Need No. 10--Guard

Players on roster

RG Roberto Garza (signed through 2011)
LG Frank Omiyale (2012)
G/C Josh Beekman (2010)
G Dan Buenning (2009)
G Tyler Reed (2010)

Need

One of the goals the Bears set out to fill this offseason was to add some more size to the interior of the line. That was accomplished by a series of moves, the first of which was signing Omiyale to a $11.5 million, four-year contract on the first day of free agency. Omiyale spent all of one day at guard in minicamp before being moved outside when the coaching staff appeared to be frustrated with the makeup of the roster. Maybe that's what happens from time to time when you run a minicamp in mid-March. At any rate, Omiyale can move back inside now that Orlando Pace has been signed to play left tackle and Kevin Shaffer has traded places with John St. Clair.

If the Bears do not draft a safety in the second round with the 49th overall pick--wide receiver is the club's greatest need no matter how you analyze the roster--the Dallas Cowboys could grab one right behind them.

Dallas, which traded itself out of the first round when Jerry Jones paid a steep price for wide receiver Roy Williams, doesn't pick until No. 51 overall. Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports that Clemson's Mike Hamlin, Western Michigan's Louis Delmas and Texas Tech's Darcel McBath are all scheduled to visit the team this week. The Cowboys did the same thing as the Bears to address this position by signing a veteran--Gerald Sensabaugh--to a one-year contract. That is what general manager Jerry Angelo did with Josh Bullocks. Both clubs are eyeing lonterm solutions and the Bears are known to have interest in McBath too.

The Bears were one of six teams represented today at Missouri Western in St. Joseph, Mo., to watch intriguing guard prospect Roger Allen at his pro day.

Allen was invited to the combine but a sports hernia prevented him from participating. He finally got down to business with Bears scout Ted Monago there, as well as representatives from Carolina, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Miami and Philadelphia. Allen has big-time strength as evidenced by his 38 reps on the bench press at 225 pounds at the Missouri pro day. The 6-3, 326-pounder is considered a mid-round prospect.

f the focus for the Bears on the offensive line has been at tackle, but they're doing their homework when it comes to guards.

Scout Ted Monago is expected to be at the Missouri Western pro day Thursday with the intent of watching guard Roger Allen.