Chicago Bears: 7 Biggest Takeaways from the First Week of Camp

We are officially through the first full week of Chicago Bears training camp, and the team is starting to take shape. While there is still a lot of time between now and the regular season, some of the questions that we asked before training camp began are starting to get answered. 

Here are some key points to know about training camp so far. While nothing is set in stone yet, these notes should give Chicago fans some insight into what the team will look like come September. 

J'Marcus Webb Has the Lead at Left Tackle

One of the biggest questions going into training camp is who will be the starting left tackle for the Bears this season.

Chris Williams is a former first-round pick from 2008, but he has struggled to distinguish himself at left tackle.

J'Marcus Webb was a seventh-round pick in 2010, but he too has struggled.  

While the battle is far from over, Webb has emerged as the early leader. He has received the bulk of the snaps with the starters this week, while Williams has spent some time at right tackle. 

While Webb is the early favorite, even he cautioned about reading too much into it. Via ESPN:

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"It’s definitely not over. It’s Day 4 in pads, and it’s definitely not over," Webb said. "Coach (Mike) Tice just wants to see improvement every single day. I’m not sure (whether Williams will work with the starters again at left tackle). That’s up to Tice and how he feels about it. I’ve just got to take it for what it is and keep grinding."

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It will be interesting to see if Webb can hold onto the job through the preseason games. For now, the job of left tackle is Webb's to lose. 

Gabe Carimi Is Not Ready for the Regular Season Yet

Gabe Carimi has been rehabbing his knee injury from last season.

Through the spring minicamps, Carimi has been coming along slowly, trying to get back to 100 percent.

However, this week Carimi was limited in practice, and Chris Williams even filled in a bit at right tackle for him.

Carimi is able to play, but he is still not up to full game speed yet. He had a few comments on Thursday. Via ESPN:

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"First time back in about 10 months now; just getting myself a little break. I’m doing great, had the best day of practice (Wednesday) all camp. So it was good just to take a little bit off. It’s getting better and better. There was a little rust in the system. It’s starting to feel a lot better now."

"

Carimi is the starter, and he's just getting his football legs back. Williams is getting time behind him, because if he loses out the left tackle job to Webb, Williams will become the backup tackle for both Webb and Carimi rather than move to left guard like some people speculate he will. 

Stephen Paea Is Winning the Battle for Starting Nose Tackle

Stephen Paea was a second-round draft pick for the Chicago Bears last season, and after a strong summer, he looks to be in the driver's seat to secure the starting nose tackle job.

Paea has been in competition with Matt Toeaina, but Paea has been taking the bulk of the snaps with the starting group. Via ESPN:

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"I can't be satisfied right now because I've still got games to play, and I need to prove I'm worth it for the job, The pressure is on me right now. I'm just trying to be a better me from last year. Tomorrow I'm just going to try and be a better me from today."

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If Paea can hold on to the job, he'll be a key component in the Chicago defensive line as they hope to be able to rush the passer with just their front four. 

Rookie Shea McClellin Has Struggled but Is Improving

We reported earlier this week that Shea McClellin has struggled with his new position in the Chicago defense.

The Chicago coaching staff is unconcerned, though, and coach Rod Marinelli said that McClellin was being a bit hard on himself and just needs to "let it go" (according to the Sun Times).

But by the end of the week, McClellin started to come into his own and was making some solid plays, including picking off a pass from Jason Campbell on Thursday (according to the Chicago Tribune). 

It was described as his best practice by several key sports writers, including Brad Biggs and Matt Bowen.

Brian Urlacher Is Still Not Ready to Go

Starting LB Brian Urlacher has missed all of the summer minicamps while he recovers from his knee injury from last season.

The hope was that he would be ready when training camp started, but he continues to miss practice. 

However, the Bears are unconcerned about Urlacher being ready for the regular season, and Lovie Smith has said that Urlacher will be good to go this week (via CBS Sports).

Matt Forte Up to Speed and OK After Injury

Matt Forte may have missed the summer minicamps, but he has looked good in practice and appears to be up to speed with the new offense and blocking schemes (according to the Chicago Tribune).

He briefly left practice with an injury to his thumb, but Zack Zaidman has tweeted that Lovie Smith indicates that Forte is fine.

Devin Thomas to Retire

Devin Thomas, recently signed special teamer from the New York Giants, has struggled in practice and has officially left the team.

The Chicago Sun Times reports that he is retiring from football at the age of 25.

Thomas was part of a crowded return team that still contains Devin Hester, Eric Weems and Lorenzo Booker.