Bears Staying Off the Grass with Their Bodies

Bears coach Matt Eberflus seemed to find his group of players at the weekend's rookie minicamp every bit as excited as any other group of players vying for jobs in pro football.

The difference from last year is the Bears managed to avoid too much contact on Friday's first of two rookie minicamp practices.

Last year the league detected the Bears going through too much contact in Eberflus' first offseason of work as a head coach, and penalized the team. They suffered the loss of an organized team activity practice, which, when really considered, is probably cause for celebration as much as it is punishment.

"Yeah. I think it's, obviously they're very juiced up, which is great," Eberflus said Friday. "You ask them a question and they all say, 'Yes, sir.' You don't usually get that with the veterans.

"But yeah, you have to navigate that a little bit. I want them to stay on their feet in terms of the physical part. Stay on their feet. No big collisions. Making sure we're doing it the right way. And then really mentally just slow down, really retain the information and that's up to the coaches to paint a good picture for those guys to be able to retain that information. But they're OK there so far."

Players on the turf is a real triggering point for NFL scrutiny of practices.

"I heard a lot of 'stay off the ground,' so that's the main thing for me right now, is don't be on the ground," rookie defensive tackle Zacch Pickens said. "That's my goal today. Take small steps everyday."

Here's what else didn't and did happen the first day of rookie minicamp.

1. D-II QB Tyson Bagent's passing

Undrafted D-II record setting QB Tyson Bagent displayed an adequate arm, excelled on bootleg passes but not as much with rollout passes to his left, like most right-handed passers.

It's not easy to judge much about a QB's ability to step up so many levels during a rookie minicamp. But it's asking much of Bagent to go from D-II to the NFL.

“It's difficult at times—that's why we bring him here, right?" Eberflus said. "We see him operate, we see what he does in the walkthroughs, see what he does in the individual and then the team periods and then really just evaluate the guy."

They need to find out what Bagent can do throwing against bigger, faster defenders.

"In terms of a competitor, in terms of figuring things out, to be a high competitor at any level, you've got to figure it out," Eberflus said. "You've got to be able to execute at a high level. It doesn't matter because it's all level. Now can he make the jump to come to the pros? That's what we're going to see."

2. The Peanut Pitch

Eberflus brought in former Bears cornerback Charles "Peanut" Tillman to address players at rookie camp for the second straight year.

"One thing he said is we're under criticism," cornerback Tyrique Stevenson said. "I take that very personal. I definitely was enlightened by it because it gave me an opportunity to realize that criticism is there to help. Everybody's not gonna love you. You're not put in the world for that. But I'm gonna be the best me that I can and take the criticism and grow as a person and as a man."

Defensive coordinator Alan Williams said defensive tackle Zacch Pickens takes "copius" notes and it sounded like he did on Tillman's talk after he described the message.

"To not be afraid to take chances," Pickens said. "When there's an opportunity, take it. Don't take it for granted. Always show up, show out, do what you're supposed to do in that moment."

3. Weighty Issue

First-round tackle Darnell Wright played over 330 pounds but it seemed last year this Bears coaching staff wanted linemen a little leaner for the wide zone blocking scheme.

Asked if he knows a target weight the Bears want him at, Wright wasn't certain.

“Honestly, not a particular, not 100 percent," he said. "But it will be lower than I am right now."

4. Welcoming Committee

Quarterback Justin Fields has been involved in making the rookies feel at home.

Receiver Tyler Scott heard from Fields right away after being drafted.

"I remember watching him and just how explosive he was and the playmaking ability and what he brought to the table," Scott said. And being drafted by Chicago, he immediately hit me up after I got drafted and he DM'd me on Instagram and kinda introduced himself. So it was pretty cool.

"And then even when I came in yesterday, I think they were finishing up a workout and he came up to me and introduced himself and said what's up. Seems like a cool dude, and I'm just here to make his job easier."

Wright has reported some contact with Fields, as well. His selection had Fields trumpeting him on social media.

"I talked to him in the locker room and stuff but I didn't go over to his house or nothing," Wright said.

5. Pick and Run

Fifth-round cornerback Terell Smith produced the biggest defensive highlight of practice with an interception. He went to the ground after leaping for the pick, and then crashed to the ground. It's pros and not college now, and after a second and the urging of secondary teammates, he got up and returned it.

6. Showing the Way

The Bears brought in a few of their own practice squad and lower-level roster players and they made a few plays. Tight end Chase Allen hauled in Bagent throw in the middle of the zone deep between defenders. Allen could really help the Bears if he develops in his second year because they're in need of a third tight end.

Kellen Diesch, a 6-foot-7, 300-pound tackle they signed last year, practiced as a left tackle, alternating with USC undrafted signee Bobby Haskins at the position when the first group of offensive players was on the field.

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