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Bears go through Friday drills a day early

Posted August 09, 2007 11:00 pm

Reed Schreck

It was Thursday night. It was a Friday practice.

The Chicago Bears went through their typical light workout at training camp,

simulating what a Friday during the regular season will be like. They were

preparing for Saturday night's preseason opener at Houston, meaning most

plays were run against a scout team resembling the Texans.

"It was good to let the players know what the routine is," head coach Lovie

Smith said. "We're one step closer.

"We talk a lot about Phoenix (for the Super Bowl in Glendale, Ariz.), but

now's about Houston. We can't wait to go down and play."

Smith didn't rule any starters out. He might make that decision today, when

the team will work out early before heading to Lake Forest and then to the

airport. Based on recent practices, it wouldn't be surprising to see

defensive tackle Tommie Harris and linebacker Brian Urlacher out of uniform.

Harris keeps having his knee iced early in practices and then remaining out.

Urlacher has missed the past three days of drills.

Smith was asked if he'd prefer Harris not play.

"I'd rather all the guys play an entire football game," he said. "For the

most part, we'll play our starters a quarter and go from there."

Linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer, who sprained an ankle Wednesday, was back at

practice Thursday night. At lunch time, he was wearing sandals with no Ace

bandage, which he wore the night before to dinner.

Orton winging it

Kyle Orton clearly has thrown the fewest interceptions in camp so far. While

that does not mean he's going to climb past Brian Griese or Rex Grossman on

the depth chart, it does help show the progress he is making a third-year

player.

The results come in part because of the work he did in the offseason.

"I got my body prepared for this camp," he said the other day. "Coach Pep

(Hamilton, the quarterbacks coach) holds everyone accountable. So I think

all of us got better."

Orton has received occasional time with the second unit.

"They (coaches) haven't said too much. I'm not going to worry about that,"

he said. "I'm just going to get my game where I need it. If it means I move

up on the depth chart or not, right now that's not my main goal.

"My goal right now is to make myself a better quarterback. All I can control

is my own game. I like where it is."

Being refocused has changed his outlook.

"It's great to get back into a competitive situation," he said. "Last year

when I came into camp, I knew where I was going to be. I was going to be No.

3 and I didn't take that the best way. This year, I took it upon myself to

make it a competition and see where it falls.

He credits another person for part of his improvement -- a fellow

competitor.

"I'll be the first to admit how much he (Griese) helped me the last year and

a half," Orton said.

Orton was intercepted Thursday by linebacker Jamar Williams, but completed a

goal-line offensive series with a touchdown pass to rookie tight end Greg

Olsen.

Coach finds surprise

The Chicago Bears apparently don't always consult with position coaches when

free agents are brought in.

Wide receivers coach Larry Drake found that out one day last week.

"I just looked up and he was there," Drake said about seeing former Iowa

Hawkeye wideout Clinton Solomon wearing No. 17.

After watching Solomon, Drake likes what he sees.

"He looks like he's got some good size (6-foot-3, 214 pounds) and has some

good hands," he said. Working on terminology has been the big thing

initially because "when we brought him out here, and he didn't know one

thing about it."

The Bears appear deep at receiver -- i.e., Muhsin Muhammad, Bernard Berrian,

Mark Bradley, Rashied Davis, Devin Hester, etc. So why would a receiver

choose Chicago?

"I was waiting for an opportunity, and I couldn't have come to a greater

team," said Solomon, who spent time in camp with St. Louis and Tennessee the

past couple of years. "I wanted an opportunity anywhere, but the Chicago

Bears are the NFC champions. There couldn't have been a better fit."

Solomon doesn't discourage easily, having been unable to even make a

practice squad yet.

"I'm never going to stop," he said. "I feel like with every opportunity, I

get to get a little better. Each team I'm with I learn from. What I learn

from the veterans here hopefully will help me put it all together, and it

will be enough for me to be here in September."

Camp sights

The morning one-hour walk-through was closed to the public and media. ...

The biggest cheer Thursday night came when Rex Grossman connected with

Bernard Berrian on a bomb, although there was less than intense defensive

coverage. ... Center Olin Kreutz was wearing a yellow hat over his helmet

on one scout team drill. He ran into the end zone as a tight end, but

dropped a perfect pass from quarterback Chris Leak.

Reed Schreck is the NFL Writer for the Rockford Register Star. He can be

reached at 815-987-1381 or rschreck@rrstar.com

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