Lovie says starters could play a half vs. Chargers

[ChicagoBreakingSports]

By Dan Pompei

BOURBONNAIS -- The Bears on Thursday finished up their on-field preparations for their first preseason game with a two-hour, half-speed practice at Olivet Nazarene.

The on-field temperatures reached 97 and the heat index was 103, but coach Lovie Smith did not cut the workout short.

Afterward, he indicated the starters could play as much as one half of the Bears' preseason debut Saturday in San Diego.
The starters didn't get a lot of work Thursday, though. Third-string quarterback Dan LeFevour took an inordinate amount of snaps.

Tight end Brandon Manumaleuna (knee), wide receiver Earl Bennett (hamstring) and linebacker Brian Iwuh (knee) sat out practice, which could be an indication they will not play Saturday. Returning to practice were tight end Kellen Davis, running back Kahlil Bell and linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer.

Players were required to stay on campus overnight, but they will be allowed to return home Friday morning before flying to San Diego on Friday evening.

More...

 

[USCChiFan]

While they need to work in Mike Martz's offense, risking injury in meaningless preseason games isn't worth it.

 

[ClydeLee]

Risking failure and extra mistakes in regular season games can just as bad. Especially when you want to be settled by week 1 for what should be a very winable game.

 

[USCChiFan]

Risking failure and extra mistakes in regular season games can just as bad. Especially when you want to be settled by week 1 for what should be a very winable game.

True, but what if one of the key players in that offense gets injured during the preseason?

 

[Rush]

While they need to work in Mike Martz's offense, risking injury in meaningless preseason games isn't worth it.

If they don't know the offense, that will be worse than injuries. Then you have guys who 1.) don't have experience.... 2.) don't know the playbook.

 

[ClydeLee]

If someone key is injured your glad you played a bunch of guys a lot of the top lines because you can fill it. If it's an O-linemen you got your 2nd unit guys to fill. Good thing right now is it seems they do feel good with depth all around there.

 

[JJ-28]

Playing the starter for full half in the first pre-season game is beyond dumb, but then we are talking about Lovie

 

[TopekaRoy]

I can see playing the offense a little more than you normally would with a new scheme and all the question marks on the offensive line, but not an entire half. San Diego is not going to play their starting defense for the entire first half, so most of those reps will be against 2nd stringers. This might help build the offense's confidence, but will also give the Bears a "false read" of where the offense is really at.

Also the 2nd stringers need the bulk of the reps, especially at the "contested" positions (linemen, WRs, cornerbacks and safetys) so they can be evaluated, and the Bears can make sure they have the best players starting.

Playing the starting defense more than the first 2 series, makes no sense to me. Other than the secondary, you know what you have with the starters, and you better pray to God none of them get hurt!