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The Chicago Bears put the pads on today down in Bourbonnais, but it was just to get the players comfortable as they didn’t go all the way live. There was some light popping in what is expected to be a more physical camp from head coach Matt Nagy, but he’s going to ease his team into the physicality. “We just wanted to get used to hitting today,” Nagy said. “We’ll go live soon.”
The general consensus from those in attendance is that the defense is ahead of the offense. Keep in mind, that is how it should be.
The defense, which is reactionary, is always ahead of the offense, which has to work on their timing. Especially more so this year with a new offense being installed and a defense entering year four in the same Vic Fangio scheme.
Head coach Nagy has also kept his troops in the rainy conditions of the Olivet Nazarene University football fields, something I love by the way, to get his team used to playing in less than ideal weather. “We’re preparing them for adversity,” Nagy said at his post practice press conference. “The only way you do that is by putting them through storms.”
Rookie first rounder Roquan Smith (ILB) is still absent, and the following were held out of practice today; Joel Iyiegbuniwe (ILB), Danny Trevathan (ILB), Sherrick McManis (CB), Aaron Lynch (OLB), and Daniel Brown (TE).
Our guy Robert Zeglinski has been at camp from the start and he has unloaded his notebook for the Rock River Times, so be sure to check that out, but I’ll share some Twitter highlights from today right here.
The quick Tarik Cohen warming up his footwork. pic.twitter.com/ZZoQnrWzst
— Robert Żeglinski (@RobertZeglinski) July 22, 2018
The white on white combo is so fresh!
Might only be interesting to me: but the Bears didn’t do any kind of board or physical warmup drills on the first day of pads.
— Robert Żeglinski (@RobertZeglinski) July 22, 2018
Straight to football activity.
A different style of practice by Matt Nagy.
Anthony Miller with another nice catch. Early camp hero. #Bears
— Patrick Finley (@patrickfinley) July 22, 2018
Anthony Miller burns Cre’Von LeBlanc one on one for a deep TD.
— Robert Żeglinski (@RobertZeglinski) July 22, 2018
Everybody’s favorite 2nd round project - Shaheen. #BearDown. Good to see Floyd in pads today. pic.twitter.com/iKrDFUpORg
— Gridiron Assassin (@GridAssassin) July 22, 2018
Kevin White beats Amukamara on a slant from Trubisky. Nice quickness
— Robert Żeglinski (@RobertZeglinski) July 22, 2018
#Bears WR Tanner Gentry hauls in another deep ball on a dart from Chase Daniel.
— Bob LeGere (@BobLeGere) July 22, 2018
Shocking I know, but this offense is going to feature a lot of tight ends in the passing game.
— Robert Żeglinski (@RobertZeglinski) July 22, 2018
Seam route to Sims. #BearDown in rainy Bourbonnais. pic.twitter.com/iwtkyclzl3
— Gridiron Assassin (@GridAssassin) July 22, 2018
#Bears nickel CB Cre’Von LeBlanc with a diving interception of QB Chase Daniel.
— Bob LeGere (@BobLeGere) July 22, 2018
Defensive flash: Nick Kwiatkoski tips a pass to himself for a pick off a short throw from Trubisky.
— Robert Żeglinski (@RobertZeglinski) July 22, 2018
Mitch rolling out. pic.twitter.com/m06OsC5Vka
— Greg Braggs Jr. (@GBraggsJr) July 22, 2018
Deon Bush flashing a bunch today, breaks up a would be completion from Trubisky to Gabriel.
— Robert Żeglinski (@RobertZeglinski) July 22, 2018
Nice catch by @adamshaheen3.
— Greg Braggs Jr. (@GBraggsJr) July 22, 2018
Not so great camera work. pic.twitter.com/DEnukxf0kC
Good day for Kevin White so far, though all of his work is in the short game.
— Robert Żeglinski (@RobertZeglinski) July 22, 2018
Bears secondary has mostly tightened down. Trubisky forced to check down almost every play.
— Robert Żeglinski (@RobertZeglinski) July 22, 2018
Howard with a catch. pic.twitter.com/DWC8MJ1KZC
— Greg Braggs Jr. (@GBraggsJr) July 22, 2018
Charles Leno Jr. and Eric Kush doing a great job of getting out into space on defenders.
— Robert Żeglinski (@RobertZeglinski) July 22, 2018
Fans are chanting "Nagy, Nagy, Nagy ..." as the #Bears coach leaves the practice fields. I don't remember that happening for previous coaches.
— Adam Jahns (@adamjahns) July 21, 2018
No onto some press conference highlights...
“We just want to get back to that old Chicago Bears style defense,” Jackson on his standard. “We want to be relentlessly aggressive.”
— Robert Żeglinski (@RobertZeglinski) July 22, 2018
“He’s just a swag coach. I like to say,” Cohen on Nagy’s approach. “He’s like a teammate.”
— Robert Żeglinski (@RobertZeglinski) July 22, 2018
“I don’t feel like I took a lot of big hits last year. I’m good with that,” Cohen doesn’t think he has to make a style adjustment.
— Robert Żeglinski (@RobertZeglinski) July 22, 2018
“They’ve done well. Because there’s been no complaining. They do well with what they have,” Nagy on the impact of the rookie class.
— Robert Żeglinski (@RobertZeglinski) July 22, 2018
Nagy appreciates the versatility he has with his TE group. Dion Sims in particular, who he calls “a traditional Y.”
— Robert Żeglinski (@RobertZeglinski) July 22, 2018
He’s looking forward to experimenting with them more as camp goes on.
“This isn’t gonna happen overnight. I’m still earning their trust and respect,” Nagy trying to win over the Bears players.
— Robert Żeglinski (@RobertZeglinski) July 22, 2018
“We’re building a culture where we’re all growing.”
Remember, if you are at camp, be sure to tag us in your Twitter videos so we can share them.