Bears' Hayes steps into starting linebacker role

http://www.nwherald.com/2012/08/14/b...mmgyic/?page=1

Bears' Hayes steps into starting linebacker role

By TOM MUSICK – tmusick@shawmedia.com Created: Tuesday, August 14, 2012 11:58 p.m. CDT
Updated: Wednesday, August 15, 2012 12:19 a.m. CDT


BOURBONNAIS – Geno Hayes fit the profile when the Bears searched the free-agent market for someone who could serve as a reliable insurance policy at linebacker. Now, the Bears’ foresight is paying off.
Hayes, 25, has stepped into a starting role at strong-side linebacker heading into the Bears’ second preseason game Saturday against the Washington Redskins. He will take on the job formerly filled by Nick Roach, who moved to middle linebacker to replace injured teammate Brian Urlacher for at least a couple of weeks.
“Brian’s going to be healthy,” Hayes said before Tuesday’s practice. “He’s going to fight through it. I’m not really worried about that. But it is a good opportunity to get out there with the first-team defense and get some reps with the older guys and the guys who have been experienced in the system to get an understanding of it.”
Bears coach Lovie Smith said he was impressed with Hayes, who started 42 of 56 games in four seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before joining the Bears.
“Geno has played a lot of football before he got here,” Smith said. “Coming in, you wanted to get good, quality backups. A good, quality backup is a guy that’s played and started in the league. We’re pleased with what he’s done.”
Step one: The Bears will play their first two regular-season games in a span of five days, which has caused some to wonder whether Urlacher will be able to play both games.
After all, Urlacher’s knee swelled up after only a few days of practice and forced him to undergo arthroscopic surgery. How will his damaged knee respond to a Sunday game against Indianapolis followed by a Thursday game against Green Bay?
“We’re talking about Week 1,” Smith said. “You’re jumping ahead quite a bit. Again, our plan is to have him ready for that, and there’s no reason to think he won’t be.”
Surprise: Bears defensive tackle Henry Melton said he was caught off guard when he heard that Urlacher required surgery to repair damage in his knee.
The Bears frequently rest their prized veterans during training camp, so Melton thought that the coaching staff simply was being careful to protect Urlacher.




“I had no idea what was going on,” Melton said. “I thought he was just relaxing, honestly. Just hanging out. But I guess it was a little more serious than that. I hope he gets better.”
Bears bits: Safety Chris Conte intercepted several passes during Tuesday’s practice, including a pick in the end zone. … J’Marcus Webb and Chris Williams continued to share first-team repetitions at left tackle as both players compete for a starting job.
OUTBOX
Training camp: Day 20
Play of the day: The Bears practiced in shorts and shells, which led to an uneventful session. Devin Hester broke up the monotony by fielding a punt one-handed, which elicited a cheer from the crowd and smiles from his teammates.
Quote of the day: “We think Nick can play winning football.” – Bears linebackers coach Bob Babich on Nick Roach, temporary replacement for Brian Urlacher
Injuries: Urlacher (knee), Stephen Paea (ankle), Dom DeCicco (groin) and Chilo Rachal (soreness) remained out because of injuries
Next up: Off today; practice at 2 p.m. Thursday

Could wind up being more important than we ever thought and it's good to know he has alot of experience. He ain't gonna go out there and wet his pants .

Here's another article with a little more poop on Hayes. He's a little on the small side but he's fast, has good range, can cover and he's a good tackler so I see him as a better fit for the Bears than he might have been elsewhere.

This article triggered a thought. Under this new CBA all rookies will become UFA in their 5th year just like Hayes did. This represents a golden opportunity for the Bears to restock certain positions on the fly with young vets who are released by their former team. In many instances that may have nothing to do with whether or not a guy is a good football player.

In Hayes case the Bucs had a coaching change and were abandoning their Tampa-2 defense so Hayes was most likely no longer a fit in the eyes of the new coaching staff so they don't re-sign him. As time goes by I think we'll see a lot of guys like him that Emery may target as free agents.

With the cost of top level players sky rocketing and the cap expanding at a snail's pace rookies and cheap young vets will become even more important cogs as the building blocks of a team. I think we'll see a lot more of Geno Hayes' type come through the doors of Halas Hall in the future.


Fleet LB Geno Hayes is a downhill racer

By Mark Potash mpotash@suntimes.com August 15, 2012 8:44PM
http://www.suntimes.com/csp/cms/site...YPE=image/jpeg TAMPA, FL - CIRCA 2011: In this handout image provided by the NFL, Geno Hayes of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers poses for his NFL headshot circa 2011 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by NFL via Getty Images)


The irony wasn’t lost on Geno Hayes. A year ago, the Bears were the root of his demise with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Now they’re a golden opportunity to revive his NFL career.

‘‘It was a blessing in disguise,’’ the fifth-year linebacker said of his falling out at Tampa Bay, where he started 42 games the previous three seasons. ‘‘I’m happy to be here. [The Buccaneers] said they wanted to go in a different direction.’’

Hayes might not know what went wrong with the Buccaneers, but he knows when it started to unravel. Against the Bears at Wembley Stadium in London last season, the strong-side linebacker was blocked by Matt Spaeth to spring Matt Forte and Marion Barber for long gains as the Bears rushed for 177 yards in a 24-18 victory.

He was benched the next three games. And though he started the last six, it was clear as the Bucs’ season spun out of control that Hayes wasn’t in their plans for 2012. ‘‘I don’t know what happened,’’ Hayes said. ‘‘After [the Bears game], a lot of stuff went left-right. We weren’t on the same page.’’

Hayes, a sixth-round pick from Florida State in 2008, is playing in a defense he says he was ‘‘born and bred’’ to play. And with Brian Urlacher out indefinitely, Hayes is getting first-team reps at strong-side linebacker.

‘‘In Tampa, our linebackers were more side-to-side guys,’’ Hayes said. ‘‘Here, this is something I was born and bred to be: a downhill player. ... This right here is downhill, baby — TFLs.’’ That’s tackles for loss, which the fleet Hayes specializes in.

always good to know that you have some kind of depth on the Roster. Hayes could start for us if needed. Guys like Thomas or DeCicco couldn't as of now.

Good catch/read Soul