What We Have Learned So Far from Chicago Bears Camp
Published by Andrew Garda on July 28, 2012
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears head to camp with the biggest of all questions lingering over their heads:
Why do they insist on making a big deal out of Devin Hester?
That and left tackle. Maybe left tackle is bigger.
I mentioned it earlier today but the entire staff has now come out and said some form of ‘YEAH WAIT, YOU DON’T GET IT, HESTER IS REALLY REALLY GOOD!’
The height of silly came Friday when receivers coach Darryl Drake compared him to—hang on while I choke this out—Micheal Jordan.
No, seriously. Via Mark Potash, Sun Times:
When you’ve got a great, great player, you’ve got to feed him,’’ Drake said. ‘‘If Michael Jordan never touched the ball, he’d have problems. You’ve got to give him the ball. [Hester’s] getting the ball and feeling really good about things right now.
Yup—that just happened.
Listen, on the one hand I get what he’s saying—that even Mike Jordan would have issues if you didn’t use him correctly. On the other hand—no. Just—no.
Hester has been struggling to convert from defensive back to wide receiver for years now and every summer we hear about this being “the year.” They have him in the opening three wide receiver sets as we speak for goodness sake. They are desperate to make this work.
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, thinking results will be different.
Enough already. And for all that is holy, don’t put Jordan and Hester in the same sentence together unless you are referring to both having played in Chicago at some point.
In non-Hester tirades news, Michael Bush is willing to play short-yardage back but doesn’t love the role. He has 25 pounds on Forte, who isn’t a great short-yardage runner, so he’d best get used to it.
Bush is a very big back and the fact of life in the NFL is, if you are a big running back, you will be the battering ram—even if, as he said, nobody likes to be a battering ram.
Finally, we get back to tackle. J’Marcus Webb is the ostensible starter, and I have a hard time envisioning Chris Williams winning the spot since he couldn’t handle the guard position previously.
Mike Tice told ESPN’s NFC North blogger Kevin Seifert that the third year is critical for a player. This was in answer to the question of why Tice is working so closely with the line when he has a whole offense to consider.
Guess who is in his third year?
Webb has to cut down on penalties and improve his overall play. Otherwise, he’ll get the hook. As will Williams if he gets a shot and falls flat.
We could see Gabe Carimi by the end of the season.
Probably not the end of camp, though.
Barring a crazy story this weekend, I’ll be back Monday with more analysis of news from Bears’ camp.
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