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The Bears Den: August 05, 2013 - Training Camp news and notes

3.15pm 11.10am start today; join us for the usual practice open thread.

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Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Bears’ secondary vs. the ‘trees’ is the best battle in camp - Adam L. Jahns: Few teams can throw as many big and mobile targets at a defense at one time as the Bears now can. Or as Kelvin Hayden put it, “We’ve got some trees out there.”

Bears preview - Andy Benoit looks at the Bears' prospects for the upcoming season and wonders whether Cutler can flourish in Trestman’s system. Kevin Seifert: Cutler's INT rate dropped from 4.2% over first two seasons to 2.8% in two most recent.

Team Report - Jeff Dickerson: If Trestman and Cutler can get on the same page, the Bears have a legitimate chance to earn just their second playoff berth in seven years. If not, the Bears would be expected to rebuild the roster heading into 2014.

Follow WCG on Twitter; like us on Facebook (& click on 'Subscribed to'). Whala! Click for Chicago Bears Tickets for next season. Check out David "OSS" Taylor's CheekyMonkeyArt prints and t-shirts.

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Family Fest

Cutler Watch - Adam L Jahns: Chicago got its first look at the Bears’ revamped offense under coach Marc Trestman at Family Fest; QB keeps making ‘explosive plays’. Moon Mullin: Offense feeling the 'love' from fans.


Sam Householder: Over/under: Predicting Cutler's 2013 stats

Bob LeGere: Isaiah Frey's opportunity to impress with Hayden sidelines; Wootton on the mend; Martellus Bennett serious when it comes to doing his job.

Bob LeGere: Martellus Bennett enjoys energy of Soldier Field; Melton just wants to win; offense (offense!) working on back-shoulder throws; injury update.


Hall of Fame Inductions & Family Fest Open Thread
Steven Schweickert: Bears Training Camp: Family Fest Practice Recap

Michael C. Wright: Injuries are piling up; DBs most tightly-knit position group on team; more from Saturday's session.

Adam L. Jahns: Bears Injury Fest; Leonard Pope's first practice; Hester attitude 'great'; Paea looks to build on strong 2012.

Brad Biggs: Tress Way faces formidable challenge; Khaseem Greene learning behind Briggs; injury news and more observations.

New offense designed to spread the wealth - Brad Biggs: Brandon Marshall shouldn't be a one-man receiving gang this year.

[Video] Family Fest highlights and photogallery from ChicagoBears.com; Tribune photos; DailyHerald photos.

Bears training camp - Brad Biggs: While the NFL continues its trend toward teams staying at home for training camp, the Bears are close to extending an agreement with Olivet Nazarene University that will keep them camping here for several years.

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Bearsss

Leonard Pope sees opportunity with Bears - Jake Flannigan: While Martellus Bennett has shined (shone?), the other TEs have not been quite as impactful, opening up an opportunity for the veteran.

Player profile - Mark Potash: Not much has changed for Devin Aromashodu since his previous stint with the Bears. He still makes enough big plays to leave you wondering why he can’t make more.

Marshall plans to play at heavier weight - Bob LeGere: At 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, Brandon Marshall has always been capable of going into Beast Mode after catching the football. Now he wants to get even bigger and stronger.

Matt Bowen: Scouting the Bears - Both Conte and Wright showed progress last season, and more should be expected from them this year as they try to prove they are the team's long-term answer at safety.

Player profile - Moon Mullin: James Anderson, who played under Ron Rivera in Carolina, had the Bears at the top of his list of teams to play for given the history of the position within the franchise.

Matt Bowen: Scouting the Bears - The real test for plenty of young players fighting for a roster spot will start Friday night in Charlotte when the Bears play the Panthers in the exhibition opener.

Bears waiting to hit different uniforms - like Panthers' - Moon Mullin: Players are tired of hitting the same people every day, edginess starts to set in when heat and tempers rise and the Bears’ trip to Carolina for Friday’s game against the Panthers could not be coming at a better time.


Steven Schweickert: Six-Pack Keys to the Preseason: Game 1, Panthers

Team Report - PFF with some reasons to be positive, and concerned, about the Bears. What they were saying a year ago.

Inside Look: Charles Tillman - Chris Boden: The Bears' cornerback talks about the effect his daughter's illness had on his life, how the “Peanut Punch” came about, the upcoming season, and more. [Video] part 1; part 2; part 3; part 4.

DeCamillis defies odds to still be coaching - Brad Biggs: Joe DeCamillis defies odds to still be running, coaching following terrible accident in 2009 that leaves him in pain even today.

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Ditka

Four downs with Ditka - Da Coach on Julius Peppers' play as a Bear, the possibility of Trestman using the read-option, whether Marshall's weight gain makes him too heavy, and Riley Cooper.

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Polish sausage

NFP Sunday Blitz - Len Pasquarelli: Julio Jones bulks up, injuries on the rise and more in this week’s Blitz.

NFP Agent's Journal - Jack Bechta: A lot is going on behind the scenes during training camp as agents help manage the ebb and flow for their clients.

Has the RB position become devalued in the NFL? - Greg Gabriel: The past draft was the first time in 49 years a running back was not selected in the first round.

Know thy enemy: Vikings - Kevin Seifert with key issues for the team and observations from Vikings camp. Tom Pelissero: Vikings must improve downfield passing game.

Know thy enemy: Packers - Chris Burke: You can count on the Packers to score points most weeks, one way or another. The question remains, though: Will this team be able to get the stops it needs, when push comes to shove?

5-year-old cancer survivor scores touchdown for the Browns - Probably the only time the Browns won't suck all season.

One of my favourite groups growing up just played at Lollapalooza in Grant Park. Their first single was one of the last written as their previous incarnation, Joy Division, prior to Ian Curtis' suicide.