BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- Undrafted rookie free agent Dom DeCicco could be in the mix for the sixth linebacker spot on the Chicago Bears final 53-man roster.
The Bears generally break camp with six linebackers, but right now only four or five positions are secure: Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs, Nick Roach, Brian Iwuh and probably rookie sixth-round draft choice J.T. Thomas. Thomas, however, has been sidelined with a few injuries in the opening weeks of training camp.
The club continues to keep tabs on Pisa Tinoisamoa, but the veteran is still recovering from offseason knee surgery and is doubtful to be 100 percent by the start of the regular season.
If the club opts to fill the void at linebacker in-house, then DeCicco has three more preseason games to further impress the coaching staff.
"Of course we want to see a little more of J.T. Thomas, but Dom DeCicco has done a good job at the middle linebacker spot filling in," Bears head coach Lovie Smith said.
"He played well on special teams (against Buffalo)," Smith said. "We had a few guys play well on special teams, but he was one of them."
DeCicco, who played safety for much of his career at Pittsburgh, did transition to linebacker in the second half of the 2010 season. He made a pre-visit to Chicago and caught the eye of Bears linebackers coach Bob Babich, who happens to be a native of Pennsylvania and a former Pitt assistant coach.
DeCicco was the Bears’ second-leading tackler in the preseason opener versus the Buffalo Bills with four stops.
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap.
Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
His scouting report kind of puts to rest any thoughts that despite his college career as a Safety that he may be the second coming of Brian Uralcher. Not good in pass coverage and lacks the range of a sideline to sideline player. Maybe another Tim Shaw type ST guy though.
A big, thickly built safety who simply lacks the kind of fluidity and balance needed to play in an NFL secondary. Really struggles any time he's asked to cover in man as he consistently loses his balance into contact and is really stiff when asked to turn and run. Looks top heavy in his drop and although he does a decent job of keeping his feet under him, struggles to cleanly redirect and is routinely forced to bail out of his back-pedal, turn his back to the play and then locate/track the football.
Now, he does have some pop as a tackler and will attack the line of scrimmage with some vengeance. However, he's too often clipped and easily knocked off balance by downfield blockers in pursuit and simply lacks the kind of range to quickly close sideline-to-sideline in all areas of the game.
Impression: Possesses good size and above-average overall instincts, but he simply lacks the athleticism and overall range to hold up in coverage in an NFL secondary. Will likely be looked at more as an undersized outside linebacker and special teams guy.
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap.
Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
BOURBONNAIS — Dom DeCicco hasn't asked the question to Brian Urlacher yet, even though he's attempting to do the same thing the seven-time Pro Bowl middle linebacker accomplished.
DeCicco, an undrafted free agent from Pittsburgh, is making the transition from college safety to NFL linebacker, a move that's going well so far. Urlacher made the switch as a first-round pick from New Mexico in 2000.
The coaching staff has praised DeCicco for his quick understanding of the defense, and he also has stood out on special teams. That increases the chances he will stick on the 53-man roster if the Bears keep at least six linebackers to start the season, as they have every year under coach Lovie Smith.
"I just try to mind my own business, but Urlacher has been great and he's always willing to help," DeCicco said. "I haven't asked him yet."
DeCicco has to learn to play with his hands to ward off blockers. At 6-foot-4, 230 pounds, he was oversized at safety. He picked the Bears from seven or eight teams that had interest, and now he and sixth-round pick J.T. Thomas both could stick. Thomas (hip) returned to practice Wednesday after a few days off.
Nevertheless, the Bears are looking for help. They made a waiver claim for 49ers linebacker Thaddeus Gibson, but the Ohio State product was awarded to the Redskins. They could turn during the season to veteran Pisa Tinoisamoa, who likely will be recovered from knee surgery by October.
"I really haven't looked that far ahead," DeCicco said. "I'm just looking at what I can control and busting my butt on special teams and defense when I am in there."
In the running:Chester Taylor played only six snaps in the exhibition opener against the Bills, but offensive coordinator Mike Martz had nothing but high praise for the veteran running back.
"Chester is having a heck of a camp,'' Martz said. "He has lost some weight. He's in great shape. We have a good situation going.''
Most figure Taylor, who is due $1.25 million this season, will be the odd man out with the addition of Marion Barber and the solid play of Kahlil Bell out of the backfield and on special teams.
Extra points: With Anthony Adams (calf) and Zack Bowman (mild concussion) already sitting out, the Bears had a couple more casualties Wednesday. Urlacher (general soreness), Lance Louis (ill), Lance Briggs (undisclosed) and Devin Hester (undisclosed) were rested for the majority of the day, with Hester not even suiting up and Louis leaving the practice field. … Receiver Earl Bennett appeared to have a violent collision with a safety over the middle, but Bennett shook it off. … The Bears waived offensive tackle Mike Lamphear, an undrafted rookie from Western Illinois.
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Rookie linebacker Dom DeCicco played safety in college at Pittsburgh. (Jonathan Daniel/Getty photo)
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