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Not satisfied with success, Bears focus on Super goal
July 26, 2006
By Larry Mayer
BOURBONNAIS, Ill. - The Bears took a huge leap in 2005 when they won the NFC North while improving from 5-11 to 11-5. But they still have some unfinished business.
That was the main message that coach Lovie Smith conveyed to reporters Wednesday as players filtered in to Olivet Nazarene University for the official start of training camp Thursday.
Bears coach Lovie Smith met with the media Wednesday as the Bears kicked off training camp in Bourbonnais.
"I'm excited about the opportunity to take another step with our football program here in training camp," said the reigning NFL Coach of the Year.
"We made a lot of progress and took a big step last year. But when I took the job I talked about three goals. We accomplished two of them, but that third one is the one that if you talk to our football team you'll hear them talking a lot about what our ultimate goal is."
The Bears achieved two of Smith's objectives on the same memorable afternoon, beating the rival Packers to clinch the division title last Christmas at Lambeau Field. They'll begin pursuit of the third goal at noon Thursday when they conduct their first training camp practice in Bourbonnais.
The Bears appear to be in a favorable position to win back-to-back division titles for the first time since they captured five straight NFC Central crowns from 1984-88 under Mike Ditka.
All 22 starters return from last season and every player on the roster was expected to report to training camp by Thursday's midnight deadline. That includes veterans Thomas Jones and Lance Briggs, both of whom skipped the voluntary portion of the offseason program.
If Wednesday's press conference is any indication, the top story in camp as expected will be the competition at running back between Jones and 2005 first-round draft pick Cedric Benson.
Asked a series of questions about the situation, Smith was tight-lipped but revealed that "our starting rotation will be exactly how it was as we finished OTAs."
That, of course, means that Benson will line up with the No. 1 offense Thursday. But Smith was quick to point out that Benson, Jones and Adrian Peterson all will get their opportunities.
"In training camp we're not getting ready to play a game," Smith said. "We're geared toward being ready to play Sept. 10 (when the Bears open the season at Green Bay). We're going to let all three of the guys get a chance to prove what they can do, and in time you'll see everybody out there getting reps.
"We're a running football team and we need as many good running backs as we can get, and we have that. We like the three that we have. I'm anxious to see all three of them play."
Smith insisted that he isn't worried about Jones being unhappy in training camp.
"Thomas has a contract just like I have a contract and Olin Kreutz and everyone else," said the coach. "He's excited about being a part of the team. A lot of things happened in the past, but it's training camp now. It's all about the team and we'll have our team here getting ready."
Other than running back, the most intriguing position battle to watch in training camp figures to be at wide receiver, where a host of candidates are vying for the No. 2 job opposite Muhsin Muhammad. Bernard Berrian and Mark Bradley appear to be the favorites, but Rashied Davis, Justin Gage and Airese Currie are also possibilities.
Bernard Berrian is among the leading contenders in what promises to be a fierce battle for the No. 2 receiver position.
"All those (players) will get a look," Smith said. "Receiver-wise, you're rolling guys in and out. That's how it goes in training camp. We would like for everybody to get a chance to catch some balls from Rex (Grossman), the first quarterback."
Bradley has been cleared to practice just nine months after undergoing surgery to repair a torn ACL. But the Bears no doubt will be cautious with the promising 2005 second-round pick, who was beginning to emerge as a playmaker last season when he hurt his knee in a win at Detroit.
"It would be hard to say (Bradley is) 100 percent, but who is really 100 percent?" Smith said. "Mark is close to being full speed. I can say that."
The only two players who have not been cleared to practice are defensive tackle Tank Johnson and safety Brandon McGowan.
Johnson, who injured his quad while lifting weights in the offseason, is expected to return sometime during camp. McGowan, meanwhile, is recovering from a torn ACL sustained last December in a loss at Pittsburgh.
Smith is eager to begin molding his 2006 team on the field Thursday afternoon.
"We have 22 starters returning, but we start from scratch," he said. "Everybody has to win a job. It should be a great training camp. Everything we do right now is geared toward putting the best football team on the field against Green Bay Sept. 10."
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Not satisfied with success, Bears focus on Super goal
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