Four takeaways from Bears position coaches, coordinators ahead of rookie minicamp

The Bears will begin a three-day rookie minicamp this weekend in Lake Forest with practices Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

In advance of their first in-person organized workouts, the team’s position coaches and coordinators met with the media Wednesday. Here are the major takeaways:

A first-look at QB Justin Fields

The Bears coaching staff is just as eager as fans to have its first look at quarterback Justin Fields. Fans are already wondering when Fields will start.

[ When will Justin Fields start? What we know and what we don’t know ]

Quarterback coach John DeFilippo said this weekend’s rookie minicamp will give the staff a good idea of how ready Fields is mentally to lead an NFL offense. Scouting and projecting is one thing. Actually standing on the field, making the reads and making the throws is another.

“It’s hard to tell over Zoom until you really get your hands on a player,” DeFilippo said. “I think we’ll know a lot more after this weekend in terms of where he’s at from a mentally processing standpoint.”

DeFilippo is looking for Fields to show command in the huddle. He hopes to see a quarterback who has spent the past two weeks studying the playbook.

He stands with head coach Matt Nagy in that there’s no timeline for when Fields will start.

“We’ll all know when it’s Justin’s time,” DeFilippo said.

Germain Ifedi will enter camp as the starting right tackle

It’s not a huge surprise, given what transpired the past two weeks, but offensive lineman Germain Ifedi will have the driver’s seat to the starting right tackle position. With former tackles Bobby Massie and Charles Leno out of the picture, rookie Teven Jenkins is likely to step in at left tackle.

Ifedi is the first name on the depth chart on the right side.

“There’s always competition every year, but he’ll line up there to begin with,” offensive line coach Juan Castillo said.

Castillo believes Ifedi has improved since his days in Seattle, where he was drafted in the first round in 2016 and where he struggled at right tackle. Ifedi started 2020 at right guard but moved to right tackle late in the season. With Ifedi at right tackle, the Bears finally found some consistency and continuity on the offensive line.

Castillo envisions rookie fifth-round draft pick Larry Borom as Ifedi’s backup.

“A big athlete, powerful, you’re going to really love him,” Castillo said of Borom. “I know Germain’s going to get mad at me, but [Borom] is a better athlete than Germain.”

Castillo wants to see Borom add about 10 more pounds.

Anthony Miller has another chance, but is walking on thin ice

Last summer, Bears receivers coach Mike Furrey talked about how much he saw receiver Anthony Miller’s maturity grow. Then rookie Darnell Mooney passed Miller on the depth chart, Miller saw his playing time dip and he threw a punch in the team’s playoff game.

Now, Furrey is singing to the same tune.

Miller has been at all his virtual meetings. He’s engaged. He’s doing what he’s supposed to do. But what makes Furrey believe this is real maturity from Miller?

“I haven’t [believed it] yet,” Furrey said. “You know you’ve got to see it.”

Miller has a second chance. The Bears also added depth at receiver, positioning themselves to easily part ways with Miller if they must. They drafted slot receiver Dazz Newsome in the sixth round. They signed free agents Damiere Byrd and Marquise Goodwin.

The message to Miller is clear.

“You know, we don’t need you,” Furrey said. “We’ve got guys that are going to be able to produce. You better be a pro, you better be on your details, you better do what we’re asking you to do.”

Defensive line coach Chris Rumph celebrates son’s draft

First-year Bears defensive line coach Chris Rumph sees the TV clips every year on draft day. Families celebrate as their son is selected in the NFL draft.

“You see the guys crying and you really don’t understand,” Rumph said. “You think you do until you’re in that moment.”

The Los Angeles Chargers drafted Rumph’s son, former Duke edge rusher Chris Rumph II, with a fourth-round draft pick two weeks ago.

It was a dream come true for the family. It was also the culmination of a lot of hard work. The Rumph family moved a lot due to the elder Rumph’s job. He coached at seven different colleges throughout his son’s life: South Carolina State, Memphis, Clemson, Alabama, Texas, Florida, Tennessee. He joined the Bears in January after one season with the Houston Texans.

That’s a lot of new addresses.

Rumph Sr. said his wife would’ve “given a kidney” for Rumph II to be selected by the Bears, but that wasn’t meant to be. Rumph II watched the draft upstairs while Rumph Sr. and his wife watched downstairs. Rumph Sr. was in constant contact with the Bears as the draft progressed, but he also kept an eye out for his son’s name.

When Rumph II received the call, he hurried downstairs to share a hug.

“I just wanted him to go some place where he would be surrounded by great men and have an opportunity to continue to mature,” Rumph Sr. said.