Written by Brett Solesky | 03 August 2009

Josh Beekman by most accounts did nothing to lose his starting job last year.  He was one of the top performers in the league at run blocking especially at the point of attack according to one source.  He performed way better than expectations for a second year player.  A lot of fans were ready to write him off after his rookie, year (sound familiar Chris Williams?) but he bounced back and was a very good guard.  He anchored in and started all 16 games and helped Matt Forte to over 1,200 yards rushing in his rookie season, good for seventh best in the league.  

Yet Beekman is saddled with the assumption that his time as a starter on the Chicago Bears' offensive line is over.  The 6-million-dollar man Frank Omiyale showed up and with his price tag in the first year of the contract being that figure, it's likely Beekman will be riding the bench this year.  Yet there is no logical reason why other than Omiyale's contract number. 

Beekman to this point has been solid in camp.  He's still running with the first team next to Kreutz and not showing why the Bears seemed to have so little faith in him in the first place.  However there is this fact that may be overlooked by some in the media.  Omiyale was signed to come in and play guard, and to replace Beekman.  What's been lost in all of that is Beekman is likely to take over for Olin Kreutz.  Beekman running with the first team gives him the most chance to develop next to Kreutz.  Learn from Kreutz develop his game to take over at the center position. 

Beekman played center in college and easily could slide into that postion in the NFL.  Often times potential centers start out as a guard, and then shift inside to be the chief engineer of the line.  Beekman learning from a Pro-Bowl center in Kreutz is just as beneficiary as Chris Williams learning from Orlando Pace. 

So while Beekman may eventually seem to be unfairly displaced from his starting guard spot.  It's important to remember that his experience as a guard will benefit him later when he lines up as Olin Kreutz's likely replacement.

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