Joe Odom can empathize with Marcus Reese. Odom was in the midst of a stellar rookie season last October when a groin injury knocked him out of the starting lineup and onto injured reserve for the final six games.
Now Reese will relinquish his starting job at strong-side linebacker to Odom because of a pulled hamstring that coach Lovie Smith initially called minor. It turned out to be an injury that will sideline Reese four to six weeks, reopening the door to Odom.
“Hopefully, Marcus will heal quickly and I can get more snaps and help my own game,” Odom said. “In training camp, I felt I wasn’t practicing to my potential and now I’m starting to feel that way. The first two [exhibition] games were strange for me, but toward the end of [Saturday’s] game, I felt really comfortable.”
Odom attributed part of his early struggles to Smith’s single-gap control defense being harder to grasp than it looks.
“You have to learn every single detail to be able to play,” Odom said. “If you don’t, you’re always going to be guessing or second-guessing.”
Extra points
In shorts and a jersey, offensive tackle Marc Colombo fired out of his stance and simulated pass-blocking and run-blocking techniques Tuesday as he continues to take steps that might get him back onto the practice field before the end of preseason. . . . The Bears waived defensive end Joe Tafoya, a bad fit in Smith’s defense. Tafoya had played in 35 games since the 2001 season, including one start in 2002. He recorded 19 total tackles and 28 special-teams tackles. . . . The Bears have taken inquiries from teams about the availability of injured running back Anthony Thomas but have no plans to trade him, a team source said. “He’s part of the plan,” said Smith, who expects Thomas back within a week. . . . Jonathan Quinn (left shoulder) and Aaron Gibson (upset stomach) missed practice. Without getting too technical, Adewale Ogunleye explained the secrets to being a dominant sack man. “The first step with the pass rusher is the first step, and then you have to counter,” Ogunleye said. “You can’t always hit the guy in the same place. I’m not the kind of rusher who’s going to hit you with three, four different moves. I’m going to hit you with two or three. If you’re doing four or five different moves, you’re really not good at one or two. So, if you’re doing more than three or four you’re really not a good defensive end, in my opinion.” . . . Given an opportunity to share the load with Anthony Thomas during the 2003 training camp, Adrian Peterson never took advantage. Peterson carried 23 times for 78 yards last preseason.
But this year, the third-year player from Georgia Southern leads the Bears in rushing after two exhibition games with 17 carries for 106 yards. “I’m not getting much feedback, and I’m just going week to week,” said Peterson, who is leading the battle for the No. 3 running back spot. Brock Forsey has 14 carries for 32 yards.
