola was potentially asked to play center in a pinch sometime down the line. Ola's ability to play multiple positions on the line helped him earn a roster spot, and it's what he was prepared to do heading into Bourbonnais.
"When I came in during training camp, that's pretty much my mindset," Ola said. "I didn't know where I was going to be for the day. So, guard was a flavor of the day or tackle, it was just fluid and bouncing around. So that kind of helped me from this position I'm in right now, to be able to just know whatever, however my number is called, that's how I will perform."
Ola admits to feeling some extra pressure given the fact that he's protecting the blind side of the franchise quarterback.
"You definitely don't want to be that guy who gets Jay hit," Ola said. "Or I will be back to flipping burgers or something."
Dan Durkin covers the Bears for CBSChicago.com and is a frequent contributor to 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter at @djdurkin.
