While the team's younger running backs show promise, we will probably see some familiar faces atop the depth chart at RB.
"We need to improve," Tedford said. "Too many balls on the ground today. Defense was popping, separating the backs from the balls a couple times, and we can't have that. Those young backs who are just getting in there, ball security is the No. 1 thing, and that's the thing that happens with every young back. Every young back gets whacked a few times, the ball comes out until they learn how important that is. You see them right now? [They were doing up-downs] They're paying the price for that."
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The odds-on favorite to take hold of the No. 2 slot behind starter Isi Sofele is junior Covaughn DeBoskie-Johnson, who has dropped the excess weight that held him down during the spring to emerge as a strong, evasive runner through the first week of fall camp."Covaughn has had a real nice camp," Tedford said. "Covaughn came back in shape, ready to go. We had a goal-line play the other day where it was one-on-one with him and Mychal Kendricks, and he ran right through him, got his pads down. That's been the thing about Covaughn, making sure he's physical enough, and he put his pads down and did a great job. I think right now, he'd be the second guy, and then the third guy is still up for grabs."
After a personnel meeting on Sunday, reps at each position will be adjusted, with Sofele likely getting fewer snaps just so the staff can see what the other, younger backs can do.
"We'll try to back off of him a little bit and let the other guys go," Tedford said. "If the one's and two's are entrenched at that point, or if we feel really good about it, then we'll try and get the three, four and five guy a lot more reps to try to identify who's the third, fourth guys are. Covaughn's not entrenched quite yet."
Tedford said that Brendan Bigelow "didn't do much," on Saturday, and that ideally, Sofele would get between 18-20 reps per game in the fall.
After the jump the offense and defense continue to improve during fall camp and the Packers visit the President.
Football
- Such a tease! Tedford and the Bears are one of ESPN's top-10 annual tease teams: those who tease fans with lofty rankings in August only to disappoint late in the season.
- Ted Miller expects Keenan Allen to make the jump from "good" to "great" this season.
- Bryan Anger and Mychal Kendricks earn spots on Ted Miller's preseason All-Pac-12 team.
- Tedford was complimentary of Tiny Moala, Mustafa Jalil, Todd Barr, and Zach Maynard after Friday's practice.
- Crumpacker reports on how the running backs fared on Saturday. Tedford had a great response to whether he would like to see the construction progress from one of the giant cranes near Memorial: "'Hell, no,' he said. 'There's no way. The older I get, the more I'm afraid of heights.'"
- CalBears.com reports from Saturday's practice, including highlights from offense and defense and quotes from Tedford.
- While the players will have Sunday off, the coaches will meet to decide who is going to start getting more reps. At some positions, like tailback, players are not getting their hands on the ball enough, so those who are projected to be lower on the depth chart will begin seeing fewer reps.
- SFGate has some quotes from Tedford's recent appearance on on KNBR.
- Matt Summers-Gavin and the other offensive linemen were delighted with the return of Michalczik this winter. Nearly eight months later, the unit is making progress and Michalczik is pleased with their development.
- Although he is the backup (once again) Brock Mansion does not mind the role. As he found out last season, the backup may still get significant playing time.
- A terrible mishap prevented Desmond Bishop from meeting President Obama during the Packers' visit to the White House. He left his ID on the charter plane and did not realize it until it was too late.
- Aaron Rodgers presented the President with a Packers jersey and encouraged the longtime Bears fan to wear it when the Packers play Chicago. WhiteHouse.gov has video from the visit.
- Tedford will be at the Gordon Biersch Brewery on Tuesday for the annual March to Victory Luncheon. The event starts at 11:30am and runs until 1pm. Tickets are $20.
- CalBears.com releases more information on the Fan Appreciation Day, which will be held August 27th at the Underhill Lot.
- Several players expect the Europe trip to give them some valuable experience and momentum heading into the fall. Monty plans to try some players at multiple positions.
- Theo Robertson's work ethic may earn him a long, prosperous career in athletic administration. Only a couple months into the job, he already has impressed several of his higher-ups.