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Bears first-round pick Kyle Fuller gets 2 picks
BOURBONNAIS — Rookie Kyle Fuller had an eventful introduction to the NFL on his first day of training camp Friday.
The Bears’ first-round draft pick from Virginia Tech had two interceptions, was burned for a long touchdown and was victimized by a push-off from Brandon Marshall.
“Definitely a good start, but I still got a lot of work to do,” Fuller said.
Fuller played cornerback in the first-team nickel defense and in the second-team base defense. He made a diving interception of a Jordan Palmer pass in front of Terrence Toliver.
“Just playing my technique, fundamentals, and when the ball’s in the air, just trying to make a play,” Fuller said.
Palmer burned him later, beating Jon Bostic’s blitz up the middle to hit wide receiver Chris Williams with a home-run ball. But Fuller recovered and made his second interception, picking off Jimmy Clausen’s pass for Toliver and scoring, much to the delight of the big crowd at Olivet Nazarene University.
The push-off from Marshall turned into a big pass play, but Fuller brushed it off as a lesson learned.
“I love going up against Brandon Marshall,’’ Fuller said. ‘‘He’s a stronger guy. I don’t make a big deal out of it. We’re just out there playing football. So I told him that next time, I got him.”
Three picks for QBs
Training camp is a zero-sum game — two good plays for Fuller are bad plays for the offense. Jay Cutler was intercepted by Sherrick McManis on a deflected ball.
“I don’t consider them good and bad days at this point,” coach Marc Trestman said. “When Kyle had an opportunity to make a play, he made it — that’s what we’re looking at.
“We see how everybody responds after failing and how they respond after success because that’s what a game is. How they respond is the most important thing as a professional.”
McClellin confident
Shea McClellin played strong-side linebacker in the base defense and also played in the nickel package in his first training-camp practice since being converted from defensive end.
“It’s where I belong,’’ McClellin said. ‘‘This is where I feel comfortable. I feel refreshed, just coming out here and playing linebacker. I’m very excited.”
McClellin said he feels more comfortable at his linebacker weight of 240.
“I think 240’s definitely natural for me,’’ he said. ‘‘I feel great right now. I feel like I can run. At 260, 255, it’s just not natural. I had a lot of extra weight I was carrying around.’’
Bits and pieces
There were no significant lineup moves in the first practice. The Bears opened 11-on-11 drills in nickel coverage, with Lance Briggs and Bostic at linebacker. The base-defense linebackers were Briggs, D.J. Williams in the middle and McClellin at the strong side.
† Brock Vereen and Ryan Mundy started at safety. Former Pro Bowl safety Adrian Wilson looked healthy and mobile working with the third team.
† Eben Britton started at right guard in place of Kyle Long, who is recovering from a viral infection.
† Wide receiver Eric Weems and cornerback Kelvin Hayden got into the first skirmish of training camp, but it was over as quickly as it began.
† At one point, defensive end Lamarr Houston moved inside, with Willie Young playing left end.
† The Bears’ first-team defense worked against a Wildcat package with Armanti Edwards at quarterback.
† The Bears signed Dylan Gandy, a guard/center with eight years of experience with the Colts and Lions, and waived Rutgers rookie defensive end Jamil Merrell.
Email: mpotash@suntimes.com
Twitter: @MarkPotash
BOURBONNAIS — Rookie Kyle Fuller had an eventful introduction to the NFL on his first day of training camp Friday.
The Bears’ first-round draft pick from Virginia Tech had two interceptions, was burned for a long touchdown and was victimized by a push-off from Brandon Marshall.
“Definitely a good start, but I still got a lot of work to do,” Fuller said.
Fuller played cornerback in the first-team nickel defense and in the second-team base defense. He made a diving interception of a Jordan Palmer pass in front of Terrence Toliver.
“Just playing my technique, fundamentals, and when the ball’s in the air, just trying to make a play,” Fuller said.
Palmer burned him later, beating Jon Bostic’s blitz up the middle to hit wide receiver Chris Williams with a home-run ball. But Fuller recovered and made his second interception, picking off Jimmy Clausen’s pass for Toliver and scoring, much to the delight of the big crowd at Olivet Nazarene University.
The push-off from Marshall turned into a big pass play, but Fuller brushed it off as a lesson learned.
“I love going up against Brandon Marshall,’’ Fuller said. ‘‘He’s a stronger guy. I don’t make a big deal out of it. We’re just out there playing football. So I told him that next time, I got him.”
Three picks for QBs
Training camp is a zero-sum game — two good plays for Fuller are bad plays for the offense. Jay Cutler was intercepted by Sherrick McManis on a deflected ball.
“I don’t consider them good and bad days at this point,” coach Marc Trestman said. “When Kyle had an opportunity to make a play, he made it — that’s what we’re looking at.
“We see how everybody responds after failing and how they respond after success because that’s what a game is. How they respond is the most important thing as a professional.”
McClellin confident
Shea McClellin played strong-side linebacker in the base defense and also played in the nickel package in his first training-camp practice since being converted from defensive end.
“It’s where I belong,’’ McClellin said. ‘‘This is where I feel comfortable. I feel refreshed, just coming out here and playing linebacker. I’m very excited.”
McClellin said he feels more comfortable at his linebacker weight of 240.
“I think 240’s definitely natural for me,’’ he said. ‘‘I feel great right now. I feel like I can run. At 260, 255, it’s just not natural. I had a lot of extra weight I was carrying around.’’
Bits and pieces
There were no significant lineup moves in the first practice. The Bears opened 11-on-11 drills in nickel coverage, with Lance Briggs and Bostic at linebacker. The base-defense linebackers were Briggs, D.J. Williams in the middle and McClellin at the strong side.
† Brock Vereen and Ryan Mundy started at safety. Former Pro Bowl safety Adrian Wilson looked healthy and mobile working with the third team.
† Eben Britton started at right guard in place of Kyle Long, who is recovering from a viral infection.
† Wide receiver Eric Weems and cornerback Kelvin Hayden got into the first skirmish of training camp, but it was over as quickly as it began.
† At one point, defensive end Lamarr Houston moved inside, with Willie Young playing left end.
† The Bears’ first-team defense worked against a Wildcat package with Armanti Edwards at quarterback.
† The Bears signed Dylan Gandy, a guard/center with eight years of experience with the Colts and Lions, and waived Rutgers rookie defensive end Jamil Merrell.
Email: mpotash@suntimes.com
Twitter: @MarkPotash
