The Five: Which Players Are Proving Their Worth

Training camp is a time for players to show what they are made of. From an injured veteran looking to show he still has it to an unproven rookie trying to prove himself everyone gets a chance in training camp. In Bourbonnais the Bears have been hard at work for almost a week with several players gaining the attention of the coaching staff, media, and fans. These individuals are fighting for both backup and starter positions this camp.

1.) Kalvin Hayden- Cornerback

Missing most of last year with a torn hamstring Hayden is an older player looking to prove he still has it. Kyle Fuller has been that talk of the camp but Hayden has proved that he can add depth to the cornerback position. Tim Jennings has been sitting out with an injury and Hayden has gotten valuable time in camp to get some work. Two interceptions and a few break ups so far this camp have coaches seeing that Hayden still has it. Camp is not over yet but Hayden is earning an opportunity if Tillman or Jennings goes down.

2.) Chris Williams- Wide Receiver/Returner

Having a return specialist is a luxury in the NFL and the Bears have been beyond lucky with Devin Hester. With Hester gone the Bears have brought in former CFL speedster Chris Williams to fill the void at returner. Special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis has raved about Williams speed and experience in the CFL. Williams has showcased his athleticism and explosiveness in both special team and receiver drills. Trestman is a former CFL coach has a general feel already for Williams. It's early in training camp but Williams is showing his worth as a special teams contributor.

3.) Eben Britton- Guard/Tackle

With Kyle Long sitting out due to a viral infection, Eben Britton has had the opportunity to run with the first team. Getting the reps is huge for not only him but also for the Bears. The big muller fits right into the system and serves as an extra blocker in jumbo packages. In camp he has held his own against the revamped 1st team defense but went down yesterday with an injury during 1 on 1 drills. He is currently listed as day to day but has proven himself a worthy asset to the Bears.

4.) Nate Collins- Defensive Tackle

When an athlete is coming off of an ACL injury you never know what quite to expect. Nate Collins is setting the expectations high with his play thus far in training camp. In 1 on 1 drills, he has shined the brightest of possibly all the defensive linemen. Collins has shown the ability to beat blockers with both good technique and power.

5.) Jimmy Clausen- Quarterback

The battle for the backup quarterback position has definitely heated up with the emergence of Jimmy Clausen as the front runner. The former second round pick was not who the Panthers thought he was but Trestman could be revitalizing Clausen's career. In camp this week Clausen has manned the two minute drill like a leader and has been on target with his passes though most of the week. Clausen could be this year's Josh McCown barring a Cutler injury.

How Valuable Is Kyle Fuller To The Bears?

With training camp finally under way the talk of the day has been the first round pick Kyle Fuller. People raved about his smooth hips and ball skills all through the scouting process. Today he showcased his skills for everyone in attendance. Two picks and a few break ups on the day is not too shabby for the rookie in his first true sense of NFL competition. Although it was a pad less practice, you can just tell this young man has that it factor. His value to the bears this year could be higher than anyone in the secondary.

The bears were one of the worst run defenses last year and any help is needed. Fuller is an aggressive run defender that has the size to back it up. He is known for always being around the play and being a ball magnet. The bears missed this last year with the absence of Charles Tillman. Tim Jennings is essentially a speed bump when defending the run. Fuller gives the bears options when it comes to defensive play calling. He can play the run and they do not lose much if he is out there in passing situations.

Fuller has the ability to cover taller receivers one on one due to long arms. Even if he looks to be beat his length gets him out of trouble. Tim Jennings is the not tallest player out there but he can cover with the best of them. The bears have not found a solid nickel corner in sometime. The talk is that in nickel packages Fuller will take the outside and Jennings will come in on the slot receiver. This gives the bears possibly the most solid nickel package in the NFC North. With two pass happy teams (Packers and Lions) in the north the bears needed to add versatility to the corner position.

Kyle Fuller is everything the bears needed last year, a solid football player. Being an all-around player is something that is over looked in the league these days. Everyone is looking for that player that specializes in something. Fuller does not "specialize" in anything but he is solid in everything. He gives the bears the flexibility to have three corners on the field without having a glaring hole in the defense. Fuller's value to the bears is higher than most on the defense because of the depth and versatility he brings to the defense. The success of the secondary could rest on Kyle Fuller's shoulders.

The Five: What To Look For In Training Camp

The Five is a new weekly article for The Chicago Bears Round Up that highlights five things for each week. This week's focus is on what to look for in the first few opening days of training camp.

1.) The backup quarterback position is up for grabs and with Cutler's injury history the bears will need a solid back up. Fales and Clausen are two names that have been thrown around a lot lately. The first few days of camp both will have the opportunity to jump up the depth chart now that they are more familiar with the system.

2.) This will be the first true glimpse of what the offense could be. It's the offense's second year in the scheme and the bears are bringing everyone back except for Earl Bennett. Look for the bears to build on to the already solid offense and add some new wrinkles.

3.) Marquess Wilson will be the man in the slot and there are many questions surrounding his ceiling. He worked out with Marshall and Jeffery in off season and added some muscle to his frame. The future looks bright for the former Washington standout. In camp he will get the majority of the snaps and have opportunity to add a new dimension to the offense. What is that dimension you ask? A slot receiver that does not drop third down converting passes like Earl Bennett.

4.) Adrian Wilson and Brock Vereen are two players to keep a close watch on. The two complement one another very well. Look for the rookie to wow everyone in training camp. He was over looked in the draft and has a chip on his shoulder. Wilson brings veteran leadership to the team and the ability to stand in the box. These two are the dark horses for both positions and should be watched closely during camp.

5.) How will the bears handle the defensive line rotation? The defensive line is packed with depth now and only so many can be on the field at a time. Most of the defensive linemen will be situational players but the starters will still need rest. This is a good problem to have considering the depth issues last year. 

Early 2014 Predictions: Wins and Losses

There has been a lot of heart break in Chicago over these past few years. The bears have been on the cusp of something great every season since acquiring Jay Cutler. They have been right there but just can't get over the hump. Injuries have had something to do with the downfall of the bears. Every disappointment felt has been carried with an injury to Cutler. Whether it is a broken thumb, pulled groin, concussion, or the infamous knee sprain of the NFC Championship Game, Cutler has had issues staying healthy for key games. This year looks to be the year where it all turns around for the quarterback. Reports out of Chicago are that Cutler looks better than he has ever before. Of course he cannot do it by himself. The offensive line has been improved. The guy took a beating his first few years in Chicago, no one can debate that. In addition to the improved line, he has the best wide receiving combo in recent memory along with the most underrated running back in the NFL. The defense was always good during Cutler's time until last year. The Defense was ravaged by injuries the entire season and fell apart. With key additions and more depth the defense will be back to form in 2014. All the pieces are in place for the bears to succeed. So how well will the bears do this season? Let's take a look.

WEEK 1: vs Buffalo - Win (34-17)

WEEK 2: at San Francisco - Loss (21-17)

With the 49ers opening up a new football stadium the bears will have a tough time crashing the party.

WEEK 3: at New York (Jets) - Win (27-21)

WEEK 4: vs Packers - Win (24-10)

The bears are looking for redemption in this game and they will get it. Look for this game to be the break out game for Marquis Wilson. 

WEEK 5: at Carolina - Loss (24-21)

This match up looks to be the smack in the face that wakes the bears up for the entire season. It will be a tough one to swallow but won’t affect the bears playoff hopes.

WEEK 6: at Atlanta - Win (28-10)

The bears will look to rebound after the heartbreaking defeat to the panthers.

WEEK 7: vs Miami - Win (21-10)

WEEK 8: at New England - Loss (28-14)

This is a game the bears will look back on and think they beat themselves. It's hard to win in Gillette Stadium and this game seems to be the perfect place for Cutler to have a few hiccups.

WEEK 9: BYE

The bears are 5-3 coming into the bye looking to regroup after the loss to the patriots.

WEEK 10: at Green Bay - Win (17-14)

This will be a classic NFC north game with the bears prevailing thanks to a game winning pass by Jay Cutler.

WEEK 11: vs Minnesota - Win (24-10)

WEEK 12: vs Tampa Bay - Win (24-14)

The return of Lovie Smith and Josh McCown will be overshadowed by a huge day on the ground from Matt Forte.

WEEK 13: at Detroit - Loss (31-24)

WEEK 14: vs Dallas - Win (38-21)

WEEK 15: vs New Orleans - Loss (35-28)

This game will be a shootout where Brees gets the best of Cutler in the end.

WEEK 16: vs Detroit - Win (24-17)

WEEK 17: at Minnesota - Loss (21-17)

The bears finish 10-6 along with winning the NFC north. This is a big step over the last few years where the bears have been disappointing. The fourth seed in the playoffs is not a bad spot for the bears. They can compete with anyone they face and once you are in the playoffs it is anyone's game.

Pre-Training Camp Positional Review: Linebackers

The linebacker position coincides with the thought of the Chicago Bears. Nagurski, George, Butkus, Singletary and Urlacher have built and carried on the tradition for The Monsters of The Midway. Last year the monsters were not too scary.  The defense was one of the worst in franchise history. Coming into this camp the bears are looking to bring the ferocity back in to the windy city. In the off season the bears lost their leading tackler James Anderson to the New England Patriots and moved Shea McClellin back to linebacker.

Strong Side Linebacker 

With McClellin's athleticism look for him to compete for the strong side linebacker spot this training camp. He may have struggled at defensive end these past few years, but McClellin has played linebacker before at Boise. He is decent against the run and uses his hands to his advantage to shed blocks. Although he has the athleticism to run with running backs and tight ends the question is how well he will do in zone coverage. The other contender for the position is Jon Bostic. The bears want to get Bostic on the field any way they can. Bostic and McClellin are completely different players. Bostic is a hammer that wants to bring the pain like classic Chicago Bears linebackers. He bulldozes his way through blockers and ball carriers but overruns the play sometimes. In zone coverage Bostic roams the middle and hunts for heads. In man coverage he is easily beaten due to lack to lateral quickness. Do not discount Khaseem Green in the fight for the position either. He showed flashes of brilliance last year along with flashes of what are you thinking. He is not very strong in the run game. Green does excel in zone and man coverage though. The battle for the strong side linebacker position is an intriguing battle to watch this training camp.

Middle Linebacker

There are two names in the fight for the middle linebacker position, Jon Bostic and DJ Williams. Bostic was thrown into the fire last year with the injury to Williams. The bears were looking to have Bostic develop for a year or two before being put into the starting spot. When Bostic replaced Williams last year we got a good look at why the bears wanted to sit Bostic for a year or two. Bostic has hitting power that is unmatched but is sometimes out of control. He takes himself out of position by looking for the big hit. His man coverage skills need to be developed, he struggles to keep up with faster tight ends. Williams is a machine in the middle. Production is all you get from the man when he is healthy. He has had more than 70 tackles seven times in his career. Williams and Bostic are very similar in playing styles with one big difference. Williams is a veteran that understands the importance of staying in position to make the solid play instead of looking for the highlight play. 

Weak Side Linebacker

There is obviously one pick for this position, Lance Briggs. He is the leader in the locker room and a warrior on the field. The defense was not the same once Briggs went down with his shoulder injury. He is a sideline to sideline player that can play every down. There are no glaring holes in his game. The only problem, is father time catching up with him? At 33 years old he only has 2-3 years left in the tank. This training camp is the time for him to start passing his knowledge on to Green, McClellin, and Bostic. 

This camp will have a heated battle for the strong side linebacker position. McClellin looks to be the guy who will win the spot. His talents are better suited than Green and Bostic for the spot. The bears also have a first round pick invested in the guy. They do not want a first round pick to go to waste again. Williams will most likely win the middle linebacker spot over Bostic. Williams’ experience cannot be overlooked. He is 31 years old and there is not much time left for him in league. Bostic's time to grow into a better player is now and his time to shine is right around the corner. Briggs will be the starter at the weak side linebacker position. He is poised to have another great year. 

Pre-Training Camp Positional Review: Tight End

Ever since the exit of Greg Olsen the Chicago Bears have struggled to find a solid tight end. With the 2013 signing of Martellus Bennett the bears solidified the tight end position once again. Last year Bennett had 65 receptions for 759 yards and 7 touchdowns. He has come up big every time the bears need him in crunch time. He had the game winning catch against the vikings in week two and caught 67% of the passes thrown to him. Being a good pass catcher does not mean you are a good run blocker. In Bennett's case it does, he thrives in run blocking. He has the ability to block defensive ends one on one and the ability to seal off linebackers at the second level. Bennett does a great job of opening up the edges in the running game.

 Coming into camp the starting tight end position is Bennett's and there is no real competition for him in camp either. This is a major problem for the bears coming into camp. The backup tight end position is open for the taking. The battle will be between Dante Rosario and Zach Miller. Rosario has bounced around the league playing for six teams including the Chicago Bears. In college he played halfback, full back and tight end. The versatility he brings to the table would be beneficial to the bears in short yardage and goal line situations. In double tight end sets Rosario would complement Bennett. Rosario can go over the middle to make the tough catches while Bennett will have the ability to attack the seam. Zach Miller was a sixth round pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars. He is a raw talent that has speed to burn. The only problem with him is that his game is unrefined. He struggles in the run game due to his lack of weight and his routes are not as crisp as they should be. As it stands now Bennett is the starter with Rosario the leader for the backup tight end/ h-back position. This coming training camp is a huge opportunity for Miller to take the backup spot from Rosario. 

Pre-Training Camp Positional Review: Defensive End

After having a league low 31 sacks last year the defensive end position was overhauled completely during the off season. Julius Peppers was let because of his decline in play and to free up cap space. Shea McClellin was moved to linebacker due to his struggles at end. The bears brought in Willie Young, Lamarr Houston, and Jared Allen to revitalize the end position. Last season the three combined for 20.5 sacks.  Each brings something different to the team.

 Lamarr Houston is strong against the run and has the speed to beat tackles around the edge. At 300 pounds he can also play on the inside if the bears want to get creative with him. Being strong at the point of attack is something the bears lacked last year. Another thing the bears lacked at certain times last year on defense was effort. They brought in Jarred Allen who is 110% effort 100% of the time. Even though he is 34 years there is still value in him. He had 11.5 sacks last year which was 4.5 more than Peppers had. 
Allen can hold his own against the run, but is sometimes easily moved out of the play when double teamed. This can also be credited to him playing just about even down in a game.

This is where Willie Young comes into play. It is hard for a 34 year old to play every down and be successful. Willie Young gives Allen the opportunity to take a breather. Young may not have as high of a motor as Allen but he brings some attitude to the defensive end position. Young has been known to get into his opponent’s heads. Sometimes he does it the wrong way but never the less he has some fight in him. There will not be a drop in ability when Young comes in for Allen either. He is a strong run defender but sometimes gets lost in space when he picked up by the fullback or tight end instead of the tackle. 

Coming into training camp the two spots are Allen and Houston’s with Young being the backup for both. Look for Allen to be more of a second and third down player later in games though. With the slight breathers Allen will be more effective in late games. This training camp will be the time where the bears figure out when to put in Young and when to take out Allen. 

Pre-Training Camp Positional Review: Offensive Line

There has been much debate over whether the bears offensive line was actually improved last year. Some think the improved offensive line play was the result of the ball getting out of the quarterback's hand quicker in Trestman's system. The offensive line only gave up 30 sacks last year with two rookies on the right side. Both rookies had bumps in the road especially Mills. He gave up 78 quarterback hurries which was most the on the team. Long was an alternate at the Pro Bowl last year. He does a great job of sealing linebackers at the second level but is easily shed on pulls. Long struggled to block pass rushers that took his outside shoulder. The two rookies will only improve this year as they will be adjusted to the pro game.

Slauson and Bushrod were both solid veterans for the bears last season. Both did their jobs like veterans should for a team. Coming in to this training camp do not expect much of a shake up on the offensive line. The two tackle and guard spots are locked up by Mills, Long, Slauson, and Bushrod. The only position up for grabs is the center position. The bears signed Brian De La Puente this off season and he will look push Roberto Garza for the spot.

De La Puente has familiarity with the Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer. De La Puente had his best years under Kromer with the New Orleans Saints. Another footnote on De La Puente is that he was the backup for former Chicago Bears center Olin Kreutz when Kreutz played for the Saints. De La Puente is a versatile asset for the Bears since he can play both the center and guard positions. Do expect Garza to put up a fight though. He has always been a solid mule for the Chicago Bears. Whatever has been asked of Graza he has done but at 35 years old he can only play so much longer. He signed a one year extension in February, so this could be the last rodeo for the dependable mule in the trenches. Coming into training camp the spot is Graza's to lose. De La Puente will be a great replacement for Garza whether the time is now or later. Either way both centers can play the guard position if Slauson or Long go down with an injury. All 5 starters are returning with the possibility of a new center in De La Puente. The time in training camp will only be beneficial to the growth of the offensive line.  

Pre-Training Camp Positional Review: Defensive Tackle

The departure of Henry Melton has left a void on the Chicago Bears defensive line. Coming into training camp the two defensive tackle positions are wide open for the taking. Jay Ratliff and Will Sutton are the two favorites to take the positions. Both are solid 3 techniques that can split the gap and get into the back field on passing situations or control the gap against the run. Ratliff is a veteran of the league and what he can do is known. 

Now Sutton on the other hand is an unproven rookie out of Arizona State. He is an explosive player that has the ability to play sideline to sideline along the line of scrimmage. He does a great job of trailing the play and cutting off the cut back lanes. Sutton brings back the athleticism on the interior that was lost with the departure of Henry Melton. 

The depth of this defensive line will be key to the bears success on defense. The bears were gashed on the ground last year by every team they faced. Ego Ferguson and Stephen Paea will be needed to stand strong against the run. Both are big strong bodied individuals that can play the 1 or 3 techniques. The bears need these two to clog up the middle when they are in the game. Ferguson will be able to take an extra blocker to keep the linebackers clean. Paea is a physical monster that can bull rush his way into the back field. 

The defensive tackle position is the most vital position coming into this training camp. Sutton and Ratliff are the pre-camp front runners because of their versatility but do not be surprised if Paea pushes both of them for a starting spot. The bears will mix and match all four to find the best combination for each situation in the coming season.