The several thousand fans in and around Olivet Nazarene’s Ward Field came expecting to see the Bears’ final night practice of training camp 2007. What they were treated to was Rex Grossman and the Bourbonnais Air Show.
Grossman and the other Bears quarterbacks have had generally excellent camps but Thursday saw a succession of circus aerials made all the more impressive because they came in the flow of the night’s regular offense, not some special go-long session.
“We were just running our offense,” said coordinator Ron Turner. “Nothing special.”
Grossman to Devin Hester for 50 yards. Grossman to Bernard Berrian for 50, followed by a Berrian dunk over the goal post crossbar. Kyle Orton dropping a deep sideline pass in to Rashied Davis. Brian Griese on target and moving the offense.
“We’ve got certain landmarks on the field, plus getting enough air underneath it and make a big play,” Grossman explained. “You’ve just got to make sure it’s the right look defensively and then execute.”
It wasn’t only the offense making exceptional plays. Linebacker Brian Urlacher delivered an acrobatic pass deflection in the deep middle against tight end Desmond Clark, who also turned in a highlight catch of a high throw and held on as he hit the ground.
Defensive end Mark Anderson blew up an end-around to Hester. Rookie defensive end Dan Bazuin had one of his best sessions, breaking through for a “sack” of Griese.
“When you’re a good football team,” said coach Lovie Smith, “that’s how it should go.”
Maybe the energy was heightened by the nearness of camp’s end. Friday’s practice from 3-5 p.m. is open to the public but Saturday morning’s session is both closed and short.
Lining up
Tommie Harris did drills and individual work but the defensive tackle was again held out of team sessions. He is expected to be in the lineup Monday in Indianapolis after sitting out Houston ….
Obafemi Ayanbadejo, moved in with the No. 1 offense when fellow fullback Jason McKie was given some time off for “general soreness”….
Rookie cornerback Trumaine McBride was out with a sore toe. … Receiver Mark Bradley (knee), guard Ruben Brown and tackle Fred Miller also were held out of practice, Brown and Miller for a scheduled day off.
Like a Hurricane
Alex Brown, standing in the hallway of the dining area wearing his Florida Gators shirt, glared at teammate Quadtrine Hill walking by wearing a rival Miami Hurricanes shirt.
A few minutes later, rookie tight end Greg Olsen, also from Miami, strolled by wearing a Hurricanes shirt too. It was too much for Brown. “Man, I can’t see two Miami shirts in a row,” he yelled to Olsen.
“Gosh,” Olsen responded, “You want one? What size?”
“No,” Brown quickly assured him, “I’m good.”
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