There are some major questions hanging over the team with training camp about to start.
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In fact, this time the challenge on the defensive side of the ball looks every bit as hard for coaches considering the drastic departure in scheme and type of talent necessary to run the 3-4. The first practice is Thursday. “They’ve had a lot of success in this league, and they’re trying to bring it here”.
Notes: TE Martellus Bennett said he is “not even anxious about” his contract after pushing unsuccessfully for an extension in the offseason. Injuries kept tackles Jermon Bushrod and Jordan Mills from taking the field for much of the spring. The 2014 Bears struggled through a 5-11 campaign, and this new group comes to town with a front office swept clean, and a completely rebuilt coaching staff and missing all but one of the remaining players from the 2006 Super Bowl team (Robbie Gould). “More than anything, I think guys like coming to work now and enjoy the process of what we’re trying to get done”.
Like, demanding as much contact as is legally allowed in training camp. “I’m still the active leader in sacks”.
Hopefully this season, we can finally see things coming together for Cutler. You can communicate certain things to teammates pre-snap.
“If there’s five guys up there with a high football IQ, there tends to be less chaos in the backfield”.
“He is going tell you exactly how it is. So, experience helps, but it’s not the ultimate”. They both figure into the mix at outside linebacker and end.
It will be odd not seeing Charles Tillman donning his No. 33 Bears jersey for the first time in 12 years.
The inside linebackers could be only slightly less experienced. According to Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune, the Bears want White to build up his cardio to kick off training camp rather than be thrown into the fire. “Obviously we have a strict plan and mission we want to stick to but we have a very, very relaxed environment and casual in terms of social interactions and relationships, everyone’s really cool with one another and I feel like, like I said yesterday there’s no walls in the lockerroom, there’s nobody that has to walk on eggshells, you don’t have to walk on eggshells for anybody”. (Don’t worry: We will get to all eight divisions and all 32 teams). The challenge, to repeat, is huge. 308 touches is a lot for a guy who will turn 30 by the end of the 2015 season.
Unlike the offense, it is possible Jeremiah Ratliff, Ryan Mundy, and Tim Jennings will be the only players to start on Opening Day for the Bears for the second year in a row, and Jennings’ spot is not guaranteed. Fuller is expected to have a breakout year under Fangio and secondary coach Ed Donatell.
Allen remains confident in his ability and is extremely motivated to show that last year was an anomaly. Only a few minor injuries slowed him down, and he lost some confidence then. Everybody talks about what happened a year ago.
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While Cutler acknowledged he has spent more time with Adam Gase than Fox, he has become accustomed to the straight-shooting new head coach, and knows what Fox wants out of him and the rest of the 2015 Bears. Develop confidence in defensive line depth with potential early-season suspension of Letroy Guion, and Datone Jones already suspended for season opener.
