I never anticipated my inaugural piece here at beargoggleson.com to be a collection of pithy, subjective training camp observations, but alas, here we are.

After an active offseason, in which the Bears seemingly added a bevy of new talent, the 2012 Chicago Bears were unveiled to the public this past week, and I witnessed them first-hand on Friday afternoon. I am far from a kool-aid drinker, but must admit, I was impressed with the talent new General manager Phil Emery has assembled, and look forward to this season with more anticipation than I can ever recall.

Without further ado, here’s my list of notes, where I spray to all fields.

• Brian Urlacher practiced with a brace on his left knee, but didn’t appear to be hobbled by the MCL sprain he suffered in the 2011 finale. Urlacher looked fluid in his drops, with good knee bend and quick change of direction. He was actually featured in a few zone blitz packages, but blitzing has never been Urlacher’s forte. I was encouraged by Urlacher’s movement on the field as he appears to be completely healthy heading into the season.

• Israel Idonije looked very thin. As I wrote about here, I have concerns about the depth at defensive tackle, and was happy to see Emery saw it the same way by acquiring Brian Price, in a low-risk, high-reward transaction.  I initially speculated that Idonije could be moved inside on passing downs, and spoke with John “Moon” Mullin about my theory after practice. Moon quickly shook his head “no”, saying Idonije reported to camp at 262 pounds. Look for Idonije to be utilized solely on the edge, spelled by rookie Shea McClellin.

• Tim Jennings was targeted and beat deep regularly. Much like last season, Jennings was susceptible to double moves, and was beat by Brandon Marshall on a deep out, and then by Earl Bennett on a wheel route. Visions of what Jordy Nelson, Titus Young, and other NFC North receivers might do to Jennings ran through my head. Jennings needs to improve, or Kelvin Hayden will take his job.

• Speaking of Marshall, he is as good as advertised. Big, strong, sudden, quick feet, no wasted movement, great body control, and the desire to attack the ball at its highest point. Marshall is easily the best offensive weapon I’ve seen in a Bears uniform since Sweetness himself. It’s going to be a lot of fun to watch Marshall and Jay Cutler work this season, as Cutler looks his way often.

• New feel to the offense. New Offensive coordinator Mike Tice’s offense will look drastically different than what we saw from Mike Martz the past two seasons. The Bears will blend two offensive systems, Tice’s power running and vertical passing game with the roll-out/get the quarterback on the move offense we saw Cutler run in Denver with new quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates. The Bears took several snaps from the shotgun, rolled the quarterbacks out on bootlegs/nakeds/waggles, and ran a fair amount of no huddle plays. With the new personnel – particularly at wide receiver and running back – the up-tempo aspect of the no-huddle could really put a defense on its heels.

• Emphasis on vertical and seam routes with the tight ends. Tice likes to run the tight ends vertically to challenge the safeties. With a player like Marshall on the outside who commands safety attention and help over the top, the Bears could have some opportunities for big plays from the tight ends. But do they have enough talent at the position to capitalize? Paging, Kellen Davis.

• Speaking of tight ends, bubble player Kyle Adams stood out in 7-on-7 and during the team period. Adams ran with confidence over the middle of the field, catching every pass in his direction, typically in traffic with a trailing linebacker and a safety over the top. If Adams has a strong camp, he could push someone like fullback Tyler Clutts – as Tice’s offense typically doesn’t feature a traditional fullback – off the roster.

• Rookie Evan Rodriguez is an intriguing prospect. While he’s not built in the prototypical mold of a tight end, he has traits similar to Redskins tight end Chris Cooley. Rodriguez has sure hands, and is very slippery in the open field. His versatility to line-up as an F-back (fullback in an off-set I formation), H, and Y, makes him a player to keep an eye on in the pre-season. Tice would be wise to devise a small package of plays to get the ball to Rodriguez in the flats.

• Rookie Alshon Jeffery is a big target out there who catches everything near his body, and wasn’t afraid to go over the middle of the field. Jeffery will make an impact as a possession receiver and a red zone target, but he needs to work on his footwork at the top of the route tree. Jeffery is a long strider, who rounds off his routes. With a little bit of fine tuning, and a set package of plays, Jeffery could evolve into a nice compliment to Marshall.

• Running backs Matt Forte and Michael Bush are in great shape – especially Forte – and could form the best backfield in the NFL. Forte looked very quick and decisive with his cuts, showing no residual damage from the knee injury he suffered last season against the Chiefs. Bush looked strong and powerful in the open field, with great body lean, lowering his head at the sign of any wannabe tackler.

• Given the competition at left tackle between Chris Williams and J’Marcus Webb, the rest of the line from left to right was: Chris Spencer, Roberto Garza, Lance Louis, and Gabe Carimi. Carimi looks to have slimmed down a bit in the offseason. Equipped with a brace on his surgically repaired right knee, Carimi appeared to be running with a very slight limp on the field.  The focus will be on the left tackle “battle”, but Carimi should also be scrutinized, as he’s yet to prove himself at the NFL level.

Granted, it’s only July, and this team does have several question marks, in particular the secondary and both lines. But I have a level of comfort with Emery at the helm that I haven’t had in decades. Emery has been proactive in addressing needs, and mentioned he will never rest on improving the roster. With the talent to compete, the pressure is now squarely on the shoulders of Head coach Lovie Smith.

No excuses in 2012, Lovie.

Questions, comments, reactions? Follow me for interactions on Twitter @djdurkin

Meanwhile, the Bears have lost 7 out of their last 9 games and the 2 wins came against the Lions and Browns, so do those really count?  Then again, they haven’t beaten a winning team all season, so as Tommie Harris so eloquently put it, “It’s just one of those years.”  Um, understatement much?  Anyone can have a bad century, right Cub fans?

The tone for the game was set on the Packers first play from scrimmage, a 62-yard touchdown scamper by the Pack’s Ryan Grant.  Green Bay kept threatening to turn it into a blowout, but to the Bears’ credit, the defense got organized and actually kept it close.

This week it was the offense’s turn to spit the bit.  Jay Cutler’s added 2 interceptions, running his league leading t0tal to 22. There’s nowhere else to look besides JC on these picks.

I’m sick and tired of trying to defend Cutler, trying to say he doesn’t have time or his receivers are no good.  It’s time to hold him accountable for what’s going on between the white lines.

Most of all, though, this sloppy game falls on the coaching staff.   13 penalties for over 100 yards is all about discipline and that speaks to coaching.  Clock and time out management fall squarely on Lovie and his staff.  (more…)

Second Time Around

Even though it’s Week 14, this marks the first opportunity that the Bears will have to play an opponent for the second time this season.   We know that the coaching staff sucks at making adjustments, but I’m really interested to see how Jay Cutler adjusts to a repeat opponent.  Can he find things on film that he can exploit?  Can he correct for past errors?  Heck, can he just stop throwing interceptions?

Measuring Stick

Three of the final four games are against the NFC North and it’s time to see how we really stack up.  We already have an idea about how we stack up to the Packers and Vikings, but the one that really scares me is Week 17 in Detroit.  It could be a painful wake-up call if we lose to the Lions.  At the start of the season, this one seemed like a slam dunk, but I think we’d all agree that this isn’t the case.   (more…)

Guys I Like in This Game

1. DeAngelo Williams – Miami’s rush D is stingy about yards allowed, but they have also allowed 10 rushing TDs, which is the 4th highest total in the NFL.  D-Will is a stud and despite him not practicing yesterday, expect him to play as Carolina has very quietly crept up to the fringe of the bubble teams.  Plus, he will have 10 days to rest after this one.
2. Ricky Williams - My good friend’s know, I have always been a supporter of Ricky and I have never ever smoked dope.  Just always liked his attitude on the field to fight for yards and I think he will have a good game, especially since Ronnie Brown is now out for the season.
3. Steve Smith - Delhomme hasn’t thrown a INT in the last 3 games…as a Bears fan, I wish I could say that about our QB.  That said, Jake is limiting his mistakes and starting to find Steve Smith again, so I say ride the hot hand and get Smitty active tonight.  Also, it doesn’t hurt that the Miami D ranks 27th against the pass.

Guys I Don’t Like in this Game  (more…)

The Score’s Laurence Holmes is impressed with how Jay Cutler has taken control of the Bears offense.   Leadership on offense from the quarterback position.  What an innovative concept!

Vaughn McClure talked to one of the early standouts in camp, Zack Bowman, who went down with a hammy on Wednesday.   He’s anxious to get back on the field. These injuries in the secondary are making me a little nervous.

The Eastern Seaboard Programming Network rolled in to Bears camp on Thursday.  I think Mort’s bus just ran out of gas while driving around Vikings camp looking for Brett Favre.  Here’s a clip of Uncle Morty chatting it up with Brian Urlacher.

For you hard-core X’s and O’s guys, Windy City Gridiron sink their teeth into the details behind Tommie Harris’ 3-technique defensive tackle position.  I can hear the shoulder pads poppin’! Me likey!

My guy Matt, of Pippen Ain’t Easy and Zoner Sports is tackling another blog; this one dedicated strictly to Jay Cutler.  It’s called Jay Cutler Superstar, so if you need a Jay fix any time, day or night, it’s right there for ya.  I hear he’s got one of those tracking chips like the ones Jack Bauer uses on 24 to keep tabs on Jay at all times.  Check it out!

Hat tip to Amanda Kaschube for this gem of a Chicago Tribune reporter trying to replicate Jarron Gilbert’s pool jumping feat.  Pretty hilarious stuff, especially if you like annoying banjo music.

That should give you a little flavor for what’s going on out there.  Give me your feedback on Bear Essentials.  Thumbs up?  Thumbs down?  More X’s and O’s?  More banjos?  Naked women?

BEAR DOWN!!!

Follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/BearGogglesOn.

Get Bears updates sent straight to your Inbox for free by subscribing to  Bear Goggles On.

Get the exclusive Fansided 45% discount on CBSSports.com’s Fantasy Football Commisioner league here.   Sign up today!

So you think ‘you know’ the Bears new quarterback, Jay Cutler.  Let’s play a little game.   How many times does Jay Cutler say “you know” in the following video clip of his interview after practice on Wednesday.  Fair warning: if you have trouble counting past ten, take your shoes off.

Sorry I had to do that to you .  Have fun watching another Cutler interview or press conference again.  Didn’t they have a Speech Com class at Vandy?

E-mail me your answer to beargoggles.boomer@gmail.com.  Just be sure to put JAY CUTLER CONTEST in the Subject line.  We’ll select one lucky winner, you know, to receive an awesome Bears flag like the one pictured courtesy of my new friends at CVS Flags, you know.  This is no cheapo flag – it’s a high quality 3′ x 5′ Bears flag perfect for your next tailgate, you know, or to show your Bears pride on the road to the Super Bowl, you know.

Tip of the cap to my guy Louie, you know,  for the suggestion.  A special something might find its way into his Christmas stocking, ya know!

Follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/BearGogglesOn.

Get Bears updates sent straight to your Inbox for free by subscribing to  Bear Goggles On.

Get the exclusive Fansided 45% discount on CBSSports.com’s Fantasy Football Commisioner league here.   Sign up today!

Does Eli Manning's contract extension have Jay thinking big payday?

No one could have been happier for Eli Manning than Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler.  Manning, the Super Bowl XLII-winning NY Giants QB just inked a 6-year $97.5 million contract extension.  Cutler’s 2009 $1 million salary essentially amounts to tip money compared to the roughly $15.3 mill that little Peyton will be pulling in next season. (more…)

Bears Defense and Special Teams

The Bears defense is led by Urlacher, Harris and Briggs.

In the past, this was THE Bears fantasy ‘player’ to grab.  As a Bears fan, you loved watching Devin do his magic in the return game and the defense shutting down opponents while outscoring the Bears offense with long INT or fumble returns.  (more…)