Problems for Chicago Bears first-round draft pick Shea McClellin in pass rush drills and scrimmage continued Wednesday, although not nearly to the extent they had earlier in the week.
The defensive end from Boise State showed little rushing the quarterback and again struggled against undrafted free agent Tyler Hendrickson, a third-stringer and undrafted free agent from Concordia (MN). McClellin had no more success against other tackles.
Defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli remained positive, but acknowledged it has been a less-than-spectacular start by McClellin.
"He’s just got to keep coming," Marinelli said. "The work is there. The effort’s there. Now it’s just about developing not so much the counter move but just being comfortable from really coming off every down. Sometimes he’s kind of looking around a little bit instead of just going."
In an interview with Chicago's WMVP AM-1000 Wednesday, linebacker Brian Urlacher called McClellin a good athlete, but suggested he'll need time to develop and would have difficulty taking time away from veteran defensive end Israel Idonije.
"He's going to be a good special teams player this year," Urlacher said. "I'm not sure how much he'll play on defense."
Ground Ball
Commissioner Roger Goodell stopped by practice after he had been in Green Bay, and expressed concern over the field conditions at Soldier Field. It's a pertinent topic not only because the Bears had their family night workout canceled last year at Soldier Field due to poor conditions and have a family night workout scheduled for Friday, but because the turf always seems a problem late in the regular season.
"You don't grow a lot of grass in Chicago in November and December," Goodell said.
In the past it's been suggested the Bears should go to FieldTurf.
It's a player safety issue and also one of numerous issues working against Soldier Field ever hosting a Super Bowl.
More Refs
The league continues to go ahead with plans to use replacement refs if no solution to the labor situation occurs. And Goodell said there is also a desire by owners to hire more regular officials. The league wants to bring in three new crews, expanding the number of officials from 121 to 142, with the intention of using the extra crews to "help develop younger officials," Goodell said.
The ultimate aim is to improve the quality of the officiating.
Pro Wrestling
Tackle J'Marcus Webb said offensive coordinator Mike Tice gets on him about being a little too good-natured.
"He wants to see me get nasty and throw some dudes into the stands with the fans," Webb said.
Follow Bears reporter Gene Chamberlain on Twitter @CBSSportsNFLCHI.