Fields and the offense exhibit some fire
Ngakoue signs contract with team
The Chicago Bears were back in full pads Saturday morning at Halas Hall for the third time this training camp. The two-hour practice was a spirited session, and the offensive starters had a better day. The Bears will be in full pads again Sunday at Soldier Field for Family Fest. Here are the highlights from Saturday and a rundown of what we learned from interviews with general manager Ryan Poles, defensive coordinator Alan Williams and players.
News of the day
General manager Ryan Poles joked that no matter where he found himself over the summer — even on a beach in Maui — Bears fans were there urging him to sign a defensive end. That finally happened Friday when Yannick Ngakoue passed his physical and signed a one-year, $10.5 million deal.
Ngakoue left town to get his affairs in order so he wasn’t on the practice field. But he is expected to practice Tuesday — the Bears are off Monday. Poles traveled a long road to finalize a deal with Ngakoue, a player the Bears had been in communication dating to the spring.
“We’ve been in this for a long time,” Poles said. “There’s a level of patience that you have to make sound decisions. That’s probably the biggest lesson of the last two years — patience and letting things happen. There’s times we’re going to hit the gas and sometimes you want to hit the brake.
“This one, we wanted to be patient and make sure both sides (were) comfortable with what was going on. It’s been really cool to see our front and secondary making a lot of plays, having energy, making plays on the ball. You really see that thing coming together. And this
(signing) is going to enhance it.”
Coach Matt Eberflus said Friday that he views Ngakoue as an “every-down end,” and Williams doubled down on that.
“He’ll be just fine,” Williams said. “He can choke a guy out. Believe me about that. That’s our first thing. We are going to stop the run and we are going to earn the right to rush the passer. He’ll be part of that too.”
Personnel men with other teams have described Ngakoue as a designated pass rusher, but it’s evident the Bears are going to ask him to do more. The Bears were 32nd in the league in sacks last season and 31st against the run, allowing 157.3 yards per game.
“I don’t think he gets enough credit for doing what he does in the run game,” Williams said. “If you look at the tape, he has been productive — productive enough to win football games.”
Justin Fields watch
Fields and the starting offense had a choppy 11-on-11 period at the start of practice but they gained momentum from there. Fields connected with Velus Jones Jr. in between zone coverage down the left sideline in 7-on-7, one of his best throws of the day. He also tried rookie Tyler Scott on a go route with Tyrique Stevenson in coverage. It was incomplete but there have been days when intermediate passes — such as the one to Jones — and this deep shot have been scarce. He seemed perhaps more willing to cut it loose Saturday.
Fields directed a drive for a field goal in an “end of the first half ” possession, putting the team in position for a 48-yard kick by Andre Szmyt. He hit tight end Cole Kmet on a dump-off and then completed out routes to DJ Moore and Equanimeous St. Brown. The big play came on a 17-yard strike to Jones on an in-breaking route.
Player in the spotlight
Marcedes Lewis was introduced to media after practice and discussed preparing for an 18th NFL season. He projects primarily as a blocking tight end in the running game, and it’s clear the Bears also are looking for him to provide an element of leadership.
Tight end Robert Tonyan credited Lewis for teaching him “seriously everything” about playing the position in the NFL while they were in Green Bay. Tonyan was a quarterback and wide receiver in college.
“That was the person that took me under his wing,” Tonyan said.
Lewis said Tonyan and regular conversations with offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, whom he knows from the Packers, convinced him this was the team to sign with. Lewis had options, and Aaron Rodgers tried to lure him to New York, but the Jets are flush with tight ends.
So why keep going?
“I came into the league and I thought 10 (years) was going to be great, you know what I mean?” Lewis said. “Like, ‘Oh this is a great career. I can take this, go back to the crib, you’re good, family’s good.’ Once I hit 10, it was like, ‘Hmm, my body still feels good. Let’s see if I can get 12.’ Get 12, ‘OKk, well let’s see if I can get 15.’ Get 15, I’m like, ‘Dang, this is crazy.’ Then after a while I just stopped questioning.”
It sounds as if the young roster around Lewis, who is 39, could be an energizing factor.
“One thing I’ve always been attracted to are young guys that understand that they don’t know it all,” Lewis said. “Even me being older, I still don’t know it all. I still want to learn. That’s what keeps me hungry, and when you find you guys that feel the same way, you want to pore into them. And I’ve always been like that. When it’s like that, it’s more of a two-way street.”