The Chicago Bears defense has been enjoying themselves thus far at training camp. They’ve been the superior unit during most practices and were clearly ahead of the offense based on results from the Hall of Fame game last Thursday. Usually, when things like this happen it’s easy for a group to get a little complacent, a little cocky thinking they’re pretty good. So it falls to the head coach to find creative ways to keep it interesting for them.
This was the test Matt Nagy faced over the weekend. Saturday was one of the sloppiest practices of camp for his team and that was something he couldn’t let slide. So he switched up the schedule that evening so the players could view the Hall of Fame induction speech by Brian Urlacher, hoping his words might serve as a reminder of why they play the game.
It certainly had an effect as the next day saw one of the best practices of the year for his team. Now Nagy just had to find a way to build some momentum going into Monday. His solution proved to be quite creative and certainly created a buzz among the players, especially on defense.
Matt Nagy took snaps at QB to throw against the defense in drills
At one point during drills, the quarterbacks got pulled off the field and it was Nagy and quarterbacks coach Dave Ragone who took some snaps throwing against the defense. The two coaches actually delivered some nice throws, making an effort to test the cornerbacks down the field. It looked like they’d get the last laugh, but it seems Nagy got a little too carried away and he was intercepted.
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Who was it? Who else but Kyle Fuller, the leading man of the Bears secondary. Nagy sounded a little upset and irritated the young cornerback got him after practice.
The Bears head coach is reminding everybody that he understands a vital element to football. Discipline of the players is good but finding ways to keep it fun is just as important. Nothing would thrill a young defender more than talking trash with his head coach and intercepting him during drills.
It was also a way for the players to gain a better connection to the coaches. A reminder that in the end, they’re all striving towards the same goal. That’s a good message to send because it will take a total team effort for this organization to avoid its fifth-straight losing season in 2018.
Mitch Trubisky would not be outshined though
While several people admitted Nagy threw better than they expected, it seems like the Bears starting quarterback refused to be outplayed. For the second-straight practice, Mitch Trubisky demonstrated a precision and command of the offense he has struggled to find in the past couple of weeks. His passes are on time and on target. He’s getting a feel for his receivers and the ball is coming out with more authority.
“It’s starting to click. Slowing down for me,” he said after practice. It’s evidenced both by the impressive throws he made and also the fact he went his first day of full pads without an interception. That’s certainly a welcome sign and another reason why the offensive players sound so confident about where things are headed.
