By Vaughn McClureBOURBONNAIS -- After two-plus weeks of working with the Bears receivers, former four-time Pro Bowl wideout Isaac Bruce offered his assessment of the group.
"I think they have a lot of room for improvement,'' Bruce said as training camp practices concluded Thursday. "They're at a good pace right now. They're athletic enough to run the system. They're intelligent enough to run the system.
"They built the foundation here at camp. So what's going to happen is the foundation is going to be set when the regular season starts.''
Bruce's opinion is far from an indictment. But coming from a guy who perfected his role in offensive coordinator Mike Martz's complex scheme, it seemed only natural for Bruce to dissect every minor aspect.
Photo: Isaac Bruce was impressed with Devin Aromashodu. (Phil Velasquez/Tribune)
"When I talk about room for improvement, I'm a detail guy: route-running ability, releases, being sharp in and out of your breaks, and making sure that when you're not getting the ball you're doing what you need to do to get your buddy open,'' he said.
"I was telling the guys (Wednesday) night that Torry Holt and myself, we were such on a page where I could look at the defense and I knew when I wasn't getting the ball, but I knew when he was going to get it. So therefore, I was going to be the best clear-out guy I could be. And he did the same for me. Little things like that will take you a long way.''
Bruce, who joined the Bears strictly for camp as part of the NFL's minority coaching internship program, seemed particularly impressed with Devin Aromashodu, the lanky receiver who continues to show signs of being a go-to target.
"I like D.A. He was just all over the place,'' Bruce said. "He learned probably every position as far as the wide receivers are concerned. I mean when you have to learn F, X and Z; that's big for this system.
"With Devin (Hester), I never saw him initially before I started working out with him this offseason. But from what I heard before, he's coming off the ball better. He's competing a lot better. He and Johnny (Knox). I think the starters are pretty much set and motivated to run this system.''
During the offseason, Martz promised the receivers would be the strength of the team. Bruce believes Martz is the one coach capable of making that a reality, in time.
"You have a coach who will come in with new branches every week challenging your creativity, challenging your ability to apply what you get in that meeting room and take it on the field,'' he said. "That was a great thing for me. I mean, it kept me sharp. I didn't have a coach where he was just coming in and repeating what someone else did, because that gets boring.
"I mean ADD is real. Guys lose interest. You know what I'm saying? Coming in every day with a coach who is creative ... I think everyone who has been in (Martz's) system has graduated to the next level.''
Wow, Bruse missed the memo on only cream puff positive comments apparently.
Good for Bruce. Finally someone that tells it like it is. The WR need to improve. period.
"I think they have a lot of room for improvement,'' Bruce said as training camp practices concluded Thursday. "They're at a good pace right now. They're athletic enough to run the system. They're intelligent enough to run the system.
They have all the tools, but they need to apply those tools.
`So therefore, I was going to be the best clear-out guy I could be. And he did the same for me. Little things like that will take you a long way.''
TO was a perfectt WR??? Hear what Teammates (and the Gameday Commentaters) say about TO blocking for his WR and RB, in the open field, He does an excellent job of helping his teammates get extra yardage by blocking downfield when he doesnt get the ball. And that is kinda what Bruce was saying was so inportant, help your teammates get the extra yardage.
What? you really believe TO does not work hard at his profession?? My gosh, try to be in that shape after all the beatings all those years. Also try to come back from an injury that fast for the Super Bowl instead of standing on the sideline, injured. TO does not handle the media very good, (to say the least) neither did Coach Knight, alot of Sports people are not the greatest media types...big !@$# deal...TO stats speak for themselves. And teams had better be ready for the Bengals this year, I liked the way Chris Henry was trying hard to better himself (in case you didn't notice Ced is as well,) and both played pretty dang good last year, maybe Lewis is good at that, Some Coaches have that unique talent of making players better people, (Coach Knight did that) but no way is TO not an improvement, I mean any team or Coach that can handle Ocho, can handle TO LOLOL
to point out the obvious, no receiver in the NFL is perfect. Bruce like most great WR are perfectionists. He will always find flaws and he is right everytime. You have to keep getting better. If you think you are a perfect wr then you are a TO. Jerry R is the greatest of all time because he worked harder than any other wr ever. Bruce is pointing out what they need to work on. These receivers are young and like every young receiver in NFL history they have a lot to work on. No player fresh out of college or even withing the first 4 years is close to as good as they can be. Look at how long it took Peyton, Brees, Sanchez thew how many picks last year? Even Megatron needs coaching. Larry Fitz took years to get where he is.
Sounds like Bruce provided an exceptionally clear, articulate and accurate critique of the WR corps, suitable for use in diplomacy training.
He basically said they are inept at their craft, as is anyone who can do only the basics. The way he phrased his comments on Hester was brilliant.
Yet somehow, he managed to make all this sound positive. Like I said, he could be a diplomat,
If the offensive line does not improve over last year, it does not matter which receivers start, as Cutler would still be throwing more balls to the other team. I was surprised da Bears did not sign a good free agent offensive lineman (or two). Peppers is outstanding, but with that money, they could have signed two good offensive and one good defensive lineman.
You know what is really telling? The one reciever Bruce really praised is DA and yet he points out how Hester and Knox are the starters. He then points out that he couldn't tell you himself but was told that Hester made improvments.
"With Devin (Hester), I never saw him initially before I started working out with him this offseason. But from what I heard before, he's coming off the ball better. He's competing a lot better."
Well I am glad Hester is competing, but would rather have the player who is actually playing better. No offense to Hester I am sure he is trying hard and working hard, but he should not start because Lovie and Angelo put their collective feet in their mouths with the contract and the whole he is our number 1 thing.
DA and Knox look more like Bruce and Holt than Hester and Knox. I mean Hester spent an extra month with Bruce and he still looks like the third best reciever on this team.
I think some of you didn't really read the whole thing.
And in other news, the Bears secondary may need some work.
"When I talk about room for improvement, I'm a detail guy: route-running ability, releases, being sharp in and out of your breaks, and making sure that when you're not getting the ball you're doing what you need to do to get your buddy open,'' he said.
Oh is that all they have to improve? Gosh I feel so much better.
If I didn't know better I would say Bruce is giving Martz a little bit of cover for when things go bad. Wants people to know maybe the recievers are just not as good as certain members of the team have stated.
Obvious? Really?
I don't think a lot of that is obvious, and I think the Bears were very fortunate to have Martz, Bruce.
95% of the managers I had in Insurance didn't appreciate this concept that people need to be stimulated, challenged, and learn, and grow as part of their day to day work in order to bring out their best.
Martz sounds like a great guy to work for; question is, who's challenging the defense on this team?
understatement of the century here...
Mike on August 20, 2010 10:42 AM
Thanks for the input, Captain Obvious.
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Right back atcha Mikey