Transcript of Chicago Bears general manager Phil Emery at 2013 NFL Combine (part 2)

Transcript, Part 2- Chicago Bears general manager Phil Emery at the 2013 NFL Combine, courtesy of Sean Jensen, Chicago Sun-Times

SEEN SO FAR FROM TRESTMAN AND CUTLER RELATIONSHIP?

"Under the current CBA rules, it's really a matter of saying hello and introducing yourself and talking. And that was positive. They're off to a good start."

HOW CLOSE IS TRESTMAN TO THAT 13-MONTH PLAN?

"Right on and accelerated. Very detailed, very thorough, very intelligent. Great listener. So I would say we're right on."

EXPECTATIONS FOR ALSHON JEFFERY AND SHEA MCCLELLIN?

"I want them to get better as football players and be more productive. Grow in their knowledge of the game, and be better players overall. Very satisfied with where they were at as rookies. Obviously, they both had some dings. I want them to be healthier, but that's the nature of the game. I want them to be better and more productive so they can help us at a higher level and win football games."

HOW WAS JOE DECAMILLAS DURING THE HEAD COACH INTERVIEW AND WHY HIRE HIM AS A S-T TEAMS COACH?

"He was an excellent interview. For those who know Joe D in the coaching community, and throughout the league, he's a very detailed, well-prepared individual. We sat down and he had an iPad ready for me, and an iPad ready for himself and he said, ‘I'm ready to go.' I had to slow him down a little bit. I wanted to revisit with him. We had worked together, but I wanted him to take me back through his career then we moved forward. He had an excellent interview."

WHY IMPORTANT TO GET HIM ON STAFF?

"I was extremely surprised and felt very good that we were able to get him on this staff. Obviously, we had lost Dave [Toub] - he had moved to the Chiefs - and we interviewed Joe D for the head coaching position so I felt very good about him as a coach and glad to have him."

HOW DOES KNOX SITUATION AFFECT YOUR NEED AT RECEIVER?

"Anytime you lose a player of that quality and that kind of speed, it does impact you. To say [not] would be silly. It does impact us. We'll look at all avenues in terms of finding someone who can add to that mix at receiver."

SPECIFICALLY A SPEED RECEIVER?

"I would say more specifically to find the best player that can help us."

SMALL STEP OR BIG STEP TO CATCH UP TO ATLANTA AND GREEN BAY?

"This is a very competitive league and or goal is to win it all. It always has been. I think the Chicago Bears want to be out in front. But we know it's a long road to get to that spot. As far as closing the gap, every game will determine that. As I said last summer, we're a team that's going to have to earn it and this won't be any different. You have to earn your way in this league and you have to stay in it through the end. A surprising number of teams have shown us that if you're there in the end, you've got a heck of a chance. Baltimore certainly showed [that]."

LINEBACKER J.T. THOMAS NEED TO DO?

"J.T. Thomas has to continue to improve in terms of the football end of it on regular downs. He's got to grow as a player in his knowledge and how he fits into our defense. We're expecting him to do that during OTAs and camp and see where he goes."

TURNOVER ON YOUR STAFF, SO HOW MUCH CAN YOU BUILD ON 10-WIN SEASON?

"I look at every team as being a new team, whether there's a turnover or not, it would be a new team. So we've got to earn our way. Obviously, we have a new staff and I'm very enthused about that staff, and I'm enthused about our opportunities between the UFA market and street free agents and the draft and college free agents to add talent to our team. And along with this staff build something that's very good."

WITH NEW STAFF, ANY DIFFERENT THOUGHTS ON USING SHEA

"Right now he's a d-end and he'll remain a d-end. If there's something in him that sparks us in terms of he's got versatility. Like he did last year, he stood up in certain situations. But we're not going to put an umbrella around him. We're going to use his talents, his athleticism, his speed, his savvy, to the best we can, and whatever our coaches can concoct as far as a plan for him, we'll use every ounce of it. He is a d-end. That's his position. We're excited about him as a pass rusher. We want to get him on the field more on regular down situations. And where his versatility is, that's a plus for him. So if he ends being a linebacker in some situations, then good."

URLACHER SITUATION AFFECT YOUR DECISION-MAKING?

"We look at every player as a unique player. The qualities he brings probably you say when you fill the roster, how many linebackers we have has an impact. But right now, where we're at in the process, we're here to look at really good players and see if they fit. That is part of what we do. Yes, we're going to look at college players and see how they fit against what we have on our roster and what we could potentially add. and that's same thing that's true with UFAs."

ONE WAY OR ANOTHER WITH HIM?

"We're not at that point yet."

WHEN EVALUATING O-LINEMEN, WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

"I don't think it's any different. What you want in an offensive lineman, No. 1, is production. You want guys that produce consistently and you call those guys starters. So consistently good as a pass protector, consistently good as run blockers. You're looking for guys that have the size, mass and strength and quickness to accomplish that at the NFL level. Those defensive linemen are, on average, more athletic than their counterparts on offense. You also have to have someone who has good football sense or smarts and has good toughness, because he's going to have to bounce back to reach that consistent level when he normally plays against someone who may have a little more speed and quickness than he does."

LANCE LOUIS UPDATE?

"We're going to have to work through that. Lance has been very diligent in his rehab and we're pleased with his progress. So at some point, we'll sit down with his agents and work through that."

-Phil Emery

Part 1 of this interview HERE.