While Vasher recovers, McBride holding his own

NFL teams don't count on seventh-round draft picks ever cracking the starting lineup, but Bears rookie cornerback Trumaine McBride is scheduled to start his fourth game today.

Not even the 5-foot-9, 185-pound McBride thought he'd start so soon after being selected 221st overall out of Mississippi, where he started 34 straight games over his final three seasons.

"I felt I would make the team and help out; contribute on special teams," McBride said. "But starting? No, I definitely didn't think so."

Injuries to starting corners Charles Tillman and Nate Vasher thrust McBride into the starting lineup against the Lions on Sept. 30. With Vasher still recovering from his groin injury, the Bears have decided McBride is a better option as a starter opposite Tillman than veteran nickel back Ricky Manning Jr. or safety Danieal Manning.

Waiting until the final round of the draft didn't sit too well with McBride, but he said he used the snub to his advantage.

"It made me very mad to think I would drop so low," McBride said. "But I kind of just rolled with it and played with a chip on my shoulder coming into camp, so that really motivated me."

McBride said his proficiency in the preseason, which was a pleasant surprise to Bears coaches, buoyed his confidence that he could compete in the NFL sooner than expected. Even before that, McBride wasn't overmatched against receivers in training camp.

"It was just basically staying focused and knowing that I wasn't a starter (yet), so I had to make every chance count, whether it's breaking up a pass, making a tackle or just staying hungry," he said. "I know God put me here for a reason, and now it's showing."

Although he already has three starts under his belt, McBride isn't yet comfortable enough to feel like a veteran.

"Not at all. I have a lot of learning to do," he said. "I feel better with the defensive scheme, but I definitely don't feel like a veteran yet."

McBride will be at a huge size disadvantage today against the Raiders' big, talented wideouts, Jerry Porter (6-2, 220) and Ronald Curry (6-2, 210), but that's nothing unusual for the youngest player on the Bears' roster, who didn't turn 22 until the week before his first NFL start.

Opponents haven't picked on McBride as much as he expected. It could happen today, although the Raiders have had problems in the passing game with either Daunte Culpepper or Josh McCown at quarterback.

"I will be looking for it this game," he said. "Definitely."