LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Now that Chicago Bears rookie camp is in the rear-view mirror, here are five things we learned courtesy of spending three consecutive days at the team’s practice facility:
1. Weight Watchers: Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio expects Leonard Floyd to play at 230-235 pounds, not the 240-250-pound range the Bears mentioned on draft night. In fact, Fangio said the Bears knew Floyd would be at that lighter weight way before they moved up to draft him ninth overall. Fangio and John Fox believe moving forward that Floyd’s weight is a non-issue. The Bears’ team nutritionist, however, is concerned enough about Floyd’s body that she made him set an alarm on his phone to eat every couple hours. Obsessing over a player’s weight can sometimes be overrated, but keep in mind that Floyd did not put up dominant numbers at Georgia. How will he handle the transition to the NFL? No one expects Floyd to be 275 pounds like Pernell McPhee, but his weight is worth monitoring, especially if Floyd (6-foot-4) struggles at the point of attack.
2. Line shuffle: Offensive line coach Dave Magazu is set on the right side with Kyle Long (right guard) and Bobby Massie (right tackle). “We are going to look good on the right side,” Magazu said. Magazu is also a fan of Charles Leno, who the club thinks is a natural left tackle. But the Bears expect competitions at left guard and center. Magazu said 2015 third-round draft choice center Hroniss Grasu bulked up to over 300 pounds, but Grasu needs to take another step. The Bears were not thrilled with Grasu’s performance in games 10-15 after he returned from a neck injury. Although second-rounder Cody Whitehair lined up at left tackle at Kansas State, the Bears project Whitehair to be a guard/center. So between Grasu, Whitehair, Ted Larsen and Manny Ramirez, the Bears have to find the best starting guard/center combo before Week 1. Tayo Fabuluje, a 2015 sixth-round pick offensive tackle, is a wild card. The Bears simply don’t know if Fabuluje is focused enough to seriously challenge for a spot.
3. Wingspan: Northern Iowa cornerback Deiondre' Hall is blessed with incredibly long arms. “[People ask me] if I can scratch my knee standing up,” Hall joked on Saturday. But arm length is important for defensive backs, provided you can make a play on the football. By his own admission, Hall is still learning how to play cornerback, but he definitely fits the profile of what Bears coaches want at the position. “Length is only good if you can stay close to the guy, and then when the ball comes the length becomes an advantage,” Fangio said. “If they’re running away from you, the length is of no use. We’ve got to find out and see how well he moves. How well he can cover, to where his length can be an asset at the point of the ball there when it’s coming.” Hall (6-foot-2) is a fourth-round pick, so barring an unforeseen turn of events, he is in good shape to make the 53-man roster.
4. Defensive-line rotation: Third-round pick Jonathan Bullard (6-foot-3, 285 pounds) is expected to challenge for a spot in the game-day rotation, joining the likes of Eddie Goldman, Akiem Hicks and Mitch Unrein. “I like his length,” Fangio said. “He’s got some quickness. It’s hard to tell with those guys right here in this type of practice, but based on the tape, he’s a guy that we’re looking to hopefully make some contributions early.” It’s impossible to truly evaluate linemen in a non-contact setting, but Bullard certainly looks as if he belongs.
5. Quarterbacks: Rookie minicamp ran smoothly. That’s due in part to tryout quarterbacks Sean Goldrich (New Hampshire) and Dalyn Williams (Dartmouth). When the rookie-camp quarterbacks struggle to complete fundamental passes (which often happens at this camp), the whole workout is bogged down. Goldrich and Williams had enough zip and accuracy on their passes for the coaching staff to get a good look at the receivers, tight ends and tailbacks. “We minimize the total install for the quarterbacks,” Fox said. “It’s not like we give them our whole playbook. We just see how they can take it from the meeting room on to the field. I thought they did a good job.”
