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INDIANAPOLIS -- Here at the NFL scouting combine, we learned that new Chicago Bears coach Marc Trestman isn't a fan of providing offseason specifics about his plans for the roster. So when Trestman declined to say what position former first-round draft pick Shea McClellin will play in 2013, it was difficult to know if he was simply following policy or if McClellin might actually be moved from defensive end to linebacker or some mix in between.

On the surface, it wouldn't make much sense to use McClellin as an outside linebacker in the 4-3 we're assuming the Bears will play. He is a pass-rusher first and foremost, and the two premier pass-rushing positions in the NFL are as an end in the 4-3 and an outside linebacker in the 3-4.

The Bears are planning a 4-3 base defense under new defensive coordinator Mel Tucker. So would the Bears really use McClellin as a linebacker in the 4-3, where his role would be to play over the tight end and rush the passer only in blitz situations?

I ran the idea past Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc., who was more open to the idea than me. Williamson noted how the Denver Broncos use Von Miller as a strong-side linebacker in their base 4-3 scheme and move him to defensive end in sub packages. Given that most NFL teams playing their base scheme on less than half of their snaps, a similar approach would give McClellin plenty of opportunities to rush the passer.

"Miller obviously is one of the truly elite defenders in the league," Williamson said, "but he too plays the strong side in their 4-3 and then lines up at DE in sub packages. Denver also is rather multiple and can switch things up pre-snap. Maybe the Bears take such an approach with McClellin? I can buy that."

This isn't to compare McClellin to Miller as much as it is note there are plenty of ways to use a player in an alternate position while limiting exposure to his presumed weaknesses. Like everyone, Williamson said he would have concerns if and when McClellin were asked to "turn and run" with tight ends such as the Green Bay Packers' Jermichael Finley and the Minnesota Vikings' Kyle Rudolph. It would be on Tucker to limit those possibilities and maximize McClellin's pass-rushing skills. It's worth an offseason conversation, if nothing else. Your thoughts?

CHICAGO -- With a little over an hour remaining before Packers-Bears II, let's roll through Sunday morning's roster maneuverings and a few other pregame notes. The Chicago Bears will be even more short-handed than originally thought.

• The Bears deactivated defensive tackle Henry Melton (chest), as expected, but they also won't have linebacker Geno Hayes (knee), who was supposed to start at strong-side linebacker. Special-teamer Blake Costanzo will likely get the first NFL start of his pro career.
• The Bears also added defensive lineman Shea McClellin (knee) to a list of inactives that also included cornerback Tim Jennings and receiver Earl Bennett.
• The Green Bay Packers will have right guard Josh Sitton, who was added to the injury report because of a hip injury on Friday. He is active and presumably will start.
• Packers receiver Donald Driver is inactive because of a thumb injury he has been dealing with. Young receivers Jarrett Boykin and Jeremy Ross are both active.
• Amazingly, I've been asked several times Sunday morning if the Packers cut tight end Jermichael Finley. They have not cut Finley. He is active for this game. I assume what confused people is Bob McGinn's Sunday analysis in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel which suggested the Packers will part ways with Finley in the OFFSEASON. We'll hit that topic in Monday's Free Head Exam.

A few Saturday afternoon updates before starting the trek to Detroit:

• The Detroit Lions have activated cornerback Drayton Florence from short-term injured reserve and created a roster spot by placing safety Amari Spievey (concussion) on injured reserve. Florence will play Sunday against the Green Bay Packers. Meanwhile, it's fair to question Spievey's future. He's not ready to resume playing a month after suffering a concussion. Last season, a concussion he suffered in the playoffs did not clear until spring practice.
• The Chicago Bears have ruled out three players from Monday night's game against the San Francisco 49ers. We already knew about quarterback Jay Cutler and defensive end Shea McClellin, both of whom have concussions. The Bears also won't have defensive tackle Matt Toeaina (toe). Everyone else will be available, including receiver Alshon Jeffery (hand).
• Former Bears coach and current ESPN analyst Mike Ditka, who suffered a minor stroke Friday, is hoping to be released from the hospital in time to watch Sunday's games.

Let's take a quick look inside the Friday injury report:

Chicago Bears: Because they play Monday, the Bears won't provide game designations until Saturday. But we already know that quarterback Jay Cutler (concussion) is out of Monday night's game against the San Francisco 49ers. Defensive end Shea McClellin (concussion) also is out. It appears, meanwhile, that receiver Alshon Jeffery (hand) is ready to return. Jeffery had full participation in Friday's practice.

Detroit Lions: The Lions ruled out defensive tackle Corey Williams (knee) and safety Amari Spievey (concussion) for Sunday's game against Green Bay Packers. Safety Louis Delmas (knee) is listed as doubtful and not expected to play. Cornerback Chris Houston (ankle) and receiver Calvin Johnson (knee) are questionable, but both are expected to play.

Green Bay Packers: Tight end Andrew Quarless (knee) was ruled out, along with three players we already knew about: Receiver Greg Jennings (abdomen), defensive back Charles Woodson (collarbone) and linebacker Clay Matthews (hamstring). Cornerback Sam Shields (shin) is questionable, but the chances of him playing don't appear great. Linebacker Terrell Manning (shoulder) is questionable, but all other players should be available.

Reviewing the Chicago Bears at their bye:

Record: 4-1

Five-game capsule: The Bears are in excellent position after rebounding from a Week 2 debacle at Lambeau Field. Their defense leads the NFL in takeaways (17) and touchdowns (five), getting elite performances from stalwarts (two touchdown returns apiece for linebacker Lance Briggs and Charles Tillman) and relative newcomers (five combined sacks for defensive ends Corey Wootton and Shea McClellin) alike. Quarterback Jay Cutler has settled after throwing four interceptions and taking seven sacks in Week 2, limiting himself to two interceptions and five sacks over the next three games. Importantly, he has worked hard to keep receiver Brandon Marshall (35 receptions, 496 yards) involved in the offense. In short, the Bears have the look of the championship-caliber team they envisioned this summer.

MVP: Briggs and Tillman deserve the attention they've received, and defensive tackle Henry Melton (4.5 sacks) has had a nice start. But the Bears' best player over five games has been cornerback Tim Jennings, who has made teams pay dearly for targeting him over Tillman. Opponents have thrown his way an NFL-high 46 times, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF), and he has responded with a league-leading four interceptions and 14 total pass breakups. Those plays have left opposing quarterbacks with a 23.4 passer rating on throws in his direction, the second-lowest rating against a qualified cornerback in the NFL. (Via PFF.) Jennings has locked down one of the few question marks the Bears had on their defense.

Biggest surprise: For as much attention as left tackle J'Marcus Webb has received since the start of training camp, culminating in the now-infamous events of Week 2, he hasn't been half-bad during the Bears' three-game winning streak. Webb gave up a sack to Dallas Cowboys pass-rusher DeMarcus Ware, but otherwise he has done what you'd hope for from a left tackle: Not drawn attention with his play. He has committed a modest two penalties, one false start and one for holding, and has rebounded admirably from the public embarrassment of his performance against the Green Bay Packers.

Stat to note: Offensive coordinator Mike Tice's background is in the power running game, but the most notable aspect of his scheme so far has been the frequency of deep shots down the field. Cutler has thrown 21 passes that traveled more than 20 yards downfield, according to ESPN Stats & Information, the second-highest total in the league. He has completed 10 of them, including four for touchdowns. For comparison, consider that Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford have combined for 25 such throws.

Bonus stat to note: As productive as Marshall has been over the first five games, would you believe he is behind the pace set by former Bears receiver Marty Booker in 2002? Through five games that season, Booker had caught 37 passes for 566 yards. He finished the year with 97 receptions for 1,189 yards.

Looking ahead: The Bears will return from their bye with a Monday night game (Oct. 22) against the Lions, but they won't have another division game until Week 12 against the Minnesota Vikings. That schedule quirk, which leaves them playing NFC North opponents in four of their final six games, will make the final month of the season awfully interesting.

Bye the by series: Last week's post on the Detroit Lions.

Of all the matchups in Monday night's game at Cowboys Stadium, the Chicago Bears' defensive line might hold the biggest advantage over a Dallas Cowboys offensive line that has disappointed the team so far this season. In fact, there has been so much discussion about the Bears' reconfigured offense recently that I'm not sure if everyone realizes how efficiently their defense -- and their line in particular -- has played.

The Bears' defensive line has 13 of the Bears' NFL-leading 14 sacks. And of that total, 12 have come when the Bears have sent a traditional four-man (or less) pass rush. There are many factors that go into sacks, even in a four-man rush. But suffice it to say, the Bears' linemen have won many of their one-on-one battles this season. Last season, according to ESPN Stats & Information, the Bears didn't get their 12th sack out of the standard pass rush until Week 7.

The chart provides details of that improvement compared to the same time frame last season. Overall, the Bears have sent their standard pass rush on 77.5 percent of opposing dropbacks, the sixth-highest rate in the NFL. As we have discussed many times, the luxury of a consistent four-man pass rush is rare and allows defenses to maximize coverage elsewhere on the field.

The uptick in production is more difficult to explain than it is to demonstrate, but one factor has been first-round draft pick Shea McClellin. The Bears have followed a plan we discussed this summer, picking and choosing his spots, much like the San Francisco 49ers did last season with rookie Aldon Smith. McClellin has two sacks while playing 40.5 percent of the Bears' snaps (79 of 195, via Pro Football Focus).

As Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune noted, McClellin has helped form a more competitive environment. The surge has included notable performances from fellow defensive ends Israel Idonije (2.5 sacks) and Corey Wootton (1.5). Defensive tackle Henry Melton (3.0) is off to a strong start, as is defensive end Julius Peppers (2.5 sacks), and nose tackle Stephen Paea (0.5 sacks) has established himself as a starter after making minimal impact as a rookie.

I can't think of a more important matchup Monday night for the Bears. The Cowboys are the NFL's lowest-scoring team, lead the league in false starts and last week allowed their running backs to be tackled behind the line of scrimmage eight times by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Swarming the Cowboys' offense, and quarterback Tony Romo in particular, seems to be the Bears' clearest path to victory.

Our Rookie Buzz series has had some hits and misses. It's lost two of the original four members to season-ending injury, but in the end, it appears that NFC North teams will be getting early-season contributions from a dozen 2012 draft picks, depending on health. Let's take a look at who the Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings appear to be counting on:

Bears defensive end Shea McClellin
Likely role: Nickel pass-rusher
Comment: As we've discussed, the Bears could follow a playing-time model similar to what the San Francisco 49ers did with 2011 top pick Aldon Smith: Less than 50 percent, but hopeful of high production in small doses.

Bears receiver Alshon Jeffery
Likely role: No. 3 or No. 4 receiver
Comment: Has been productive in the preseason and is an especially big target down the seam.

Bears tight end Evan Rodriguez
Likely role: No. 3 tight end and/or H-back
Comment: Rodriguez has proved to be quick down the field and a nifty runner once he makes the catch.

Lions cornerback Bill Bentley
Likely role: Starter or nickel cornerback
Comment: Bentley's had a few roller-coaster trips on the Lions' depth chart, but if he is healthy he figures to be one of the Lions' top three cornerbacks.

Packers linebacker Nick Perry
Likely role: Starting outside linebacker
Comment: He's gotten almost every snap with the starters this summer, mostly to give him every opportunity to learn a new position. But his pass-rush skills are evident.

Packers defensive lineman Jerel Worthy
Likely role: Defensive tackle in the nickel
Comment: The Packers play their nickel defense more often than their base, which makes Worthy a quasi-starter.

Packers cornerback Casey Hayward
Likely role: No. 2, 3 or 4 cornerback
Comment: Like Bentley, he's made a few trips up and down the depth chart. But he has a chance to start soon opposite Tramon Williams.

Packers safety Jerron McMillian
Likely role: Nickel safety
Comment: McMillian is one of three players getting a chance to fill this role, competing against M.D. Jennings and Anthony Levine.

Vikings offensive lineman Matt Kalil
Likely role: Starting left tackle
Comment: This assignment has never been in doubt.

Vikings safety Harrison Smith
Likely role: Starter
Comment: He hasn't let go of a spot he earned midway through the preseason.

Vikings cornerback Josh Robinson
Likely role: No. 3 or No. 4 cornerback
Comment: Dealing with a concussion but has outplayed veteran Chris Carr to be the nickelback.

Vikings place-kicker Blair Walsh
Likely role: Starter
Comment: Has demonstrated a powerful and accurate leg this summer.

Reviewing Thursday's action at Soldier Field:

Denver Broncos 31, Chicago Bears 3

Preseason record: 0-1

Of interest: Heavy storms probably contributed to the Bears' decision to hold out quarterback Jay Cutler, tailback Matt Forte and defensive end Julius Peppers. … Linebacker Brian Urlacher reportedly was not at Soldier Field, and overall the Bears had a forgettable night. … Left tackle J'Marcus Webb can't feel too comfortable after being left on the field into the fourth quarter, long after the rest of the starting line had completed its work. Webb is young and could use the work, but he was probably also on the receiving end of a message sent to reinforce that he has not yet officially won the starting spot. (There are just no other candidates at the moment.) … Rookie Shea McClellin showed up with a sack of former Bears quarterback Caleb Hanie, who is now the Broncos' backup. … Nickelback D.J. Moore was on point, tipping away a Peyton Manning pass near the goal line so that safety Major Wright could make a score-saving interception. Wright later left with a hamstring injury, an event concerning not for its severity but because he has a history of middling injuries that dig into his playing time and progress. … Rookie receiver Alshon Jeffery led the team with four receptions. … As for Urlacher, Bears general manager Phil Emery told the team's flagship radio station that his knee needs rest and that he will rejoin the team soon. Emery offered no other details of Urlacher's condition, nor did he say if it is related to his recent leave from the team.

Local coverage (in lieu of BBAO): If Emery is telling the truth, writes Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com, Urlacher should return to training camp sometime this weekend. … The people who paid $76 per ticket for Thursday's game have a right to feel taken advantage of, writes Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune. … McClellin, via ESPNChicago.com: "I had fun. It's a start. You know I definitely have a lot of learning to do. Overall, it was good. It was a little bit faster than we've been practicing. When you get into the game, it's always faster than normal, but as it went along I kind of got into it and felt good. You know, like I said, there is a lot of stuff I can work on and get better at. But the sack felt good. It's always good to get a sack, no matter what kind it is, because it boosts your confidence a bit. After that you can kind of relax and just go out and play." … McClellin struggled versus the run, according to Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times. … The decision not to play Cutler reminded Melissa Isaacson of ESPNChicago.com that the Bears have a legitimate backup in Jason Campbell. Isaacson: "So astounding is it that for the first time, well, ever, that the Bears have a solid backup quarterback behind a potentially exceptional starter, you're almost skeptical."

Up next: Saturday, Aug. 18 vs. Washington Redskins

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- Summer visitors to Olivet Nazarene University are greeted annually by navy blue banners promoting the Chicago Bears' training camp. Bears team logos are plastered all around town. Marquee signs invite the hungry and thirsty to patronize local establishments. And in 2012, there was a notable addition to the welcoming committee.

Overt talk of a Super Bowl run hits you from every angle here. You see it on a championship prediction posted outside an elementary school near campus. You hear it chanted from 12,000 fans attending practice. You notice the Bears' normally mild-mannered place-kicker drawing powerful conclusions.

Emboldened by a newly-fortified offense and a veteran defense that hasn't gotten old yet, the Bears opened training camp with the highest of expectations.

"There's no doubt that this year by far is our best chance to win a Super Bowl," place-kicker Robbie Gould said on the eve of camp . "We have the talent. Yeah, we do have to earn it on the field, but when it comes to putting the pieces together, this is definitely the year that we have the pieces. … I think everyone understands that this is an opportunity, and that we might only get that one chance to make it to the Super Bowl and win it. I think everybody is excited about that."

Indeed, the long-term future of this team is murky, with linebacker Brian Urlacher entering the final year of his contract and five other starters -- including quarterback Jay Cutler, linebacker Lance Briggs, receiver Devin Hester and Gould -- facing a 2013 expiration. But for the short term, the Bears couldn't be more enthused.

"I'm definitely excited about how stacked we are at each position," cornerback Charles Tillman said.

The pieces, as they say, are in place, and nothing I saw in the early days of training camp suggested otherwise.

THREE HOT ISSUES

1. Adding explosion to offense: I lost track of how many different people used a form of the word "explosion" to describe the Bears' hope for their new offense. Offensive coordinator Mike Tice said he wants to be explosive in both the running and passing games and added: "We have too many athletes not to be able to."

The key to explosive plays -- usually defined as runs of 12 or more yards and passes of at least 16 yards -- is getting those athletes into empty space. Tice has a simple approach to doing that, one he began preaching in the spring and continued during the early days of camp. He affectionately calls it the "Duh offense."

In essence, he will give Cutler the responsibility of changing plays at the line of scrimmage based on the "number count" of the defense. If defenses are aligned against the pass, Cutler can call a run. If they are stacked on the line of scrimmage, Cutler will have the ability to switch from run to pass. The approach requires the type of balanced personnel the Bears have, and in the end it produces volume mismatches at the point of attack.

2. Play calling: Tice's experience in developing successful offenses is unquestioned, as is his expertise in matching a scheme with the capacity of an offensive line. But the one thing Tice hasn't done in 30-plus years in the NFL is be a team's primary playcaller over the course of a season, a task he is preparing for in training camp.

Quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates will relay the call to Cutler during games, but the calls will originate with Tice. "It's all about rhythm," Tice said. "It's all about good installation. It's about the right balance and making sure you understand what your opponent is trying to do in certain situations. It'll be fine."

3. Defensive assumptions: Optimism about the Bears has been generated mostly by additions the Bears made to their offense, from receiver Brandon Marshall to running back Michael Bush to Bates. It has been assumed that the Bears' special teams will maintain its annual strength, and also that an aging defense has at least one more top-level season in it.

Urlacher (34) looked like his usual self after rehabilitating a knee injury all offseason. Defensive end Julius Peppers (32), Briggs (31) and Tillman (31) all appeared to be in excellent shape.

"I don't feel like it's my 10th year," Tillman said. "My body doesn't feel like it. My mind doesn't feel like it. I feel good, mind, spiritually."

REASON FOR OPTIMISM

No one is going to confuse Cutler with Alvin Wong, a.k.a "The Happiest Man in the World." But on a relative scale, Cutler arrived at camp and moved through its first few days with the buoyancy of a man who has been placed squarely in position to succeed.

"This is the most comfortable I think I've been going into a camp with the offense," Cutler said, "and what we are doing scheme-wise and the talent around me."

Those who know him best agree.

"He looks a lot more comfortable," said receiver Earl Bennett, Cutler's longtime teammate dating to their Vanderbilt days. "He just looks ready to go. He's excited about the new toys he has on offense and the guys surrounding him, and he's just excited about the season."

Arriving at training camp, Cutler said, "was like Christmas."

REASON FOR PESSIMISM

Left tackle is one of the three or four most important positions on a team, but it is one of the Bears' few legitimate question marks. A competition between J'Marcus Webb and Chris Williams is probably Webb's to lose, but at the very least, it's nerve-wracking to launch a Super Bowl run without an established starter to protect a quarterback's blind side.

Webb and Williams alternated with the first team during the practices I watched, and it's clear that Webb has the physical tools necessary to play the position. Williams, on the other hand, hasn't played the position in two years and might be a fallback if Webb can't eliminate the mental and technique mistakes that plagued him in 2011.

"We'll turn the heat on both of them," Tice said. "We want to see who is going to block our good pass-rushers."

Competition itself isn't a bad thing. But the Bears really need a winner to emerge, rather than being left to select the less damaging option.

OBSERVATION DECK

• We've discussed the likelihood of Bush serving as the Bears' short-yardage and goal-line back. At 245 pounds, Bush is better suited and has had more career success in that role than starter Matt Forte. But Bush made clear he would rather not be pigeon-holed in that manner. "That's the role I've been stuck with because of my size," he said. "If that's what I've got to do, then that's what I've got to do. … No one likes to be a battering ram. It just happens that way." Regardless, it makes too much sense not to at least give that arrangement a long look.
• Cutler and Marshall arrived for lunch together on the first day of practice. They broke open a new critical-thinking board game at night, which Marshall referred to as "Q." (Cutler won the first two games.) But Marshall said the pair's much-discussed friendship is "not always fun." He added: "In any relationship, when you take two people from two different places and you put them together, you butt heads. Because sometimes we try to impose our own wills on each other. But sometimes you understand there is no right and wrong. It's just two different people. I think that's when the relationship gets better. With Jay and I, it's always some work."
• Perhaps their friendship made our expectations unreasonably high, but I was surprised by how many miscommunications Cutler and Marshall had in their first few practices. On Day 1 alone, I counted five passes that either hit the ground or were intercepted because Cutler threw one way and Marshall ran another. But we found out in the third practice how little that mattered. Cutler and Marshall put on a show in full pads, wowing fans and players who can't remember the last time the Bears had a true No. 1 receiver.
• Tice will undoubtedly use tight ends more in the passing game than predecessor Mike Martz, and the Bears have accumulated an interesting group to deal with. Kellen Davis figures as the starter with Matt Spaeth as the top blocker. But it's certainly worth pointing out that rookie Evan Rodriguez, a fourth-round draft pick from Temple, appeared in much better shape than he was reported to be in this spring and seemed to have a knack for turning upfield quickly after the catch. "This game is about explosion," Rodriguez said. (There's that word again.) Rodriguez added: "Everybody in this league is so fast. You've really got to push to get that five yards, and then after that, it's every inch that matters."
• Rookie safety Brandon Hardin is getting work on all four special teams, including a role as the personal protector on punts. It's also worth noting that when free safety Chris Conte briefly left practice Saturday night, it was Hardin who stepped in with the first team. "I'm looking forward to helping the team in that special-teams aspect until I get on the field as a safety," Hardin said.
• Although there is uncertainty at left tackle, the return of 2011 draft choice Gabe Carimi has added a level of stability to the right side. Carimi reported to training camp in excellent condition, having dropped his weight to 308 pounds and lowered his body fat form 26 percent to 19 percent by changing his diet in the offseason. "The goal was to have more muscle mass," he said.
• The Bears' immediate plans are to use rookie defensive end Shea McClellin as a situational pass- rusher. In that scenario, Israel Idonije would hold a starting spot opposite Peppers. I didn't see any examples of it early in camp, but you wonder if the Bears would be tempted to use Idonije as an inside pass-rusher, with McClellin on the edge, in obvious passing downs. Another candidate to be an inside pass-rusher is newcomer Brian Price.

Latest in a series of posts on NFC North rookies who have generated buzz.

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- A few days ago, I asked Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli about the challenges of preparing a smallish defensive end for the rigors of run defense in the NFL. It's an important challenge facing Bears rookie Shea McClellin, and Marinelli's answer was telling.

"Hopefully we'll bring him along quickly as a pass-rusher," Marinelli said. "He's still got a lot to learn to play the run."

That's no knock on McClellin, who is listed at 260 pounds but will probably play between 250 and 255 pounds this season. NFL teams are more than willing to sacrifice some size, and even stout run defense, to capture the kind of consistent pass-rusher that seems so elusive in this era of passing efficiency.

But it is an early indication, at least, that the Bears are readying McClellin not so much for an immediate full-time role at defensive end but rather as a situational pass-rusher who can ease his mind (and body) into the job. Consider the example of 2011 rookie Aldon Smith, who managed 14 sacks for the San Francisco 49ers despite not starting a game and playing less than half (48.2 percent) of the team's snaps.

Marinelli's scheme should help minimize the times when McClellin is lined up directly over an offensive lineman, an instance that would make him vulnerable to a power block. Among other things, Marinelli typically positions ends on what he calls the "edge," essentially over the outside arm of a tackle, or else they line up over a tight end.

But by all accounts, McClellin demonstrated enough during the first few days of training camp to suggest he has a good chance to contribute right away as a situational pass-rusher.

"What I've seen already is real," Marinelli said. "He's got exceptional speed. Boy, he's fast. And he's not just fast. It's that initial quickness. It's reaction and movement. Suddenness. If someone moves, he's off and following him. Some guys are fast with no awareness, but he sees it happening. And I believe we'll find out as we get into pads that he's very, very tough."

McClellin knows why he was drafted as well. When I spoke with him Saturday morning, he was eager to put on pads for the first time and translate his early-camp quickness into real football situations.

"I'm trying to focus in on a lot of things," he said. "Pass rush, especially. Stopping the run, I think we'll see how it goes. I think I can hold my own but we'll see how it goes."

Watching the Bears' defensive line drills, especially when matched up against the offense line, suggested McClellin has the kind of quickness and agility that can make him successful in the kind of immediate role the Bears are envisioning. He made a nice play to bat down a Jason Campbell pass after penetrating the pocket, and he also had a first step on many of the offensive linemen he faced in 1-on-1 drills before getting pushed around the pocket on several occasions. I viewed the latter as a function of developing technique more than limited skills.

"What we're trying to do is give [McClellin] a base in the fundamentals," Marinelli said, "without giving them too much so they lose their aggression."

To be continued…

Related: Our entire Rookie Buzz series can be viewed through this handy one-step link.

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- Some thoughts and observations on the Chicago Bears' practice Saturday night:

• More than 12,000 fans showed up to watch the Bears' full-pads practice, surrounding a field outfitted with portable lights. I classified that attendance as yet another example of the buzz surrounding this team. It was a perfect night from a weather perspective, but keep in mind this practice was not even held in a stadium setting. As the team jogged onto the field, some fans were chanting, "Super Bowl! Super Bowl!"
[+] Enlarge
AP Photo/Nam Y. HuhBears receiver Brandon Marshall wowed observers in training camp on Saturday night.
• By far, the star of the evening was receiver Brandon Marshall, who rebounded from an injury scare early in practice to educate the Bears and their fans on what it's like to have a true No. 1 receiver. He made spectacular catches all over the field in 1-on-1, 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills. The one that caught my eye was what appeared to be an ad-lib play between him and quarterback Jay Cutler, who moved in the pocket toward the right sideline before firing about across the field toward Marshall, who was running toward the left sideline about 40 yards away. Marshall leaped and caught the ball over close coverage from cornerback Charles Tillman and appeared to keep both feet in bounds on the far sideline. "He's a scholarship player," coach Lovie Smith said. "I think we can all agree on that."
• Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune was among those impressed. Pompei: "Marshall easily is the most talented offensive skill position player I've seen on Bears since No. 34," referring to Walter Payton.
• Marshall's injury scare came early in the practice when he fell in a non-contact drill and flexed his legs for several minutes. Fans were hushed for a moment before Marshall finally got up and walked to the sideline. He re-entered drills about five minutes later after the initial fall. Cutler was among those who came to check on him during those tense moments.
• I spent a good portion of my time watching the offensive and defensive lines, particularly to see what first-round draft pick Shea McClellin looked like in pads. McClellin definitely displayed a good first step and agility, but in 1-on-1 drills he was frequently run around the quarterback by his opponent. I wouldn't read too much into that, however. His best play of the night came when he knocked down a pass by Jason Campbell after penetrating the pocket in 11-on-11 drills.
• If anyone unexpected stood out in pass-rush drills, it was defensive end Corey Wootton, whose standing on the team is jeopardized by McClellin's arrival and two previous years of minimal production. Wootton looked quick and confident on the edge.
• I counted two fumbles by tailback Michael Bush, one in 9-on-7 drills and one in 11-on-11.
• Receiver Alshon Jeffery made a nice adjustment on a ball thrown short in 1-on-1 drills, stopping his go route and waiting for the ball while safety Major Wright struggled to do the same.

SportsCenter's divisional analysis moves to the NFC North on Tuesday night (ESPN2, 7 p.m. ET). We've already discussed our most versatile players as well as potential breakout players, so let's give our television pals a pre-show primer on the biggest improvement (and regression) each division team made this offseason:

Chicago Bears: Enhanced comfort zone for quarterback Jay Cutler
In detail: The Bears fully committed to Cutler three years after acquiring him from the Denver Broncos. They finally gave him a full complement of promising receivers, most notably his all-time favorite in Brandon Marshall. Cutler will have his choice of big downfield threats, be it Marshall or rookie Alshon Jeffery, and Devin Hester has drawn rave reviews for his work within the team's new concepts. Coach Lovie Smith hired one of Cutler's favorite former coaches, Jeremy Bates, as quarterbacks coach, and offensive coordinator Mike Tice has liberally assimilated thoughts from Bates and Cutler into his scheme. For the first time the Bears feel like Cutler's team.
Biggest regression: The Bears' top four defensive players -- linebacker Brian Urlacher, defensive end Julius Peppers, linebacker Lance Briggs and cornerback Charles Tillman -- all got a year older without the team acquiring a potential heir at any of their positions. (Rookie defensive end Shea McClellin is projected to fill the Bears' spot opposite of Peppers.)

Detroit Lions: Insurance and a long-term plan at left tackle
In detail: The Lions mostly stood pat this offseason, making it their top priority to keep together a nucleus that earned a playoff spot three years after the franchise bottomed out at 0-16. They accomplished that goal by reaching contract agreements with receiver Calvin Johnson and linebacker Stephen Tulloch while franchising defensive end Cliff Avril. Retaining young players with room for growth counts as an improvement, but most notably, the Lions hatched a legitimate plan for the end of left tackle Jeff Backus' career. First-round draft choice Riley Reiff could replace Backus this season if necessary but could also get a year to develop. Regardless, it's a rare luxury for a team to have a legitimate succession plan in place at left tackle.
Biggest regression: It might not qualify as a step back, but the Lions didn't do much to improve a secondary that struggled for large portions of the 2011 season. Nickel back Aaron Berry will compete with free agent acquisition Jacob Lacey to start opposite Chris Houston, and the Lions appear set to give safety Amari Spievey one more chance to lock down a long-term job.

Green Bay Packers: Adding juice to their defensive front
In detail: As we discussed in May, the Packers devoted a large portion of their offseason to elevating the energy and competition along their defensive line. They hope to manage the playing time of nose tackle B.J. Raji more efficiently by calling on rookies Jerel Worthy and Mike Daniels, along with eventual contributions from Anthony Hargrove (eight-game suspension) and Mike Neal (four-game suspension). The Packers have also signed Phillip Merling, a former second-round draft pick of the Miami Dolphins, and veteran Daniel Muir.
Biggest regression: The Packers had near-ideal insurance at quarterback when Matt Flynn was their backup quarterback. Presumptive replacement Graham Harrell has extensive experience in the Packers' system and has been widely praised by coaches this offseason, but no one has suggested he is the equivalent of Flynn just yet.

Minnesota Vikings: A better situation for a young quarterback
In detail: Quarterback Christian Ponder will have a blue-chip left tackle in rookie Matt Kalil protecting his backside and two proven pass-catchers for mid-range passing in tight ends Kyle Rudolph and John Carlson. The Vikings have also added a receiver who can stretch the field in Jerome Simpson, who will be eligible to play in Week 4 after an NFL suspension, and might have unearthed a draft steal if Arkansas' Greg Childs is healthy. The offense is far from a finished product, but it is staffed much better at multiple positions than it was in 2011.
Biggest regression: The Vikings appear to have cast aside E.J. Henderson, their middle linebacker for most of the past decade. For now, that means they are hoping to make fourth-year player Jasper Brinkley their new starter. Brinkley played decently when he started four games as a rookie in 2009, but he missed all of 2011 because of a hamstring injury and coaches are waiting for him to turn it loose this spring.

As promised, let's take a stab at answering the questions we posed earlier this week in advance of mandatory minicamps for three NFC North teams. (Original post here.)

Chicago Bears: State of the offense and the progress of rookie defensive end Shea McClellin.

Our curiosity about the offense was adequately addressed. By all accounts, it will closely resemble the scheme that quarterback Jay Cutler and quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates ran with the Denver Broncos from 2006-08. Offensive coordinator Mike Tice will apply some of his own tweaks, especially as it relates to the running game, but Tice has appropriately allowed Cutler and Bates to take substantial roles in the scheme's development.

"It's stuff that I do well," Cutler said. "It's stuff that I know. As a quarterback you want to be in the same offense over and over and over and over again so you can get a good feel for it and so you know all the nuances. This offense, I was in it three years in Denver, so this is my fourth year in it. I'm very comfortable with it.' … A lot of carryover [from Denver], a lot of stuff we did last couple years. It's kind of a mixture of some stuff Mike had done in his past, stuff Jeremy has, and he learned even more in Seattle, so it's a mixture of a lot of different things."

Meanwhile, McClellin didn't see much if any action with the first team at defensive end, and for now Israel Idonije is the starter at left end opposite Julius Peppers. There is an expectation that McClellin will eventually start, but it might not be in Week 1. Here's what defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli told reporters: " He can move well. He's got really good movement. He's got really good speed. He's got nice range. His size is fine. He's a real hungry guy and he's very smart. I know he's tough. We'll get the pads on him. That determines everything. I believe he'll come out and do a very nice job, but the movement, all the things you look for, it's there."

Detroit Lions: Comfort level in the secondary and the immediate role of rookie offensive lineman Riley Reiff.

In the early going at least, the Lions are working Aaron Berry and Chris Houston as their top two cornerbacks, with newcomer Jacob Lacey covering the slot receiver in nickel situations. My sense is the Lions feel more than comfortable with Berry as long as he remains healthy.

It was worth noting, however, that coach Jim Schwartz suggested it was time for safety Amari Spievey to even out his game. It appears to be a now-or-never year for the 2009 third-round draft pick.

Reiff continued working exclusively at left and right tackle, but the Lions haven't ruled out possible work at guard during training camp. If he is going to start in Week 1, however, the best guess is that it will come after beating out right tackle Gosder Cherilus. It's reasonable to think that left tackle Jeff Backus has at least one more year in him.

Green Bay Packers: Questions on the defense, linebacker Nick Perry, the safeties, quarterback Graham Harrell and left tackle Marshall Newhouse.

We've already spent some time discussing Perry, who sure looks like a big-time NFL linebacker but is still in the process of learning how to play the position. My sense is the Packers could use Charles Woodson in a safety-like role in the base defense and then mix-and-match when they are in nickel. There is definitely some hope that rookie Jerron McMillian, or even M.D. Jennings, could pose significant competition for Charlie Peprah in training camp.

Here's part of what coach Mike McCarthy said when I asked about his comfort level in Newhouse: "Marshall is at that point in his career, I think every player goes through it, the people in the building have a lot more confidence in him than maybe the people outside. I just don't think people know much about him. He's progressed so much and you see the ability, especially the athletic ability. I think Marshall is going to be a good player for us."

Finally, I saw no evidence to suggest the Packers will do anything other than make Harrell their No. 2 quarterback this season. Quarterbacks coach Ben McAdoo: "A lot has been written about him not having great physical tools. Usually the people writing that have not seen him play or practice within the last three years. His arm has come alive. He's physically playing the game faster."

» AFC Scenarios: East | West | North | South » NFC: East | West | North | South

Yes, the start of training camps is two months away, but it’s never too early to consider the coming season. A look at the best-case and worst-case scenarios for the Chicago Bears in 2012.

Dream scenario (13-3): Tailback Matt Forte reports to training camp happy and healthy, either with a new contract or an acceptance of the franchise tag. His good will soothes the locker room and allows players to focus on football. Quarterback Jay Cutler leads the second coming of the 2008 Denver Broncos offense, connecting with receiver Brandon Marshall for 100-plus receptions, and the Bears finally find a Devin Hester "Package" that works. The aging defense remains sharp, rookie Shea McClellin provides an important balance to the pass rush and the Bears prove to be an NFC powerhouse.

Nightmare scenario: (7-9): Forte holds out from training camp, starting the summer off on a bad vibe. An offense that looks good on paper struggles to get organized under first-year coordinator Mike Tice. The Hester Package limits his effectiveness as a returner. McClellin isn't ready to be a three-down player. The defense gets old more quickly than expected, exposing the Bears' lack of young impact players.

» NFC pressure points: West | North | South | East
» AFC pressure points: West | North | South | East

Examining who faces the most challenging season for the St. Louis Rams and why.

Jason Smith should be hitting his prime years as an offensive tackle for the Rams. There's a chance that will be the case, unlikely as it seems after three underwhelming seasons marked by injuries. The Rams reworked Smith's contract and will find out whether new line coach Paul Boudreau can help Smith, still only 26, fulfill more of his potential. Smith, limited to six games last season after suffering a concussion during a freak collision, will need better luck with injuries for that to happen.

It's instructive to recall the Rams' thinking when they made Smith the second player chosen in the 2009 draft. The feeling then was that Smith remained in the early stages of a transition from tight end to tackle, and that Eugene Monroe, selected eighth overall that year by Jacksonville, was more polished coming out of college.

"The way we look at it, he has played at a high level with only three years at the position," Billy Devaney, then the Rams' general manager, said of Smith at the time. "So you try to project a year or two down the road with that kind of development that we see, he’ll be that much better. If you take Monroe, he comes in and lines up on Sunday, if we're playing, at left tackle and plays. He's been there longer. Jason has been a right tackle and that’s what gives us flexibility. ... His production is good now and his potential is outstanding."

The Rams are envisioning more of a run-oriented offense this year. That could help Smith, their projected starter at right tackle, find his bearings. The schedule presents challenges, however. Smith opens the season on the road against Detroit and the Lions' franchise player, Cliff Avril. The Washington Redskins' Ryan Kerrigan is on the schedule in Week 2, followed by matchups against rookie first-round picks Shea McClellin (Chicago) and Bruce Irvin (Seattle). Green Bay's Clay Matthews is also on the schedule in the first seven games.