Marinelli: throw them all in there & make 'em battle each other

We've got a gem in Marinelli. This is a good article worth reading regarding our CB situation.

It used to be we didn't see as much competition for positions. There was an unhealthy mindset that certain players could just go through the motions and they'd have a protected starting job. This has really changed on offense AND defense. I see great competition, people battling & giving it max effort. The offensive line positions are hotly contested too this year. And I believe players will have to CONTINUE to perform all-out to KEEP their positions during the season. Slackers will be benched for the next guy who WILL give all-out effort on every snap. Every play.

This is great for the team. It brings out the best in everyone.

Love it. And I sure enjoy Marinelli too.

Quote:

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LINK to the article

Jay Taft: Tim Jennings wants his spot back on Chicago Bears


LAKE FOREST — After multiple subpar performances, Tim Jennings was benched late last season. But the veteran cornerback returned to finish strong against Minnesota in the season finale, and has spent the offseason building himself back up to be a starter once again.


With organized team activities (OTAs) out of the way, and next week’s mandatory mini-camp on the horizon, his sights are set on revamping his reputation.


“Oh yeah, most definitely. You’ve seen the moves they’ve made in the offseason. They brought in some corners. We drafted two more. There’s a lot of talent here,” Jennings said. “It’s just going to have to make me step up my game a little bit more and get me to go out there and continue to work hard and get better at some things.”


One of those things is securing turnovers. Jennings has just seven picks in his six-year career, and he had two slip through his hands in the second half of the season last year.


The Bears originally signed Jennings away from the Colts to be their third cornerback, but he immediately beat out Zack Bowman and started 28 of his first 30 games with Chicago. After what Jennings called his worst stretch as a pro, the Bears benched him for the Christmas Day loss at Green Bay, but he returned with a team-high eight tackles in the season finale at Minnesota.


Jennings will now be challenged from Tuesday until the end of training camp for his starting spot. The Bears signed free-agent corners Kelvin Hayden and Jonathan Wilhite through free agency, and then added late-round draft picks Isaiah Frey and Greg McCoy for needed depth.


After Bowman was released and Corey Graham signed as a free-agent with Baltimore, the Bears are going to rely on the young guys. If Jennings can return to his old form, and become a strong compliment to Pro Bowler Charles Tillman, they won’t have to rely on them quite as much.

“We’re going to throw them all in there this summer,” defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli said,
“and make them battle each other.
That will only make th.em better, and make us better.”

Jennings believes he’s already better. But he also knows he’s still got to show that to the right people.


“Nothing is set in stone. They already told me heads up that I’m still going to go out there and compete for a starting job,” Jennings added. “So I have to go out there and compete each and every day and improve, and let the coaches know that if I’m not their guy, they’re going to make the decision, but I want to make it tough for them.


“I don’t plan on letting this opportunity slip by.”


Jay Taft covers the Chicago Bears for the Rockford Register Star. He can be reached at 815-987-1384 or jtaft@rrstar.com.

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We always talk about projects and competition on the offensive line. It would be just as nice if someone came it virtually out of the shadows and earned a CB spot.

Across the board this seems to have been Emery plan during the offseason. He's brought in a lot of experienced vets to compete with the current guys and the rookies for spots on the roster and those coveted starting spots.

A few weeks ago Tom Thayer brought this up in relationship to the Oline. With the exception of Carimi all of the top guys competing for positions are vets with starting experience either with the Bears or elsewhere. Then you also have a highly regarded rookie like James Brown in the mix. There's gonna be some great battles for those top 5 spots.

The defense has a lot of the same going on. Emery brought in vets like Wilhite and Hayden to press Jenning as provide some experienced depth. Geno Hayes comes in to compete with Roach at SLB and guys like McCargo and Pressley were brought in to add vet competition on the Dline.

Thomas and Weems are gonna challenge Sanz for that #5 WR spot and Blanchard will go toe to toe with Enderle for the developmental QB role and even the possibility of a roster spot later in the year if they decide they can live without McCown.

So both the depth and the competition for starting spots should be much better this year than in the past. There will probably be less in the way or skills separating a starter from his backup so that anyone whose play slips is in danger of sitting one out or maybe even sitting the rest of the season out. I like the way they're going about this.

It seems like we have a really solid coaching staff. Lovie is much better now than he was in earlier years too. If Emery can supply the talent, this team should be a class franchise for many seasons to come.

Coaches are solid, and for once we have what looks like depth that can actually push the starters; it's been awhile. And one of the reasons the Bears have had issues getting back to the SB since getting there last.