Veteran Bears Vet at Camp Confidential

Things are going well for the Bears at camp so far. But the biggest questions will only be answered, once real football games start.  Camp Confidential:  Chicago Bears is a great article by Jeff Dickerson, with ESPN Chicago, but the real man in the hot seat is GM Phil Emery. Will the big changes he made (e.g., bringing Marc Trestman in, along with key players) work out? Will the risks he took (e.g., firing Lovie Smith, mishandling Brian Urlacher) pay off?

Jay Cutler

"It’s been going well," Cutler said. "There have been ups and downs. That’s any training camp. Guys are learning the offense and we’re moving along. Just the verbiage is the most difficult aspect. Any time you go to a new offense guys are going to be in similar positions on the field. It’s just learning the verbiage and being able to spit it out."

Cutler doesn't have the most endearing personality around, but I think he's learned to position his remarks more positively with the media.  All eyes are definitely on him.  At least he has the favor of Emery and Trestman, for his talent and potential.

Brandon Marshall

"I am [looking forward to having more weapons]," Marshall told ESPNChicago.com. "It was tough sledding last year. I think that's why I had to have the surgery. I had two or three guys on me every single play, but bringing in big boy Martellus, I don't think the league really knows how good he is. I didn't know, and that was one of my great friends in the league. So I'm excited to see him; he's going to be awesome this year for us."

Marshall was definitely a lone duck and a sitting duck out there.  Defenses knew that Cutler would go to him, time and time again, so they stacked up on the poor guy.  With second-year wideout Alshon Jeffery back from injuries, and the gregarious Martellus Bennett coming in with much better than hands at tight-end than his predecessor, plus Matt Forte figuring to catch more coming out of the backfield, Marshall can expect to have another great year with a well-balanced offense.

Lance Briggs

"It’s tough [without Urlacher]," Briggs said. "But we’re all grown men. We have to move on."

Briggs now assumes play-calling duties, from his weak-side linebacker post.  I imagine it's unusual to have a player other than the middle linebacker calling the shots, but new defensive coordinator Mel Tucker must've looked to a veteran star like Briggs to take that on.  From the sounds of it, the defense will be business-as-usual:  smart-playing, hard-hitting and ball-hawking.

Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD