Bears Set to Open Camp on Friday
By Benjy Lipsman in News on Jul 29, 2010 2:00PM
Sure, it's cool that the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup. The Bulls have remained relevant over the summer as they chased high profile free agents. And at least one of our baseball teams is still in the playoff hunt. But Chicago is a football town, so most of us have been eagerly awaiting signs that football season's arriving soon. This Friday, the Bears officially open Training Camp just a bit downstate in Bourbonnais, signalling football's approaching return. Players begin arriving at Olivet Nazarene University today, with Training Camp officially kicking off tomorrow, when the team holds its first practice at 3:00 p.m.
As in the past, the Training Camp activities are open and free to the public, so fans who make the 60 mile drive south can see their favorite players in action and get their first glimpse of the new players. The grounds open one hour before the team takes the field. The family-friendly atmosphere also includes a Kids Zone, Junior Training Camps, autograph sessions, giveaways, games and much more. The Bears will also host a number of themed days, including Family Night at both Olivet Nazarene and Soldier Field, Safety Service Day and a Youth Football Day.
There are plenty of questions fans will be looking for answers to when the Bears take the field. On defense, fans want to see if Brian Urlacher is healthy after missing most of last season, and want to know just how much better the defense is with the high profile addition of Julius Peppers, along with a retooled secondary. Offensively, everybody is eager to see how Mike Martz's offense looks. Can Jay Cutler find the same success that make Kurt Warner a household name a decade ago? Of course an unproven corp of receivers will also need to step up. And as for the running game, we all want to see if Matt Forte can rebound from his sophomore slump and how he'll split time in the back field with Chester Taylor. For some, there's reason for optimism with this 2010 Bears team. Lovie Smith and Jerry Angelo hope they're right, because they are both on the hot seat this year.