[CBFF] CT - Reader Q&A

[Jim Ferolie]

Good stuff from KC here. WHERE IS ALL THE DISCUSSION? I know I'm superbusy with work, but jeez, people, it's freakin training camp!

Reader Q&A 

Ask K.C. Johnson
The Tribune's Bears writer answers reader questions from Bears camp in Bourbonnais.

I am a huge Texas Tech fan and loved watching Dwayne Slay play. I haven't heard much about him but would think with his tenacity he could at the very least earn a job on special teams. Your thoughts? - Tim, Dallas

My thoughts are they plan to try to convert him to linebacker, which means they like him as a long-term project but don't feel he can help yet. Complicating matters is that Slay suffered a hamstring injury and hasn't been participating in camp. But I can see him making the practice squad.

K.C., don't you think it's a lock that the Bears are going to start Devin Hester at the punt return position? I understand they're rotating between him and Bernard Berrian, but Berrian wasn't fantastic at the position last season, and the Bears spent a second-round pick on a guy who--for now--is assigned only to special teams. It would be hard to imagine a playmaker like Hester not getting the nod by Sept. 10, don't you think? -- Mike, Chicago

I do think. Hester surely will get the nod this Friday in San Francisco. Coaches will be monitoring his decision-making, but I can tell you that the guy has caught everything in sight, a nice respite from the Bobby Wade adventures from last season. He's a burner, too. And you make a good point: With the much improved defensive backfield depth, there is no way he's going to make the team as a corner. So he has to play a lot on special teams to justify his roster spot.

Blitz pick-up aside, how would you compare the games of Benson and Jones? Who's the better receiver, better inside/outside runner, etc.? Also, does Benson have the burst in the open field that Jones seems to lack? -- Phil Mayo, Chicago

Benson is described by scouts as deceptively fast. He's one of those guys whose 40 times might not wow you. But give him the ball and a breakaway and you might not catch him. I think Jones is a much better blocker and receiver, although Cedric has definitely made progress in both areas. Even more so as a pass catcher. He seems more comfortable in his routes and thus isn't fighting the ball as it comes to him. I do think, for now, that Jones is the more all-around player. But the Bears need to see what they have in Benson, which is why this shoulder injury is bad timing.

Do you think Tim Day and Cooper Wallace have a good chance at making the final roster? A lot of pre-draft rankings had Tim Day in the top 10 tight ends. What happened that he was not drafted? -- Curt, Warren

The way the Bears touted both players, I was surprised neither player got drafted. And I'm equally surprised neither will make the team. I can't say that definitively, but it's not looking good. Neither player has distinguished himself. Day was supposed to be a solid pass catcher but has dropped passes. Wallace was supposed to be the steady run blocker but hasn't cracked last year's trio of Desmond Clark, Gabe Reid and John Gilmore yet. I'd be surprised if those three TEs weren't the guys.

I don't understand why the Bears aren't interested in either Porter or Lelie. A 3rd round pick for Lelie seems like a bargain, especially when the Bears need a 2nd WR. Lelie gives the Bears a deep option to go w/Muhammad and would help the league's worst offense. -- Scott, Chicago

I think they'd trade for him at the right price. That price just hasn't happened yet. At first, Denver wanted Thomas Jones, thinking they'd just swap disgruntled players. But the Bears only would part with Jones if they got blown away with an offer. Benson's injury underscores the need for at least two backs. Now, Denver's been asking for a first- or second-round pick. The Bears reportedly have offered a fourth-round pick. If they meet in the middle--a third-rounder--it could get done. Don't underestimate what Bernard Berrian can do, though. He's looked terrific this camp, and the groin injury he currently has isn't serious.

As I follow training camp as well as I can from Denmark I have a question about Robbie Gould. Last year his problem was kicks over 40 yards. How has he fared in training camp from this distance? -- Bjarke Hojgaard, Aalborg, Denmark

Much better. Robbie is very open in discussing this rare shortcoming from his surprising rookie season. He knows he needs to improve. He said the 53-yarder that he kicked in the season finale against Minnesota, though nullified by penalty, really helped his confidence. He seems to have picked up from there, showing greater accuracy from 40-plus. I don't have exact numbers, but he ended two straight practices after two-minute drills with field goals of 40 yards or more.

Hey K.C., I thought the Bears were fed up with the inconsistent play of Michael Haynes. Is switching him to DT going to make any difference with his play production? -- Terrence, Chicago

They hope so. The Bears are loaded up front, so playing time is going to be scarce. But Haynes is back to 280 pounds and, though slowed by a bad back, has looked decent in camp thus far. He knows he won't be playing much special teams, so if he's going to make the roster, he has to crack the defensive line rotation. Stay tuned.

What will the Bears' first play from scrimmage be this season: pass or run? -- Brian, Oak Park

I'd guess the ol' fumblerooski

Thanks for your questions, K.C.