Danieal Manning playfully rolled his eyes when asked how often the names Aeneas Williams and Ronde Barber are mentioned in the meeting room.
“All the time,” the Bears free safety/nickel back said. “I hear about them almost every day.”
Williams, a retired eight-time Pro Bowler, starred at safety, cornerback and nickel back in the Rams’ defensive scheme. Barber, a veteran with the Buccaneers, is a five-time Pro Bowl pick who plays corner and nickel. Bears coach Lovie Smith coached both players.
Smith and defensive backs coach Jon Hoke view Manning as a player they can shape into the same mold.
“Danieal’s spent a lot of time at the hardest position: the nickel,” Smith said. “With free safety and that, he’s playing half the field or the middle of the field. So there are not a whole lot of adjustments. I definitely think he can handle it.”
Manning is a willing participant. It wasn’t always that way.
“I didn’t want to play nickel,” Manning said. “Coach knew it. The fans knew it. Some of my teammates knew it. I wanted to play safety, never wanted to move. Plus in this league, when you start at a position like safety and do well, you’re in a position to take care of your family financially.
“But then I fell in love with nickel, and now I’m back at safety. I don’t know if I’m that person who can specialize in just one thing. I’ve prayed about it. That’s just not who I am.”
Manning has moved back and forth enough to give anyone motion sickness. He started his career at free safety, moved to right cornerback, then to nickel back and back to free safety along with nickel this season. Not to mention Manning has seized kickoff return duties from Devin Hester.
Has Manning’s versatility stunted his growth? The same question could be posed about a handful of versatile Bears.
What if Israel Idonije had focused strictly on being a defensive end? Would he have jump-started the pass rush last season?
What if Jamar Williams had worked solely at strong-side linebacker upon becoming a Bear? Would that have kept the team from going out to get Pisa Tinoisamoa?
What if Devin Hester had started his career as a wide receiver? Would there be no question about his ability to be a No.1 target?
“It can hurt the player, playing so many roles, but once he settles into it, he’s more advanced than anybody out there,” Hester said. “You need guys on your roster like that.”
Hester says that, outside of himself, no versatile Bear has it tougher than Manning.
The coaches trusted the former second-round pick enough to switch him back to free safety ahead of second-year pro Craig Steltz as camp began. Manning, slowed by a hamstring injury, is eager to show he can master both roles, even if some doubt his instincts.
“I have faith in myself, but I can’t stop opinions people might have about me,” he said. “I’ll say this: If I couldn’t pick this stuff up, why am I still here? Why am I still in the starting lineup? I’m here for a reason.”
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Bears’ other do-it-all guys
DEVIN HESTER Has been a wide receiver, punt returner, kickoff returner, cornerback
*Current positions: Wide receiver, punt returner.
*Most success: As a returner, with 11 punt and kickoff returns for scores.
*Hester’s take: “You have to be the type of guy that can do whatever. … I was given the opportunity to do something [play receiver], and I feel like I’m doing a good job at it and will only get better.”
ISRAEL IDONIJE Has been a left defensive end, nose tackle, defensive tackle, right end, four-phase special teams player
*Current position: Defensive tackle (with Tommie Harris limited during camp).
*Most success: On special teams, with four career blocked kicks.
*Idonije’s take: “My versatility has been what’s kept me in the game. Obviously if you are able to focus on one spot, your gains would be better. But if you’re not locked into a starting role, you have to be able to do more.”
JAMAR WILLIAMS Has been at all three linebacker spots, four-phase special teams player
Current positions: Strong-side linebacker, special teams.
Most success: On special teams, recording 30 tackles the last two seasons.
Williams’ take: “At linebacker, being versatile and playing all three spots is a great thing because you never know who’s going to go down. But it does hurt you a little bit because you can’t work on one particular technique.”
— Vaughn McClure
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vxmcclure@tribune.com
