GRIDIRON ASSASSIN
Footballguy
Quarter-masters
What's happening under center
Rex Grossman had what he considered to be one of his better practices, including one flip into the end zone while lying on his back after a stumble. … Without Muhsin Muhammad (rest day), Grossman again spread the ball around nicely among receivers who took snap with the first unit. … Grossman did an excellent job going through his progression before checking down to Cedric Benson as a third option and producing a gain against good coverage. … Grossman also showed good mobility and pocket presence, stepping up against pressure, starting to run but then throwing a completion down the center as the coverage hesitated at his running. … Brian Griese hit Mark Philmore for a touchdown deep down the middle and was thwarted on another score by Cameron Worrell's pass defense. … Griese was intercepted by Ricky Manning Jr. on an overthrow to Gabe Reid. … Kyle Orton followed that play with a throw squarely to LB Brendan Ayanbadejo.
'Back talk
What's up with the backs and 'backers?
Lance Briggs turned in a clutch pass breakup on a ball intended for Bernard Berrian in the red zone. … Ayanbadejo continues to make impact plays in standard defense, not just special teams, where he was a Pro Bowl alternate last season. … Adrian Peterson took reps in place of Benson in goal-line offense and bounced his first run outside left, took advantage of LT John Tait's seal block, and got into the end zone.
Reception perceptions
Life with the fast guys
Mike Brown turned in the day's best blitz with a rush on the outside right of the offense and stacking up Benson for a loss. … Cameron Worrell's pass defense against TE Cooper Wallace was excellent. Worrell jammed Wallace at the line inside the 10, turned and ran with Wallace and broke up the pass intended for Wallace in the end zone. … Mark Philmore made a difficult catch against Worrell and managed to spin and keep his balance for a big pickup. … Berrian showed no ill effects from the ball that hit him squarely on the fingertips and sent him out of several plays Wednesday.
Line dancing
Up close with the big guys
Alfonso Boone had the offensive line unhappy after his strong burst through the center-right guard gap, prompting center Olin Kreutz to sail his helmet 20 yards ahead of himself leaving the session. … Boone showed excellent pass rush against guard-center Lennie Friedman. … Rookie Mark LeVoir continues to get reps at right tackle with the No. 2 offense in place of Steve Edwards and did a good job dealing with speed rusher Jamal Green in pass protection
Audibles
Speaking of the Bears speaking …
Coach Lovie Smith still is working out the kinks in his news conferences, drawing laughs when he began talk about of his defense with "And it's one of the best defenses …" and then double-clutching "… let me start that over. It's the best defense in the league and it helps the offense to compete with them every day."
Smith on the No. 1 offense performing well in the area of the goal line: "It was good for us to get a little live work down at the goal line. The offense usually dominates the first day and the defense usually catches up with them later."
New kid
Who is that guy?
Ricky Manning Jr. isn't new to the NFL but he is to the Bears and is showing up on film almost daily with an impact play either in coverage or run support. Manning is the No. 1 nickel back but also is insurance in case of any difficulties with Charles Tillman or Nathan Vasher.
Aside-lines
Why the good get very good
LT John Tait, one of the better pass-blocking left tackles in the NFL, gets away from the crowds after practice and works on his pass sets. Working with him as the mock rusher: Pro Bowl center Kreutz. … RG Roberto Garza also spent extra time on his protection, having rookie LeVoir simulate rushes using an arm-over move and rushing to the outside to allow Garza to perfect his hand-placement technique.
Want to know the best way to get the attention of an NFL player? Try a little politeness. Players typically ignore fans while practice is going on but long snapper Pat Mannelly had to give several youngsters a wave when they called to him, "Mr. Mannelly."
What's happening under center
Rex Grossman had what he considered to be one of his better practices, including one flip into the end zone while lying on his back after a stumble. … Without Muhsin Muhammad (rest day), Grossman again spread the ball around nicely among receivers who took snap with the first unit. … Grossman did an excellent job going through his progression before checking down to Cedric Benson as a third option and producing a gain against good coverage. … Grossman also showed good mobility and pocket presence, stepping up against pressure, starting to run but then throwing a completion down the center as the coverage hesitated at his running. … Brian Griese hit Mark Philmore for a touchdown deep down the middle and was thwarted on another score by Cameron Worrell's pass defense. … Griese was intercepted by Ricky Manning Jr. on an overthrow to Gabe Reid. … Kyle Orton followed that play with a throw squarely to LB Brendan Ayanbadejo.
'Back talk
What's up with the backs and 'backers?
Lance Briggs turned in a clutch pass breakup on a ball intended for Bernard Berrian in the red zone. … Ayanbadejo continues to make impact plays in standard defense, not just special teams, where he was a Pro Bowl alternate last season. … Adrian Peterson took reps in place of Benson in goal-line offense and bounced his first run outside left, took advantage of LT John Tait's seal block, and got into the end zone.
Reception perceptions
Life with the fast guys
Mike Brown turned in the day's best blitz with a rush on the outside right of the offense and stacking up Benson for a loss. … Cameron Worrell's pass defense against TE Cooper Wallace was excellent. Worrell jammed Wallace at the line inside the 10, turned and ran with Wallace and broke up the pass intended for Wallace in the end zone. … Mark Philmore made a difficult catch against Worrell and managed to spin and keep his balance for a big pickup. … Berrian showed no ill effects from the ball that hit him squarely on the fingertips and sent him out of several plays Wednesday.
Line dancing
Up close with the big guys
Alfonso Boone had the offensive line unhappy after his strong burst through the center-right guard gap, prompting center Olin Kreutz to sail his helmet 20 yards ahead of himself leaving the session. … Boone showed excellent pass rush against guard-center Lennie Friedman. … Rookie Mark LeVoir continues to get reps at right tackle with the No. 2 offense in place of Steve Edwards and did a good job dealing with speed rusher Jamal Green in pass protection
Audibles
Speaking of the Bears speaking …
Coach Lovie Smith still is working out the kinks in his news conferences, drawing laughs when he began talk about of his defense with "And it's one of the best defenses …" and then double-clutching "… let me start that over. It's the best defense in the league and it helps the offense to compete with them every day."
Smith on the No. 1 offense performing well in the area of the goal line: "It was good for us to get a little live work down at the goal line. The offense usually dominates the first day and the defense usually catches up with them later."
New kid
Who is that guy?
Ricky Manning Jr. isn't new to the NFL but he is to the Bears and is showing up on film almost daily with an impact play either in coverage or run support. Manning is the No. 1 nickel back but also is insurance in case of any difficulties with Charles Tillman or Nathan Vasher.
Aside-lines
Why the good get very good
LT John Tait, one of the better pass-blocking left tackles in the NFL, gets away from the crowds after practice and works on his pass sets. Working with him as the mock rusher: Pro Bowl center Kreutz. … RG Roberto Garza also spent extra time on his protection, having rookie LeVoir simulate rushes using an arm-over move and rushing to the outside to allow Garza to perfect his hand-placement technique.
Want to know the best way to get the attention of an NFL player? Try a little politeness. Players typically ignore fans while practice is going on but long snapper Pat Mannelly had to give several youngsters a wave when they called to him, "Mr. Mannelly."
