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Earlier this morning at the Walter Payton Center of Halas Hall, the Chicago Bears began a three day rookie mini camp. All eight newly signed draft picks were in attendance, as were the nine undrafted free agents the Bears locked up after the draft. There were also eight first year pros, along with 38 players on a try out basis.
Here's the full list as tweeted out by Adam Hoge.
Here's the full list of participants in the #Bears' rookie mini camp: pic.twitter.com/3RYSrwTbFk
— Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge) May 16, 2014
Of all the try out players, keep an eye on defensive back Al Louis-Jean of Boston College. The Bears had him in for a workout before the draft, so they obviously see some potential in the 6'2", 195 pounder.
I found it interesting that both Kyle Long and Jordan Mills were at camp helping out the youngsters. That's just solid leadership shown by both veterans.
The Bears draft pick that drew the most confusion over draft weekend was probably punter Pat O'Donnell. Some fans wondered the point in drafting a punter, but when the punter can boom it like this...
Most impressive showing at rookie minicamp today was booming leg of punter Pat O’Donnell. Kept drilling the roof at Payton Center. #Bears
— Adam Jahns (@adamjahns) May 16, 2014
... you can see why Phil Emery went special teams with one of his 6th round picks.
Defensive coordinator Mel Tucker addressed the media for the first time in a very long time, and thanks to twitter, here are a few highlights.
LM: #Bears DC Mel Tucker on battle for jobs: "Safety will be wide open. You can put that all in caps."
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) May 16, 2014
OK...
SAFETY WILL BE WIDE OPEN.
Love this from Mel Tucker when LM of http://t.co/OGkg8YE3pj asks him how the Bears' D-line will look different: pic.twitter.com/XyhkpXmIbN
— Kevin Fishbain (@kfishbain) May 16, 2014
#Bears defensive coordinator Mel Tucker: "We can be better. We need to be. better. I feel good about the direction we're going."
— Bob LeGere (@BobLeGere) May 16, 2014
Reporter to Mel Tucker: Was this offseason like Christmas with the new additions? Tucker: "You could say that."
— Zach Zaidman (@ZachZaidman) May 16, 2014
#Bears DC Mel Tucker: "It's always a good feeling when you get great players, guys who wanna be here."
— Patrick Finley (@patrickfinley) May 16, 2014
Mel Tucker said there are some changes to the scheme and "alternative fronts" the Bears will play next season.
— Michael C. Wright (@mikecwright) May 16, 2014
Tucker on 2nd-rd DT Ego Ferguson: He has good balance, power, explosiveness. With good coaching and grit, he can reach his potential.
— Rich Campbell (@Rich_Campbell) May 16, 2014
There will be packages used with certain personnel on defense. #Bears
— Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge) May 16, 2014
#Bears will install 85 percent of D packages in OTAs and minicamp, and then start again in training camp
— Patrick Finley (@patrickfinley) May 16, 2014
Tucker: "It's hard to play fast when you don't know what you're doing."
— Zach Zaidman (@ZachZaidman) May 16, 2014
The Bears defense is gonna be good next year, Mel Tucker said so
— Keith Sowa (@SowaTheArrogant) May 16, 2014
Tucker: "Marc has been very supportive of me as a coach from Day 1 and throughout the season. It's very important that we communicate."
— Rich Campbell (@Rich_Campbell) May 16, 2014
Tucker on Bears 1st-rd CB Kyle Fuller: "A very intelligent player." Good size, speed. High% tackler. Excellent ball skills. Great awareness
— Rich Campbell (@Rich_Campbell) May 16, 2014
A couple quick takes from rookie minicamp practice: K. Carey certainly doesn't look slow; not one bit. P Pat O'Donnell has a big leg.
— Michael C. Wright (@mikecwright) May 16, 2014
Tucker on new DL coach Paul Pasqualoni & LBs coach Reggie Herring: "Experience on the coaching staff is huge." #Bears
— Rich Campbell (@Rich_Campbell) May 16, 2014
Tucker on Pasqualoni: "High-integrity guy....old-school no-nonsense ball coach."
— Zach Zaidman (@ZachZaidman) May 16, 2014
And speaking of Pasqualoni...
#Bears DLine Coach Pasqualoni says rookie DTs will play both 3T & NT to prepare for Offensive stunts & switches pic.twitter.com/CpCtYpX8CG
— Peggy Kusinski (@peggykusinski) May 16, 2014
Marc Trestman addressed the media as well...
Marc Trestman: "Our focus today was to learn how to practice."
— Zach Zaidman (@ZachZaidman) May 16, 2014
Trestman on Fales: "He spit out the verbiage very well."
— Zach Zaidman (@ZachZaidman) May 16, 2014
#Bears HC Trestman "there are guys from each category that can make the team" (draft picks, UFA, etc) pic.twitter.com/fRlFzWAVTV
— Peggy Kusinski (@peggykusinski) May 16, 2014
Trestman on Ferguson: "He'll have great mentorship here."
— Zach Zaidman (@ZachZaidman) May 16, 2014
Trestman on Bears RB Jordan Lynch: "He didn't look out of place today. Jordan is a real football player. I know he's hungry for information"
— Rich Campbell (@Rich_Campbell) May 16, 2014
Trestman made it clear that there’s still a competition at punter. O’Donnell won’t be handed the job.
— Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge) May 16, 2014
Trestman kicked an entire offensive unit out of an 11-on-11 rep b/c of a presnap penalty. Did same thing on D to a unit that didn't finish.
— Rich Campbell (@Rich_Campbell) May 16, 2014
Trestman: "The focus today was go as fast as you can until the whistle blew."
— Zach Zaidman (@ZachZaidman) May 16, 2014
Trestman: "This is not a two wide receiver league. It's a three wide receiver league."
— Zach Zaidman (@ZachZaidman) May 16, 2014
#Bears head coach Marc Trestman: "I have a lot of confidence in Kyle Fuller."
— Bob LeGere (@BobLeGere) May 16, 2014
That's a lot of info we just threw at you, but let us know what you think so far.