New assistant head coach/defensive line Rod Marinelli isn't fixated on numbers, but he believes the Bears' defensive linemen are capable of more.

"You want to max out every man," Marinelli said. "I think that's the most important. Whatever a man has, you want to take him to the limit and get as much as you can get from each guy."

Brown has had six sacks in three different seasons and had a career-high seven in 2007. DLE Adewale Ogunleye had just five sacks last season but had nine in '07, 10 in '05 and 15 back in '03 with the Dolphins. DE Mark Anderson had 12 as a rookie in 2006, but just five the following seasons and only one last year. DT Tommie Harris had five sacks last season but eight a year earlier.

"It's important that we get to the passer," Marinelli said, "but that we also get pressure, get hits on the quarterback, make him throw the ball early, and it's important that we do it on every down. The sacks may come, but the hits, the pressures and it all works together in the system. It's about the system working. I like the group. It's a veteran group with some young talent. It's really a nice mixture."

--Before free agency started, the Bears said they were confident heading into the off-season with Craig Steltz, last year's fourth round pick, as the starting free safety.

But then they signed veteran free agents Josh Bullocks and Glenn Earl. Steltz is still in the mix, but he says he'll miss the presence of Mike Brown, who was not offered a contract by the Bears after nine years of quarterbacking their secondary, when healthy.

"I learned how to be a professional in a different league," Steltz said. "I had an opportunity to learn from Mike; the way he performed, and all the little things he did that made him a great player."

--The Bears could be just a footnote in their two preseason road games, considering they'll be facing the Bills and controversial free-agent wide receiver Terrell Owens in the preseason opener, and the Broncos, who are expected to be without malcontent quarterback Jay Cutler.

The Denver game will be nationally televised at 7 p.m., Aug. 30, on Sunday Night Football (NBC-TV). While specific dates and start times for the other preseason games won't be announced until next month, the Bills game will be the week of Aug. 13-16.

The Bears' home preseason games are against the Giants (the week of Aug. 20-23) and the Browns (the week of Sept. 3-6) in the preseason finale.

The Bears' regular-season opener will also be nationally televised on NBC's Sunday Night Football, Sept. 13 against the Packers at Lambeau Field. The remainder of the regular-season schedule will be announced in mid-April.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Normally you see a very big jump between the two. Guys like Matt Forte, this time last year he was walking around in a college lettermen's jacket." -- Bears coach Lovie Smith, noting the biggest improvement in players is from their rookie year to their second season. Forte still rushed for 1,238 yards and caught 63 passes for 477 yards as a rookie in 2008.