The sight of six-time Pro Bowl center taped up and in full pads, leading his team out of the huddle and up to the line of scrimmage was the most positive sign that a maligned Bears offense could have hoped for during a steamy afternoon practice.

Seeing the burly 6-foot-2, 292-pound Kreutz pull out to lead the interference on a running play might not compare to watching Devin Hester streak along the sideline and run down a pass that appears to be overthrown by 10 yards, but it's probably more important to an offense in transition.

Kreutz missed the first six days of practice to rest an Achilles' tendon that required minor surgery shortly before camp began. Without him, the line specifically, and the offense in general were without their rudder. The offensive line that opens the 2008 season will have new starters at three of the five positions from a year ago. Both starting wide receivers will be new, and so will the featured running back; and maybe the quarterback.

It's rare that the addition of just one player can solidify a unit in search of an identity, but Kreutz has been a team leader since before most of the current Bears joined the team, and no one carries more clout on the field or in the locker room.

"Olin's a leader of this team; not only a vocal leader but just a leader by example," offensive coordinator Ron Turner said. "He's a great football player, so you miss that part of him, but we miss his leadership in the huddle, so it's nice to get him back."

--Bernard Berrian had 20 more catches and 381 more receiving yards than any Bears teammate last season, but he departed as a free agent for Minnesota when the Vikings offered him $42 million over six years.

It remains to be seen if anyone on the current roster can fill that 71-catch, 951-yard void that Berrian left, and coach Lovie Smith doesn't seem thrilled about addressing it.

"That seems like a long time ago," he said. "Bernard's somewhere else right now, and we like our receivers we have. I'm 50 years old, I forget pretty quick. Bernard was here last year, right? I can talk about our receivers quite a bit. We like everything they're doing. We appreciate what Bernard did for us in the past."

With several wide receivers competing for starting jobs and playing time, the evaluation process might take until the final preseason game, and even then the depth chart might not be set in stone.

"I can see a lot of guys getting reps," offensive coordinator Ron Turner said. "The guys we (keep), I could see all of them being involved. I don't think it'll be a situation where it's just going to be two or three guys playing 90 percent of the time. If we have five or six, I can see them all getting a lot of playing time."

Even the role as No. 1 receiver is still up for grabs.

"We have a lot of guys we think can move into that role, but we haven't given out any starting jobs or anything like that," Smith said. "We definitely think Devin Hester can be a No 1 receiver for us, Brandon Lloyd has looked good, Marty Booker has been a No. 1 receiver, and we like what Rashied Davis has been able to do. Earl Bennett was a high draft pick for us (third round), and Mark Bradley's coming back, so we have some good depth."

The debate about whether Hester can be a No. 1 receiver has been a lively one, but Smith hasn't wavered.

"I wouldn't doubt anything that Devin Hester could do, whether it's returning punts, taking a couple snaps at quarterback or playing cornerback," Smith said. "I think he'd be able to figure it out."

--Second-year cornerback Corey Graham, a fifth-round pick out of New Hampshire last year, has been getting a crash course with the first-team defense while starter Charles Tillman has been excused for personal reasons. And Graham has made the most of his time in the spotlight.

"Corey's done an excellent job," said defensive coordinator Bob Babich. "His progress from last year to this year has been excellent. We've noticed that he's playing with an awful lot of confidence, and when you're out there as a corner, that's an important part of playing that position."

Like Tillman, Graham has good size (6-feet, 193 pounds), and he's a physical player. It's not just his confidence that has impressed his coaches.

"His movement is a lot better," Babich said. "Last year when he first came (to camp), he had the (leg) injury and he kind of hobbled through it, even throughout the season. He had it in the spring, and he hobbled throughout the season. Now he's completely healthy, and he's a tough guy too. He's a big corner that plays physical."

Graham was second on the Bears with 20 special-teams tackles last season, but he didn't see much time on defense, although that should change this year.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "The great thing about it is that you get to come here and hang out with your teammates for three weeks. Slumber parties and all those big things, staying in the dorms with one another. You go from a nice big ol' house to sharing showers and having stalls and having to see dudes' feet underneath while you're trying to handle your business. Training camp is an amazing place to be, man." -- Bears DT Tommie Harris.

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