Sweetness_34
Footballguy
Do not sleep on the Moose this year folks.....
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John Mullin at Camp Olivet
The Tribune's John Mullin checks in from Bears training camp. He'll file reports on days the team practices.
July 28, 2006, 6:54 PM CDT
Quarter-masters
What's happening under center?
Rex Grossman seemed to start completing passes to Muhsin Muhammad during stretching Friday. His throws to the veteran wideout went to all areas of the field as Grossman started heating up even more in this offense. … Grossman also sold his play-fakes extremely well to slow down the pass rush and was quick on his feet getting out of a couple of tight spots. He also drew aaah's with a quick foot shift from looking left toward Mark Bradley, who was covered, over to Muhammad on the right. … Brian Griese clearly is still learning the plays and his teammates, and sometimes a little slower on the release than Grossman. But he executed a perfect fake and roll right with a flip to rookie fullback J.D. Runnels for a nice pickup. … Grossman did throw an interception to Mike Brown when he overthrew Muhammad in the deep middle.
'Back Talk
What's up with the backs and 'backers?
Lance Briggs needed just one practice to be restored to his spot with the No. 1 nickel defense alongside Brian Urlacher, with Hunter Hillenmeyer's one-day appearance in the job over. Briggs showed why almost immediately with a lightning close on a swing pass to Cedric Benson. … Benson continued to catch the ball well but also used his free hand to keep from going down on one slash through the middle, adding yards to a carry that appeared over before it had a chance to really get started.
Reception perceptions
Life with the fast guys
Muhsin Muhammad was The Show for the afternoon, with his connections with Grossman. Muhammad drew the loudest shriek of practice when Charles Tillman slipped on what he thought was a sure interception and Muhammad gathered another ball in. … Rashied Davis is getting some nice reps working with the No. 1 offense as the inside man in the three-receiver package. Davis is ready to sell his body to make any catch and he is gaining more and more confidence of the quarterbacks. … WR Mark Bradley drew a round of rave kudos from even the DB's with a tough sideline catch against excellent coverage by rookie corner Carlos Hendricks.
Line Dancing
Up close with the big guys
Defensive tackle Alfonso Boone had a strong day pass rushing against Terrence Metcalf. Boone worked very nicely on one outside move, then came back later with a spin move that gave him a straight run at Griese. … The big guys aren't hitting yet but the speed rushing of Alex Brown vs. the pass sets of John Tait continue to be good viewing. Tait is using his hands nicely but Brown is keeping his rush coming as he fights through the blocks of one of the NFL's better left tackles. … Mark Anderson left practice with a hamstring strain, taking the young pass rusher out of the rotation. … Michael Haynes is getting a good look at tackle with the No. 1 nickel unit.
Boots and return routes
Getting a kick out things
Robbie Gould was 1-for-2 from 48 yards, the long boots of practice. … Gould and Josh Huston had a solid day of kickoffs, getting good height and distance despite some inconsistent winds. Both had four of five kickoffs inside the 5-yard line. … Rashied Davis is taking the first kickoffs and Devin Hester the second. Hester is likely to be the main returner but Davis is improving his roster chances with his all-around play.
Audibles
Speaking of the Bears speaking
Safety Mike Brown was rendered briefly speechless when questioned about his hair style. "Mike, so are they 'corn-rows or braids?" was the query. "I call 'em 'rows,'" Brown declared. … Center Olin Kreutz was willing to take any concession to the heat that he could find. "Hey, Rusty," Kreutz yelled to the Bears' strength and conditioning coach before practice. "It's a hundred degrees. Go easy on the stretching."
New Kid
Who is that guy?
Great job by newcomer Ricky Manning Jr. with a stand-up stop of tight end John Gilmore after Gilmore caught a pass in the flat. … Rookie Danieal Manning had another superb practice that included a very physical breakup of a ball from Brian Griese to tight end Gabe Reid.
Aside-lines
"Hey, Jones, I've got bigger arms than you do," yelled one fan to Thomas Jones, who gave the fan a good-natured flex in response, putting a definitive end to the gentleman's claim. … One phone-company promotion around practice featured a man in a giant brown ear, who drew laughs and onlookers by declaring, "Look, I'm Brian Ear-lacher."
Quick kicks
Coaches and staff continue to manage the players for the heat and it showed, with virtually the entire practice run at a brisk clip with good execution despite the searing heat and lack of shade or wind most of the afternoon. And Rex Grossman and Muhsin Muhammad are ready for the season to start right now, based on the zip on the ball and the catches Friday.
====================
John Mullin at Camp Olivet
The Tribune's John Mullin checks in from Bears training camp. He'll file reports on days the team practices.
July 28, 2006, 6:54 PM CDT
Quarter-masters
What's happening under center?
Rex Grossman seemed to start completing passes to Muhsin Muhammad during stretching Friday. His throws to the veteran wideout went to all areas of the field as Grossman started heating up even more in this offense. … Grossman also sold his play-fakes extremely well to slow down the pass rush and was quick on his feet getting out of a couple of tight spots. He also drew aaah's with a quick foot shift from looking left toward Mark Bradley, who was covered, over to Muhammad on the right. … Brian Griese clearly is still learning the plays and his teammates, and sometimes a little slower on the release than Grossman. But he executed a perfect fake and roll right with a flip to rookie fullback J.D. Runnels for a nice pickup. … Grossman did throw an interception to Mike Brown when he overthrew Muhammad in the deep middle.
'Back Talk
What's up with the backs and 'backers?
Lance Briggs needed just one practice to be restored to his spot with the No. 1 nickel defense alongside Brian Urlacher, with Hunter Hillenmeyer's one-day appearance in the job over. Briggs showed why almost immediately with a lightning close on a swing pass to Cedric Benson. … Benson continued to catch the ball well but also used his free hand to keep from going down on one slash through the middle, adding yards to a carry that appeared over before it had a chance to really get started.
Reception perceptions
Life with the fast guys
Muhsin Muhammad was The Show for the afternoon, with his connections with Grossman. Muhammad drew the loudest shriek of practice when Charles Tillman slipped on what he thought was a sure interception and Muhammad gathered another ball in. … Rashied Davis is getting some nice reps working with the No. 1 offense as the inside man in the three-receiver package. Davis is ready to sell his body to make any catch and he is gaining more and more confidence of the quarterbacks. … WR Mark Bradley drew a round of rave kudos from even the DB's with a tough sideline catch against excellent coverage by rookie corner Carlos Hendricks.
Line Dancing
Up close with the big guys
Defensive tackle Alfonso Boone had a strong day pass rushing against Terrence Metcalf. Boone worked very nicely on one outside move, then came back later with a spin move that gave him a straight run at Griese. … The big guys aren't hitting yet but the speed rushing of Alex Brown vs. the pass sets of John Tait continue to be good viewing. Tait is using his hands nicely but Brown is keeping his rush coming as he fights through the blocks of one of the NFL's better left tackles. … Mark Anderson left practice with a hamstring strain, taking the young pass rusher out of the rotation. … Michael Haynes is getting a good look at tackle with the No. 1 nickel unit.
Boots and return routes
Getting a kick out things
Robbie Gould was 1-for-2 from 48 yards, the long boots of practice. … Gould and Josh Huston had a solid day of kickoffs, getting good height and distance despite some inconsistent winds. Both had four of five kickoffs inside the 5-yard line. … Rashied Davis is taking the first kickoffs and Devin Hester the second. Hester is likely to be the main returner but Davis is improving his roster chances with his all-around play.
Audibles
Speaking of the Bears speaking
Safety Mike Brown was rendered briefly speechless when questioned about his hair style. "Mike, so are they 'corn-rows or braids?" was the query. "I call 'em 'rows,'" Brown declared. … Center Olin Kreutz was willing to take any concession to the heat that he could find. "Hey, Rusty," Kreutz yelled to the Bears' strength and conditioning coach before practice. "It's a hundred degrees. Go easy on the stretching."
New Kid
Who is that guy?
Great job by newcomer Ricky Manning Jr. with a stand-up stop of tight end John Gilmore after Gilmore caught a pass in the flat. … Rookie Danieal Manning had another superb practice that included a very physical breakup of a ball from Brian Griese to tight end Gabe Reid.
Aside-lines
"Hey, Jones, I've got bigger arms than you do," yelled one fan to Thomas Jones, who gave the fan a good-natured flex in response, putting a definitive end to the gentleman's claim. … One phone-company promotion around practice featured a man in a giant brown ear, who drew laughs and onlookers by declaring, "Look, I'm Brian Ear-lacher."
Quick kicks
Coaches and staff continue to manage the players for the heat and it showed, with virtually the entire practice run at a brisk clip with good execution despite the searing heat and lack of shade or wind most of the afternoon. And Rex Grossman and Muhsin Muhammad are ready for the season to start right now, based on the zip on the ball and the catches Friday.
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Too bad they got pruned, would love to bump all the old "Hollings will take Dom Davis' job" threads from back in the day. Now the guy can't even make it past the 1st few training camps for the Bears.
Moose needs a solid # 2 to keep the double team away. Bradley seems more like a # 3.
