The Sports Xchange

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. — The hunt for outside linebackers to rotate with Pernell McPhee and Sam Acho left the Chicago Bears’ coaching staff sorting through players with problems from the outset of training camp.

On one hand, they have Jared Allen, who at 34 years old never played the position. Then there are Willie Young and Lamarr Houston, both returning from surgeries.

When practices started Thursday, both Houston and Young got surprising clearance to go ahead. It is only eight months since Young tore an Achilles and Houston’s ACL tear was at midseason last year.

The plan was to bring both along a bit slowly but not keep them sidelined. It reminded head coach John Fox of the situation he had last year in Denver.

“I think we had two guys, Chris Harris and Von Miller a year ago, both ended up having Pro Bowl years that came off of ACLs,” he said. “So I think we have a pretty good blueprint on how to do it — again, knock on wood — you kind of hold your breath every time they go out there, whether it’s a game or practice. It’s a physical game.

“But I think we have good blueprint, a way to both earn their confidence — so much of this game is mental and in developing them and getting them stronger and more confident as we go. The goal date is (the opener) against Green Bay.”

With Houston, the fit seems a bit better.

“I believe I’m solid at linebacker,” he said. “I’m kind of small to be a (4-3) defensive end. … It’s the same thing I was doing in Oakland.”

The Bears tried making Houston into a 4-3 end last year and had almost no success before he tore the ACL celebrating a meaningless sack against New England — his only sack of the year.

“I’ve always been a person who has faced a lot of adversity in my life, so for me it wasn’t nothing,” Houston said of his injury. “With the Raiders, we were more of a hybrid 3-4.

“It’s similar (in Chicago), but a little different, but pretty similar for the outside linebacker.”

It’s Young who has to make the real transition to fit in, regardless of his injury. He came from Detroit and the wide-9 position at end to playing end and finishing with 10.5 sacks last year.

Now it’s a totally foreign concept to him, dropping back sometimes, or rushing from the standing position.

“I don’t know anything about playing linebacker, so obviously I study day in and day out now,” Young said. “It’s never a day off.”

Young laughed about the comparison of outside linebacker being not entirely different than wide-9 like he played in Detroit.

“Heck no! No! Not even close,” he said. “I might’ve had two things to worry about at defensive end regardless of how far out I was, keying the ball and getting the strength call from a linebacker.

“That ain’t so much the case now. I’ve got to give a call, take a call, listen for a call and watch for a call — and also key the ball.”

Young’s goal is to get back to 90 percent strength and “let everything else take care of itself,” but he’s facing long odds and could even be a cut victim.

“I’m not worried about all that, man,” he said. “I came in as a seventh-round draft pick, and I started from the bottom so ain’t nowhere for me to go but up.

“At this point, I’m not worried about all that stuff.”

Making matters worse for Houston and Young is the fact that unheralded backup end David Bass made a very smooth transition from 4-3 end to 3-4 linebacker and impressed coaches throughout OTAs. It makes for a more crowded field there.

Allen seemed more confident and physically conditioned to make an impact at a new spot despite his age. Only the pass coverage aspect had him fooled at the outset.

“Believe it or not, I’m an athlete,” he said. “I know I’m a try-hard guy, but believe it or not, I get athletic every now and again.”

Allen said there’s a benefit in learning football from a standup position at his age.

“Being older in my career, it’s nice not having to have my hand in the dirt,” he said. “Standing up takes a little pressure off the body.”