technical details
  1. is_video => true
  2. alias => "chicago\/\/bears\/postcards-camp-bears-matt-nagy-understands-what-coaching-interns-are-going-through"
  3. nid => "680121"
  4. title => "Postcards from Camp: Bears Matt Nagy understands what coaching interns are going through"
  5. is_chrome_page => false
  6. article_body => "<p>BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- <em>Dear Stacey \u2013<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Well, I wanted to be head coach of the Chicago Bears and here I am, in charge of my first training camp, worrying about everything from Mitch Trubisky\u2019s RPO footwork to whether Kyle Long is going to fall off his bike sometime in the course of camp. Probably don\u2019t need to worry about Kyle \u2013 he\u2019s always so safe about everything, and it\u2019s not like he\u2019s had all kinds of surgeries or anyth-- \u2026.oh, wait, nevermind\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Besides all of that, we\u2019ve got six coaches here as part of the Bill Walsh diversity coaching fellowship.&nbsp;They\u2019re seeing how we do things and helping us out, and this is special. Remember back in Philadelphia when Andy Reid brought me into this profession through that program? Now it\u2019s 11 years later and here I am, and this really represents a little pay-it-forward for me \u2013 I can understand where these coaches are because that was me once upon a time. Somebody gave each one of us a break that helped us along the way so our staff is more than delighted to have these fellows here.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Everybody was really pleased that some of our top vets \u2013 Mitch Trubisky, Allen Robinson, Chase Daniel, others \u2013 came down to camp early when the rookies reported. The coaches didn\u2019t order that, and it says something about what you hope is forming inside the locker room. The young guys see the No. 1 quarterback and the No. 1 wide receiver coming in early and it sets both a standard and an example. When your best players are your hardest workers, then you\u2019ve really got some leadership.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>The pads\u2019ll be on tomorrow (Saturday) so we\u2019ll start seeing hitting by the fronts on both sides of the football, which takes the speed of everything up a notch. I\u2019m going to pay close attention to how everyone is performing but also to how they\u2019re holding up physically \u2013 circumstances set up beautifully for us, with an extra minicamp because I\u2019m a new coach, then an extra practice week to go with the extra game Aug. 2 for the Hall of Fame.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Hope you and the boys are getting all the Chicago arrangements in place. Now, if I can just find my sunblock before practice\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Your coach husband,<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Matt<\/em><\/p>\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *<\/p>\n<p><strong>In search of an empty sick bay<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>After the obvious workload entailed in installing a new offensive system and coaching regime, Matt Nagy\u2019s No. 1 concern is injury, which has plagued the Bears on an annual basis since the 2012 departure of Lovie Smith. So while Mike Ditka and Dave Wannstedt once made no secret of their approach using epically physical practices as a means of culling the roster, Nagy has laid out a balancing act between physical practices and knowing when to back off.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe biggest thing that any coach in the&nbsp;NFL&nbsp;will tell you is that you want to come out healthy,\u201d Nagy said. \u201cThat\u2019s a big one. So you have to know where you\u2019re at on that one. You have to have some luck involved in that. There\u2019s some unfortunate injuries and there\u2019s some that happen for certain reasons. Health is the biggest concern for us.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Sadly, some position competitions and lineup decisions are inevitably dictated by injuries. A season-ending leg injury to Kevin White in 2016 opened a starting job for Cameron Meredith, who\u2019d been the No. 5 wideout on the depth chart. Meredith\u2019s own preseason season-ender made Deonte Thompson a starter. Safety Adrian Amos had fallen from two-year starter to backup by this time last year, and only started again because Quintin Demps suffered a fractured forearm in Week 3.<\/p>\n<p>If there is a major health positive right now, it is that three pivotal starters \u2013 linebacker Leonard Floyd, guard Kyle Long, wide receiver Allen Robinson \u2013 all approach the start of practices fully cleared. Those represent two Pro Bowl players (Long, Robinson) and one the Bears expect to be (Floyd).<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOne of the traits we look for in players is durability and availability,\u201d said GM Ryan Pace. \u201cLeonard is a very talented player with a lot of natural pass rush ability. But in order for him to reach that production, he needs to be on the field. I know he\u2019s worked a lot on his body, he\u2019s worked a lot on his techniques, so we just feel that if he can stay healthy, the production\u2019s going to be there.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *<\/p>\n<p><strong>Weather or not\u2026.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Matt Nagy\u2019s first practice as Bears coach came under a cloud \u2013 literally \u2013 as the threat of rain and thunderstorms had the team waiting until the last minute to determine whether the session would be held on an outdoor field as planned or indoors at a gymnasium on the campus of Olivet Nazarene University.<\/p>\n<p>*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; *<\/p>\n<p><strong>The outlook for Roquan Smith when he signs\u2026.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Training camp has begun without the presence of No. 1 pick Roquan Smith as his agents and the Bears work out contract details. Few expect a protracted impasse and Smith\u2019s development may be delayed but unlikely denied. Smith had been cycled in with the No. 1 defense, as were a number of the top newcomers to the \u201918 Bears. That process is expected to resume whenever Smith\u2019s deal is concluded.<\/p>\n<p>Extended holdouts are never positive, for either side, but are not necessarily career-impacting. Quarterback Cade McNown missed the initial 11 days of his first (1999) training camp, eventually started, but whether because of shoulder injuries or talent shortcomings, or both, never played to his status as the 11th-overall pick. Cedric Benson\u2019s rookie&nbsp;season (2005) was dramatically undermined by his 36-day holdout, but he had two more seasons after that and needed a move to Cincinnati where he averaged more than 1,000 yards over four Bengals seasons.<\/p>\n<p>Defensive end Joey Bosa missed the first four weeks of the Chargers\u2019 2016 camp, then missed four weeks with a hamstring injury, but came off of that to be named defensive rookie of the month for October and finish with 10.5 sacks and defensive rookie of the year honors.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n"
  7. author => "John Mullin"
  8. mps => {"author":"John Mullin","league":"","sport":"","sponsor":""}
  9. published => "1532113620"
  10. created => "1532113648"
  11. changed => "1532294495"
  12. status => "1"
  13. hero_image_credit => "NBC Sports Chicago"
  14. tags => [{"tid":"30861","name":"Matt Nagy","url":"matt-nagy"},{"tid":"1241","name":"Chicago Bears","url":"chicago-bears"}]
  15. section => "Bears"
  16. team => "Chicago Bears"
  17. image => {"uri":"public:\/\/archive\/assets_article\/chicago\/2018\/07\/20\/07-21_peter_king_with_bug_1920x1080_1282667587848.jpg","alt":"07-21_peter_king_with_bug_1920x1080_1282667587848.jpg","title":"Peter King weighs in on the 2018 Bears"}
  18. video_url => "https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/chicago\/video\/peter-king-weighs-2018-bears"
  19. is_mediaid => true
  20. mediaid => "cuPuhgznYhst"
  21. video_autoplay => true
  22. video_automute => false
  23. mpx_account_id => "BxmELC"
  24. player_id => "chicago_article"
  25. chrome_data => "{\"league\":\"\",\"sport\":\"\",\"sponsor\":\"\"}"
  26. sponsor => ""
  27. region => "chicago"
  28. fb_url => "https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/dialog\/share?app_id=330072974228200&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcsports.com%2Fchicago%2Fbears%2Fpostcards-camp-bears-matt-nagy-understands-what-coaching-interns-are-going-through&display=popup"
  29. tw_url => "https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=Postcards%20from%20Camp%3A%20Bears%20Matt%20Nagy%20understands%20what%20coaching%20interns%20are%20going%20through&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcsports.com%2Fchicago%2Fbears%2Fpostcards-camp-bears-matt-nagy-understands-what-coaching-interns-are-going-through&original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcsports.com%2Fchicago%2Fbears%2Fpostcards-camp-bears-matt-nagy-understands-what-coaching-interns-are-going-through"
  30. mailto => "mailto:?subject=Postcards%20from%20Camp%3A%20Bears%20Matt%20Nagy%20understands%20what%20coaching%20interns%20are%20going%20through&body=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcsports.com%2Fchicago%2Fbears%2Fpostcards-camp-bears-matt-nagy-understands-what-coaching-interns-are-going-through"
  31. tags_hide => []
  32. type => "article"
  33. meta => {"file":"\/mnt\/gfs\/rsnunited\/sites\/default\/files\/archive\/article\/chicago\/bears\/postcards-camp-bears-matt-nagy-understands-what-coaching-interns-are-going-through.json","assets":["public:\/\/archive\/assets_article\/chicago\/2018\/07\/20\/07-21_peter_king_with_bug_1920x1080_1282667587848.jpg"]}
  34. orig_image => {"uri":"public:\/\/2018\/07\/21\/07-21_peter_king_with_bug_1920x1080_1282667587848.jpg","alt":"07-21_peter_king_with_bug_1920x1080_1282667587848.jpg","title":"Peter King weighs in on the 2018 Bears"}
  35. article_type => "article"
Bears

Bears

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- Dear Stacey –

Well, I wanted to be head coach of the Chicago Bears and here I am, in charge of my first training camp, worrying about everything from Mitch Trubisky’s RPO footwork to whether Kyle Long is going to fall off his bike sometime in the course of camp. Probably don’t need to worry about Kyle – he’s always so safe about everything, and it’s not like he’s had all kinds of surgeries or anyth-- ….oh, wait, nevermind…

Besides all of that, we’ve got six coaches here as part of the Bill Walsh diversity coaching fellowship. They’re seeing how we do things and helping us out, and this is special. Remember back in Philadelphia when Andy Reid brought me into this profession through that program? Now it’s 11 years later and here I am, and this really represents a little pay-it-forward for me – I can understand where these coaches are because that was me once upon a time. Somebody gave each one of us a break that helped us along the way so our staff is more than delighted to have these fellows here.

Everybody was really pleased that some of our top vets – Mitch Trubisky, Allen Robinson, Chase Daniel, others – came down to camp early when the rookies reported. The coaches didn’t order that, and it says something about what you hope is forming inside the locker room. The young guys see the No. 1 quarterback and the No. 1 wide receiver coming in early and it sets both a standard and an example. When your best players are your hardest workers, then you’ve really got some leadership.

 

The pads’ll be on tomorrow (Saturday) so we’ll start seeing hitting by the fronts on both sides of the football, which takes the speed of everything up a notch. I’m going to pay close attention to how everyone is performing but also to how they’re holding up physically – circumstances set up beautifully for us, with an extra minicamp because I’m a new coach, then an extra practice week to go with the extra game Aug. 2 for the Hall of Fame.

Hope you and the boys are getting all the Chicago arrangements in place. Now, if I can just find my sunblock before practice…

Your coach husband,

Matt

*                          *                          *

In search of an empty sick bay

After the obvious workload entailed in installing a new offensive system and coaching regime, Matt Nagy’s No. 1 concern is injury, which has plagued the Bears on an annual basis since the 2012 departure of Lovie Smith. So while Mike Ditka and Dave Wannstedt once made no secret of their approach using epically physical practices as a means of culling the roster, Nagy has laid out a balancing act between physical practices and knowing when to back off.

“The biggest thing that any coach in the NFL will tell you is that you want to come out healthy,” Nagy said. “That’s a big one. So you have to know where you’re at on that one. You have to have some luck involved in that. There’s some unfortunate injuries and there’s some that happen for certain reasons. Health is the biggest concern for us.”

Sadly, some position competitions and lineup decisions are inevitably dictated by injuries. A season-ending leg injury to Kevin White in 2016 opened a starting job for Cameron Meredith, who’d been the No. 5 wideout on the depth chart. Meredith’s own preseason season-ender made Deonte Thompson a starter. Safety Adrian Amos had fallen from two-year starter to backup by this time last year, and only started again because Quintin Demps suffered a fractured forearm in Week 3.

If there is a major health positive right now, it is that three pivotal starters – linebacker Leonard Floyd, guard Kyle Long, wide receiver Allen Robinson – all approach the start of practices fully cleared. Those represent two Pro Bowl players (Long, Robinson) and one the Bears expect to be (Floyd).

“One of the traits we look for in players is durability and availability,” said GM Ryan Pace. “Leonard is a very talented player with a lot of natural pass rush ability. But in order for him to reach that production, he needs to be on the field. I know he’s worked a lot on his body, he’s worked a lot on his techniques, so we just feel that if he can stay healthy, the production’s going to be there.”

 

*                          *                          *

Weather or not….

Matt Nagy’s first practice as Bears coach came under a cloud – literally – as the threat of rain and thunderstorms had the team waiting until the last minute to determine whether the session would be held on an outdoor field as planned or indoors at a gymnasium on the campus of Olivet Nazarene University.

*                          *                          *

The outlook for Roquan Smith when he signs….

Training camp has begun without the presence of No. 1 pick Roquan Smith as his agents and the Bears work out contract details. Few expect a protracted impasse and Smith’s development may be delayed but unlikely denied. Smith had been cycled in with the No. 1 defense, as were a number of the top newcomers to the ’18 Bears. That process is expected to resume whenever Smith’s deal is concluded.

Extended holdouts are never positive, for either side, but are not necessarily career-impacting. Quarterback Cade McNown missed the initial 11 days of his first (1999) training camp, eventually started, but whether because of shoulder injuries or talent shortcomings, or both, never played to his status as the 11th-overall pick. Cedric Benson’s rookie season (2005) was dramatically undermined by his 36-day holdout, but he had two more seasons after that and needed a move to Cincinnati where he averaged more than 1,000 yards over four Bengals seasons.

Defensive end Joey Bosa missed the first four weeks of the Chargers’ 2016 camp, then missed four weeks with a hamstring injury, but came off of that to be named defensive rookie of the month for October and finish with 10.5 sacks and defensive rookie of the year honors.