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2007 Bears Camp Dates
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August 8, 2007 Bears rookie Trumaine McBride brings his 'A' game
As competition heats up By Rob Laird Almost overnight, shy rookie cornerback Trumaine McBride has turned into one of the feel-good stories of the Chicago Bears' 2007 training camp. Once as low as seventh on the cornerback pecking order, McBride has almost certainly played himself into the 53-man roster. Just don't tell McBride, an undersized (5-9, 185) but high-motor rookie out of Mississippi, that's he's got his spot wrapped up. "I wouldn't say I've got it wrapped up," he said after Tuesday night's practice at Ward Field. "I'm just going to keep coming out every day working hard to make myself better." McBride, once a long shot to make the final roster, has made so much of an impression on the Bears' coaching staff so far that they traded Dante Wesley, the team's fourth cornerback and a key member of the special teams, to New England for a future draft pick. Considering the Bears drafted another cornerback -- New Hampshire's Corey Graham -- two rounds ahead of him, McBride entered camp no better than sixth on the team's depth chart at the position (seventh, if one includes safety Danieal Manning, who is being converted to cornerback). But by trading Wesley in favor of McBride, the rookie has suddenly shot to fourth. That should allow him to relax a little bit, but McBride said if he's more relaxed, it's not because of that. "I do (feel more relaxed) just on the fact that I actually grasp the defense and am getting more comfortable with the calls," he said. "In that aspect, yes I am more relaxed." McBride has shown a good ability to be a physical corner despite his size and seems to fit well into the Cover 2. * * * The terms "general soreness" and "personal reasons" have been used quite a bit by coach Lovie Smith while giving reasons for players that have missed practice. Tuesday, each one popped up again. Adrian Peterson missed both practices Tuesday for personal reasons while tight end John Gilmore and rookie linebacker Michael Okwo have general soreness. Smith said Peterson will be back today. Meanwhile, Brian Urlacher and Bernard Berrian were each given the day off for what is believed to be a Vet's Day. Muhsin Muhammad returned to practice for the first time in a week while Tommie Harris continued to sit out. Rookies Dan Bazuin and Garrett Wolfe, both maligned with various injuries in camp thus far, were both back in pads on Tuesday. * * * Running back Cedric Benson has enjoyed a more relaxing camp this year. Benson, who had complained that he got hit a bit too hard during training camp last season during a rivalry with starter Thomas Jones, hasn't had that problem this year. He's ready now, however, to start getting hit again. During Saturday's preseason game at Houston, he'll get that chance. "It will be nice just to get tackled," he said, "to get taken down to the ground. It's one thing here at practice but it's another thing to get tackled." * * * The offense, which had been the buzz of the camp this year, was incredibly sluggish on Tuesday. Mostly, Rex Grossman was the one struggling, firing off several interceptions, including two into the hands of Charles Tillman. Receivers didn't have a good day either, dropping nearly a dozen passes in the team's first practice at Olivet since Saturday. Devin Hester was impressive again, however. Twice, the second-year player caught a pass on an out pattern, turned the corner and then turned on the jets, outrunning everyone in the secondary for a touchdown. Earlier, he made a nice one-handed grab during receiver drills. |
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