Bear Down, Training Camp is Here

Oh gosh. The season starts today and I cannot wait for a full training camp report once I get off work. Before that though I'd like to go through what I think will be the most important and exciting position battles that our Bears will be waging for the next five weeks. What I am really interested in are those battles that don't seem very important right now, but if an underdog wins, could be an exciting story by the time opening day is here. Wide reciever, running back eh, who cares, they will be fun to keep an eye on but in the end; Thomas Jones or Cedric Benson? Bernard Berrian or Mark Bradley? Either way we will have a stud starting at the position and a consolation winner who will still garner substantial playing time. Starting with, in my opinion, easily our strongest position we have a very intriguing battle ahead of us in the trenches:

Defensive Line: Ian Scott vs. Dusty Dvoracek
A steal in the third round, Jerry Angelo and crew were able to land a stud of a defensive tackle in Dusty Dvoracek. Dropping in the draft for possible character issues, or more simply, for abusing alcohol and getting caught too many times (who really cares about that anyways?) this Oklahoma Sooner took to the D-Line with his long blonde hair and a mean-streak in his eyes every Saturday afternoon and struck fear into the hearts of the quarterbacks across the line of scrimage because of his quickness and explosiveness off of the snap. Described in one scouting report, Dusty (oh goodness, I really hope I'm not reminded of Baker every time I see this name) truly looks like a classic Chicago Bear-type player: "This is a blue collar, lunch pail type working defensive lineman inside the rugged interior line, that is more of self made player that plays on guts and intensity more than athletic ability." Not the most enthusiastic scouting report but these atributes can work very well with the rest of the personel on the Bears D-Line. Continue reading: "I like him at the nose guard position, because his gifts and mentality as a player suit him there best, he is a player with his hustle, aggression and intensity that requires a double team to block him, and that is the characteristics it takes to play the nose guard spot ." When I see it takes a "double team to block him" immediately I think of how Tommie Harris can shoot right through his gap to the football the second a second O-lineman slots over to guard Dvoracek.

Then there is Ian Scott. A similar player who's pure guts and intensity make him a good football player moreso than his physical abilities...

Daaa BEARS!

Finally. I can taste it, just barely, but it's there. The sweet taste of anticiapation for the 2006 Chicago Bears to finally strap those pads on and kick some ass! Ok, I know I am getting a tad bit carried away but with how the baseball team twenty minutes north of Soldier Field has been doing this year, football could not come a second sooner. And it's not even here yet, however, after enduring the last three months of the Cubs, I think I can wait one day before our Grizzly Men strap on their helmets and start knocking the snot out of each other. Training Camp officially starts tomorrow and we as Bears fans have a hell-of-a-lot to get excited over. Position battles baby! It's getting late tonight so I'll have to do my position battle rundown tomorrow, but off the top of my head the most exciting battles will be first and foremost at the wide reciever position; Mark Bradley or Bernard Berrian, ha I know, tought choice there, I love both those little speedsters. Then at safety I love the battle that will ensue between last year's 6th round sensation Chris Harris and this year's top pick out of a Division 1-AA school, Daniel Manning. Finally, I like the cornerback battle that may take place between Charles "I'm slower than Tommie Harris" Tillman and free-agent acquisition Ricky Manning, Jr. All I know is I might have to drug myself to fall asleep tonight with dreams of training camp dancing through my ADD-riddled brain. Bear down baby!