Two new linebackers key to improved defense

According to defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, the Chicago Bears' expected improvement on that side of the ball in Year Two depends heavily on their two new inside linebackers.

Danny Trevathan and Jerrell Freeman are the Bears' top two free-agent signings, and both are established, productive veterans. But they're operating in a new scheme and attempting to mesh with a new group.

"I think we have some better pieces to work with for sure," Fangio said. "(But) the one thing that will have to get honed up quickly is we are vastly new at the inside linebacker position. So the carry-over from Year One to Year Two is not there at that position, and that's a critical position because those guys are kind of the quarterback of the defense; they're in between everybody.

"As fast as those guys learn how to quarterback the defense, feel comfortable in what we're doing and we feel comfortable with them, will determine how fast and how well we improve."

A long look:

Deiondre Hall, the Bears' third fourth-round pick, split time between cornerback and safety at Northern Iowa.

But during the rookie minicamp, he was used exclusively at cornerback, where his freakishly long, 34 3/8-inch arms could be a valuable asset. But only if he can stay close enough to the action to use his reach to make plays.

"Length is always good," Vic Fangio said, "providing you have the movement skills that allow you to use your length. Length is only good if you can stay close to the guy and then when the ball comes, the length becomes an advantage.

"If they're running away from you, the length is of no use. We've got to find out and see how well he moves, how well he can cover, to where his length can be an asset at the point of the ball when it's coming. He's another guy we just have to learn more about in the next month-and-a-half.

Playing a role:

Fifth-round running back Jordan Howard seems like the perfect complement to smaller, quicker, faster Jeremy Langford.

"He's a bigger back," offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains said of the 6-foot, 230-pound Howard. "He's a change-of-pace back. Their skill sets are different. We'll use the skill sets the way it needs to be. We won't ask them to both do the same thing, but we'll find out what Howard does well and we'll play to that."

Making the club:

Three tryout players were signed at the conclusion the weekend rookie minicamp: Connecticut defensive lineman Kenton Adeyemi, Colorado State-Pueblo wide receiver Kieren Duncan and North Dakota State punter Ben LeCompte from Barrington.

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