Bears safeties in sync as training camp ends

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<p align="justify">Mike Brown and Adam Archuleta have played together during a bunch of practices and one preseason game.

<p align="justify">They say it seems a lot longer - in a good way.

<p align="justify">"So far, so good," said Archuleta, the new guy after being acquired from Washington in a March trade for a 2007 sixth-round draft pick. "Mike is a great guy to play with, an easy teammate to be around. You know he's going to show up every day.":

<p align="justify">Brown, now in his eighth season, said "it didn't take us too long" for a comfort level to develop.

<p align="justify">"He's a good football player, a veteran football player," Brown said. "He knows the system inside and out, so the transition is seamless. He came in right away and knew what he was doing. He knew all the lingo, so it was a piece of cake."

<p align="justify">Archuleta knows the process isn't complete. They haven't even played one regular season game yet going into Monday's second preseason game at Indianapolis. Still, he's encouraged at what has transpired during training camp at Olivet Nazarene University, where the team held its final practice Saturday.

<p align="justify">"We're definitely getting there," he said. "It's not something that happens overnight, but this definitely has been a very good transition as far as getting to know each other as safeties and having fun."

<p align="justify">Archuleta said he looks at the entire secondary when it comes to communication being important - not just between the free and strong safeties.

<p align="justify">"When you've got the four guys and even the nickel, if you keep everyone healthy and playing together, I don't what it is - a camaraderie that tightens, you know where everyone is going to be. You know how they play; you know what to expect. You know they've got your back. It just goes a long way with being with the same guys, especially guys who can play."

<p align="justify">He did say it's important for safeties "to have a good rapport."

<p align="justify">I've been in some situations where the communication and comfort wasn't there," said Archuleta, who spent five years with the St. Louis Rams before joining the Redskins for one season. "The more chemistry you have, the better you're going to play."

<p align="justify">As far as who's the leader of the pack, Archuleta concedes that to Brown.

<p align="justify">"As far as calls go, we both echo," Archuleta said. "That's both our responsibility. I'm not like a vocal leader, so to speak, and never have been. I'm a leader by example.

<p align="justify">"Mike likes to talk and get everyone riled up - and that's his role. In that respect, we're different."

<p align="justify">Defensive coordinator Bob Babich is pleased with the pair's progress.

<p align="justify">"They're both experienced players and know what it takes to win," he said. "When one does a good thing, the other feeds off it. They're just in a groove playing together right now."

<p align="justify">Head coach Lovie Smith said there's an adjustment period that every new player endures.

<p align="justify">"It takes a while for a new guy to get accepted fully," he said. "Once they see you can play, they'll accept you.

<p align="justify">"I think that's the case with Adam. He's one of the guys now, and we're just trying to get him better like everyone else."

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