[CBFF] Optimism reigns for defending NFC champions

[Steve Behrens]

Optimism reigns for defending NFC champions
By Larry Mayer


LAKE FOREST, Ill. – The Bears conducted their 13th and final OTA
workout Wednesday at Halas Hall and won't practice again until they
kick off training camp July 27 at Olivet Nazarene University in
Bourbonnais.

"It's always good to finish up spring ball," said coach Lovie Smith.
"I think we've had an excellent offseason, gotten a lot of work done."


Converted cornerback Devin Hester excelled in his new role on offense
throughout offseason practices.
Indicating that the Bears wanted to evaluate some players at new
positions, Smith praised converted cornerback Devin Hester's
performance on offense and lauded the addition of tight end Greg Olsen
and running back Garrett Wolfe via the draft.

"Devin Hester looked outstanding at the wide receiver position," Smith
said. "Greg Olsen has really given us a new dimension at the tight end
position. I like what Garrett Wolfe has brought with his quickness,
along with the core players we have in place right now."

Smith also complimented quarterback Rex Grossman, running back Cedric
Benson and the veteran offensive line and said that wide receiver
"Mark Bradley has really taken a step up."

Bradley and Olsen both made nice catches down the seam in Wednesday's
practice with Olsen producing the play of the day by reaching high to
pluck a pass out of the air with one hand.

"Olsen's just like he's been advertised," Smith said. "He's a special
athlete. We look for him to have an outstanding season."

Defensively, Smith felt that weakside linebacker Jamar Williams "had
an outstanding offseason" and "stepped up and let us see some of his
skills." With disgruntled veteran Lance Briggs not attending minicamp
or the OTA practices, Williams worked with the No. 1 defense.

Smith also singled out safety Adam Archuleta, whom the Bears acquired
from the Redskins via a trade in March. Smith was Archuleta's
defensive coordinator with the St. Louis Rams during the defensive
back's first three NFL seasons in 2001-03.

"We like the addition that he'll bring to our group," said the Bears
coach. "He's a better football player as I see it now than the last
time I was with him."

Always optimistic, Smith is even more positive than usual as he
prepares for the 2007 season, one year after leading the Bears to the
Super Bowl for the first time in 21 years.

"We like our team," he said. "We think they're hungry and ready to go.
We got close [last season] and we're just anxious to take the next
step with training camp and go from there.

"We have the core of our team back, we're more experienced and [with]
the additions I talked about … that's why I'm a little bit more
excited than I have been in the past."

Smith knows that it won't be easy, but he feels that the Bears will be
up to the challenge.

"I know other teams have improved a lot," he said. "I think our
division has gotten a lot better. It's a tough road, starting off with
San Diego. The schedule is tough. But you just want to have your best
group there, the best team I think we've had since I've been here is
coming up, so we're excited about that."

The Bears have altered their rallying cry from "finish" to "unfinished
business," but their ultimate goal remains the same.

"We went into last season talking about winning the Super Bowl," Smith
said. "We didn't. We came up short. So that's our motivation. We know
what it's like to play on that stage; we don't know what it's like to
win. The Colts have the championship. They have the Super Bowl ring.
We don't, and that's our motivation to finish the job this year."

Some Bears players celebrated the end of OTA workouts by switching
numbers for Wednesday's practice. Hester donned No. 4, the number he
wore at the University of Miami; middle linebacker Brian Urlacher wore
Briggs' No. 55; and several defensive backs swapped jerseys.

"Hester's fast no matter what number he's in," Smith said. "What's in
a number? A lot of players changed numbers, had a little fun today. I
was all for it. I'm just excited that at our last practice we had just
about our entire football team out there."