Chicago Bears: Training Camp Day Three Update
The Chicago Bears started the padded portion of practice as Day Three of training camp under new head coach John Fox is in the books. Let’s catch up on the latest news from camp…
Who’s in, who’s out
Kevin White is still on the PUP list but coach John Fox told us that he’s working on his cardio.
Jermon Bushrod was given a veteran’s day off. Surprising for the first day of padded practices, but I’m not panicking yet. Charles Leno Jr. picked up the reps at left tackle with the 1’s in Bushrod’s absence.
Undrafted rookie nose tackle Terry Williams sat out with an undisclosed injury.
Kyle Fuller, who tweaked his ankle yesterday, was back on the field, but did not participate in team drills.
Eddie Goldman was back and well hydrated.
Kyle Long supposedly tweaked his shoulder yesterday and missed the last third of practice. Free agent acquisition Vlad Ducasse picked up Long’s reps.
Ego Ferguson left practice with a leg cramp.
Will Sutton left the field with an ankle injury.
Practice Notes
With the pads popping, it’s interesting to watch some of the positional drills. According to Bear Report, Matt Slauson was a standout among offensive linemen.
Jeremiah Ratliff had a nice day against the run.
The Bears offense looks like they won’t mind running some gadget plays. Alshon Jeffery came free on a flea flicker, but Jay Cutler overthrew him. Safety Brock Vereen was on the coverage, and he’s got some work to do in this new defense:
"“So much about that position…is how they key and diagnose,” said Fox, who rose through the ranks as a secondary coach. “When you get into live game situations sometimes, practice obviously is big. We let loose a guy wide open on an all-block pass or a gadget play. That’s why we’re here. We’re trying to teach guys to have the right eyes and look at the right things and react the right way.”"
Marquess Wilson has done well early in camp. Let’s hope he can continue and avoids injury, like the broken clavicle that cost him last season.
Lamarr Houston had a nice sequence to shake off any concerns coming off the knee injury he suffered last season.
I’ve heard mixed reports on Shea McClellin. I heard that he looked good blitzing from an inside linebacker position but has really struggled in coverage.
The struggling in coverage seems to be a common theme with Bears linebackers. I heard Jonathan Bostic also “looked clueless” in coverage. With a lot of guys learning a new position, this is to be expected this early in camp. Let’s hope it’s cleaned up before Week 1.
Word coming after practice is that Family Fest, which will be held at Soldier Field next Saturday will include three live scrimmage sessions:
"The Bears are scheduled to conduct a live scrimmage as part of their Meijer Family Fest practice next Saturday at Soldier Field. Three portions of the practice are slated to feature live tackling pitting the No. 1 offense against the No. 2 defense, the No. 2 offense versus the No. 1 defense, and the No. 3 offense against the No. 3 defense."
Probably the highlight of camp off the field so far…