There is major construction underway on one of the main roads leading to the training camp of the Chicago Bears. Coach Lovie Smith, middle linebacker Brian Urlacher and the rest of the Bears have begun a reconstruction project of their own.
Brian Urlacher, out for 15 games last season, is back on a Bears defense that has also added pass rusher Julius Peppers.
When Chicago last won the NFC North in 2006 with a 13-3 record en route to a Super Bowl appearance, the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers were distant also-rans.
Going into this season, the Vikings and the Packers shape up as front-runners in the division. Both are coming off playoff appearances. The challenge for Chicago is to turn it into a three-way race and find a route back to the playoffs.
"You have a division champ in the Vikings. They have a lot of talent. Green Bay, of course, had a good year this past season," says Smith.
"We split with Minnesota last year. We were in both games with the Packers. We feel like we're going to be one of the players, too."
The Bears started 3-1 last season and then lost eight of their next 10. Urlacher, a six-time Pro Bowler, dislocated his wrist in the opener and was lost for the year.
But Urlacher is back for his 11th season, and he likes what he sees around him. That includes the offense he's been practicing against, quarterbacked by Jay Cutler and orchestrated by new coordinator Mike Martz.
"It's confusing for me as a defensive player because they move so much, they shift. It's a good offense," says Urlacher.
"Coach Martz has scored points everywhere he's been. I don't see that changing here, not with Jay at quarterback and the personnel we have on offense. I think they're going to be really good. And as a defense it's good because we're not going to see anything harder than we see in practice everyday."
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SOURCE: USA Today
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