Roach embraces starter status

BOURBONNAIS — Nick Roach is the Bears’ “other” linebacker.

He’s the starter who hasn’t been to a Pro Bowl, while Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs have been to 13 between them. This is the ninth year together for Briggs and Urlacher. But Roach has been around the block a time or two as well. He’s started 30 games, 27 on the strong side and three in the middle, but he still considers Urlacher and Briggs his mentors.

“Anything you see them do on the field, you try to model yourself after that and you’ll be all right,” Roach said. “The biggest thing they do is just lead by example.”

Even though most of his starts in the past have come when players like Pisa Tinoisamoa, Urlacher and Hunter Hillenmeyer were injured, Roach was referred to as a starter by coach Lovie Smith at the start of camp. The way Roach sees it, that makes him a starter, and the depth chart says so, too.

“You have to go off what the coaches say,” Roach said. “So whatever your role is, that’s how you have to go at it and work. That’s what I’m trying to do.”

It adds to Roach’s value that he’s able to play all three linebacker positions.

“If you’ve been a backup in our system — because we only keep six active linebackers — pretty much everybody has to know at least more than one position, so if you’re around for a couple of years, you catch on. Injuries are going to happen, so guys get shuffled around quite a bit.”

Having that Northwestern education should make it easy for Roach to learn multiple positions.

He laughed and said: “Oh right, obviously. Art majors are naturally intellectually advanced.”

The quiet life: Training camp with the Dallas Cowboys is a circus, whether they#146;re featured on HBO#146;s Hard Knocks or not. So wide receiver Sam Hurd, who spent his first five seasons with the Cowboys, welcomes the tranquility of Olivet Nazarene University.#147;It#146;s very peaceful,#148; the Northern Illinois University product said. #147;It#146;s back to college ways, and I love the grind. I grew up under Joe Novak at college and then coming straight out of college to the NFL to (Bill) Parcells (in Dallas).#148;Hurd was so at ease, he nearly forgot what sport he was playing.#147;It#146;s straight grind, put your helmet on, go out there hit the hardwood ... no, not hardwood, that#146;s basketball ... go hit the field, come back, get in the books, go right back out there. No TV, no nothing, just go out here play and study.#148;Odds and ends: Rookie linebacker J.T. Thomas left the practice field accompanied by a trainer and a team doctor, but coach Lovie Smith said, #147;He should be good to go,#148; for Saturday#146;s game. #133; Nose tackle Anthony Adams (calf) and wide receiver Sam Hurd (ankle/foot) did not practice. Adams is not expected to play Saturday. Smith said he anticipates playing starters about as much as he has in the past in preseason openers, which is not very much.Ÿ Follow Bob#146;s Bears reports via Twitter @Bob LeGere and check out our Bear Essentials blog at dailyherald.com.