Reality hits quickly

The opening of Bears training camp always breeds optimism — but there could be a few hurdles ahead

David Haugh | On the Bears

July 20, 2008

Savor Tuesday, Chicago. The Cubs and Sox still likely will be in first place in their respective baseball divisions and the undefeated Bears report for training camp. It would be hard to find a day on the 2008 calendar packed with more civic sports optimism.

It's impossible to know whether the good football feelings will last until the end of training camp. We can, however, make some other predictions about what might happen to the Bears during the three weeks at their summer home.

Most to prove—Rex Grossman: Until Kyle Orton puts together a month like Grossman did in September 2006, it's fair to say Grossman has the edge over Orton in NFL talent and experience.

But if the Bears were convinced that was enough, there wouldn't be a legitimate quarterback competition. And legitimate it will be.

At this stage of his career, Grossman has no excuse not to win the job and display the consistency he should be capable of showing. There is both urgency and opportunity, and players as good as Grossman's promise once suggested take advantage of such situations.

It's now or never, Rex.

Meeting the challenge not only could save Grossman's career but also the Bears' season, which might not look as bleak if they could count on consistent performances at quarterback.

Most to lose—Brian Urlacher: Since his last collision, Urlacher has had minor neck surgery. Along with an arthritic back, that would represent enough reason to watch every move the 30-year-old middle linebacker makes at training camp.

His off-season contract dispute raises the stakes even higher. Urlacher's public appeal in Chicago stands to take a hit unless he shows up and puts any bad feelings about his contract behind him to zero in on the season ahead.

Training camp is no place to wage money battles, not even for a franchise player whose demands already coaxed the Bears to budge and make a fair offer to extend his contract. Now Urlacher needs to either accept that offer or negotiate a better one before he puts his head on the pillow Tuesday night in an Olivet Nazarene University dorm room.

Because once Urlacher reports to training camp — he wouldn't be imprudent enough to hold out, would he? — then his focus must be football or else he risks damaging his popularity in Chicago even more.

Most important coaching job—Ron Turner: Turner's to-do list in August could not be longer if he had moved into a ramshackle house the day his car broke down. It includes:

•Pick a quarterback.

•Devise a running game around a rookie, Matt Forte, who will be learning on the job.

•Find ways to incorporate Devin Hester into the passing game so he's more than merely a decoy without neglecting the offense's strongest position: tight end.

•Develop pass-protection schemes to help a vulnerable left side that likely will include a rookie tackle.

Turner was spared his job in part because the continuity of his system appealed to the Bears given all the new offensive players, but in many ways he is starting over too. At least that needs to be the approach for an offense that underachieved in 2007 and can use that failure as motivation for this year.

Most likely to be overlooked but not underappreciated—Rashied Davis: Marty Booker's return to the Bears will receive its due attention. Hester will demand daily updates. Brandon Lloyd will dazzle. But the glue of the Bears' new (and improved?) receiving corps might be Davis, whose knowledge and comfort in Turner's system makes him a more confident receiver.

Of more importance is that it often makes him open in the critical intermediate nooks in the secondary where Muhsin Muhammad typically operated. Muhammad's gone, and don't be surprised if Davis emerges as a competent, dependable slot receiver who is a de facto starter and benefits from all the attention defenses pay Hester.

Most likely to inspire fans' talk on the way to parking lot—Matt Forte: Hester aside, Forte inspires as much imagination as any offensive player the Bears have.

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