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Notes from Bears camp

Posted August 08, 2007 11:00 pm

Reed Schreck

Just imagine if Lance Briggs hadn't decided to return when he did.

It takes on greater significance short-term because, if he weren't in training camp, the Chicago Bears' starting linebacking corps for Saturday's preseason opener at Houston would surprise a lot of people.

As of now, don't be stunned to see Rod Wilson and Jamar Williams start alongside Briggs, with Brendon Ayanbadejo the first one off the bench against the Texans.

No, Brian Urlacher and Hunter Hillenmeyer haven't been demoted. And third-round draft pick Michael Okwo (Stanford) hasn't been cut. Urlacher and Okwo sat out the second straight day Wednesday with "general soreness," according to head coach Lovie Smith. Hillenmeyer was carted off after spraining an ankle, with Smith saying he will be evaluated.

Something else Smith said makes it a reasonable assumption Urlacher, Hillenmeyer and Okwo won't play Saturday.

"If a guy's injured, he won't play," Smith said. "Beyond that, we'll take all the precautions, especially with it being the first preseason game. Guys we know about, if it's a veteran, we know that they can play. We'll be extra cautious."

Smith said he felt good about the linebacker situation entering training camp at Olivet Nazarene University.

"Coming in, we felt we had great depth," he said. "Right now, it's just the next guy will move up. We'll take a long look at Rod Wilson while the other players are out. Jamar Williams is still going strong. We still have Brendon Ayanbadejo.

"We came in with seven, but none of the injuries are serious. As I see it, it's a long chance to look at some of those guys fighting for jobs."

Don't sweat it

Quarterback Rex Grossman said he hasn't been told how much he will play Saturday at Houston in the exhibition opener.

He knows the mindset he'll have.

"I'm going to approach it like we're going to play the whole game," he said Wednesday.

He'll barely need a shower, as he will go a series or two at the most.

Words not needed

Receivers coach Darryl Drake certainly was more concerned with his team's 11 dropped passes at Tuesday night's humid practice than head coach Lovie Smith. Smith shrugged it off because of the wet night air and it happening early in camp. Drake knew he couldn't be as uncaring.

He was pleased to find out the players talked among themselves afterward that night. Drake talked to them Wednesday morning.

"I didn't really have to say anything," he said. "They knew. They knew. There used to be a point in time I'd have to do all the talking with a younger group to get my point across. But they understand the standard. When the football's wet, you still have to catch it and make plays.

"I said my piece at a meeting. They knew it was coming."

No. 83 making his name

Receiver Mike Hass was on the practice squad last year, and works mostly with backup quarterbacks Brian Griese and Kyle Orton. Still, starting quarterback Rex Grossman has noticed Hass' production.

"He's a great player," Grossman said. "When he's out here, he keeps making plays and that's what he's got to do. He's out here competing like everyone else."

Hass had two of Wednesday afternoon's more notable catches, both on passes from Griese. He one-handed one ball and later caught a deflection off linebacker Rod Wilson's hand.

Hass was drafted in the sixth round by New Orleans last year and then waived. He played at Oregon State.

Camp sights

Fullback Quadtrine Hill wore Chris Harris' old number 46 as he returned to the Bears on Wednesday after being waived by New England. He was in Bears camp for four days last August. ... Wideout Bernard Berrian was back in action after a day off. ... Ricky Manning Jr. took first-team reps at corner with veteran Nathan Vasher resting for a day. ... Defensive end Mark Anderson dropped into coverage on one play to shadow Cedric Benson out of the backfield. ... Rex Grossman was picked off by Ricky Manning Jr. on a Darwin Walker deflection on the first play of the two-minute drill, and by Charles Tillman on a pass intended for Berrian. ... Griese concluded his two-minute drill with a touchdown pass over the middle to rookie tight end Greg Olsen. ... Tim Mixon intercepted a Kyle Orton pass intended for Timon Marshall. ... The Bears signed defensive tackle Jason Frick from Tampa Bay.

Reed Schreck is the NFL Writer for the Rockford Register Star. Contact him at 815-987-1381 or rschreck@rrstar.com.

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