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LB Marcus Freeman (HC Notre Dame, Constant Backtracker)

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Q: The Bears got a perfect fit for their defense in Marcus Freeman and I can't believe he lasted as long in the draft as he did. What kind of impact can he make as a rookie?

Scott, Upper Arlington, Ohio

A: Freeman looks like he fits the mold the Bears have for a weak-side linebacker, and barring an injury that job is going to be held this season and for seasons to come by Lance Briggs. It will put Freeman in a good position to learn on the job, and perhaps he will get in the mix as a backup at some of the other spots eventually. I'd suspect the first plan of action is to make sure he learns the weak side. The nice thing for Freeman is he got experience playing special teams at Ohio State, and that will certainly be an opportunity he has here. He worked as the personal protector on the punt team in school, and we'll see what special teams coordinator Dave Toub has in store for him. The feeling is Freeman would not have lasted anywhere near the fifth round in the draft had he come out in 2008 after his junior year but an ankle injury and a less productive senior season affected his stock.
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2 days to Camp: Four Down Territory as Bourbonnais closes in - Inside the Bears
 
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August 11, 2009
Freeman fired up about playing in first NFL preseason game
By: Larry Mayer | Last Updated: 8/11/2009


Rookie linebacker Marcus Freeman, a fifth-round draft pick from Ohio State, shares his thoughts in a weekly diary on ChicagoBears.com:

I think I speak for all of the rookies when I say that we?re super-excited about playing in our first preseason game Saturday night in Buffalo. Finally being able to put on a Chicago Bears game uniform is something we?ll never forget, and we?re excited to get out there and actually hit an opponent and not just a teammate in practice.

Freeman_inside062309(2).jpg

Bears rookie Marcus Freeman will play in his first NFL game Saturday night against the Bills in Buffalo.

You really won?t know what to expect until you get out there. You can sit here and fantasize about how big it?s going to be?it?s your first NFL game?but nobody?s really going to know how it feels until we actually get to run out on the field and play against the Bills.

I suspect that it?s going to be the same feeling I had as a college football player the first time I ran out of the tunnel in an Ohio State uniform. But it?s going to be amplified times 10. To finally be in the NFL and to put on a Bears uniform in the first preseason game, we?re going to be flying.

In terms of executing my assignments, I think I?m definitely prepared. That?s why we?ve been in practice and that?s why we?ve gone through training camp. Once the ball is kicked off, you?re going to make some mistakes because that?s a part of being a rookie. You?re going to make some mistakes because you haven?t done anything full speed like you?re going to on Saturday. I think we?re all prepared to go out there and execute. We?ve just got to try to relax.

Like coach [Bob] Babich told us, this is an opportunity for us to showcase our r?sum? for 32 teams. The NFL is business and you don?t know how long you?ll be with any team. So this is a chance to go out there and prove to the Chicago Bears and every other team that you belong in the NFL and can play in the NFL.
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Freeman fired up about playing in first NFL preseason game - Chicago Bears
 
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Bears longshots ready to take their best shot
By Lindsey Willhite | Daily Herald StaffContact writerPublished: 8/14/2009

BOURBONNAIS - While at Ohio State, Marcus Freeman started and excelled in two BCS championship games. He started twice in The Big Game against Michigan.

He practiced in front of 90,000 fans during spring ball and basically experienced the hero treatment every day for five years while in Columbus.

But nothing, in his mind, will compare to playing a subservient role in the Bears' preseason opener on Saturday at Buffalo (7 p.m., Channel 32).

"There might not be as many fans as there were at Ohio Stadium, but I think this is going to be three times as great," Freeman said. "For a lot of us rookies, this is a dream come true to be able to play in an NFL game.

"I know it's preseason, but it's our first real taste of the NFL. We're all excited. I know our adrenaline is going to be rushing."

But when the kickoff goes up, the time in several rookies' hourglasses starts to rush out.

"We have almost 80 guys here in camp," said Bears coach Lovie Smith. "They know only 53 stay."

For guys like Freeman, a fifth-round draft pick who's No. 4 on the team's pecking order at strong-side linebacker, and free-agent wide receiver Eric Peterman, who's probably running ninth at a position where the Bears will keep just six, these so-called meaningless exhibitions couldn't be more crucial.

"I keep hearing that all the evaluations are going to be during the preseason games," Peterman said. "I'm just trying to wait for those games to come up and get some good plays down on film. I keep hearing your preseason games are going to be your resume."

"There are 32 teams that are going to see this tape," Freeman said.
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Daily Herald | Bears longshots ready to take their best shot
 
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Marcus is going to have a battle to make the team with the recent signing and strong special team play from McClover...
Commando, and I'm not talking about the California governor. They call linebacker Darrell McClover "commando" and he's back on the scene for a role on special teams. Coordinator Dave Toub is usually given a roster spot to get one guy who serves as a core, four-phase contributor for him. You'd have to think that is what McClover was re-signed to do. Whether he fills the role remains to be seen, but he'll make it more interesting at the bottom of the depth chart at linebacker. Jamar Williams has an undisclosed foot/ankle injury. Hunter Hillenmeyer has been in a battle most of camp and played well at Buffalo. Undrafted rookie free agent Kevin Malast has done some positive things. Rookie fifth-round pick Marcus Freeman probably will not make the team. Does McClover pose a danger for Hillenmeyer, who is probably an average special teams contributor?
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Cutlermania: Six non-quarterback items to watch at Denver - Inside the Bears
 
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Linebackers (6): Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs, Pisa Tinoisamoa, Nick Roach, Jamar Williams, Hunter Hillenmeyer.
Undrafted free agent Kevin Malast has been as impressive as any rookie on the roster and could force the coaching staff into a long, hard decision because he might not make it through waivers to bring him back to the practice squad. Fifth-round pick Marcus Freeman did little in camp or during the preseason and becomes one of the rare non-seventh-rounders that Angelo cuts ties with quickly.
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Slice and dice as Bears' roster close to being set :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Bears
Marcus Freeman: Fifth-round pick from Ohio State didn't flash during training camp and hasn't done much in preseason, although he did manage to pick a pass off at Denver. Freeman just hasn't looked very instinctual on the field and that's something the Bears usually find in their linebackers. But, Freeman possesses the one thing money can't buy--draft status--and Angelo typically holds on to his draft picks that are above the seventh round.
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http://blogs.suntimes.com/bears/2009/09/projecting_the_53-man_roster_f.html
 
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Buckskin86;1529978; said:
Twitter / Brad Biggs: The Bears have released 5t ...
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He will certainly be picked up by someone, this wont be the last you hear of Freeman.

Larry Grant didn't pan out in San Fran, but he's shining at St Louis. I would love to see Freeman catch on at a team that has veterans that can take him under their wing and groom him for success. He was overshadowed in college because of JL's bright star, but he was a team-first guy that has a ton of skill.
 
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Why do you think marcus freeman was cut? --Danny Mack

Marcus Freeman was a dud from the beginning. Bears scouts thought he would be pretty athletic based on his pre-draft testing, but Freeman did not play as athletically as he tested. He has a prototype NFL body, but he doesn't move like a prototype NFL linebacker. What's more, he didn't show a lot of intensity or fire. It wasn't even close with him, and even if the Bears had to put a linebacker on injured reserve, I would doubt if they would bring him back.
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Pompei Q&A: Bears will miss more than Urlacher's play -- chicagotribune.com

side note: two of the Bear starting LB's are hurt- Urlacher is out for the year
 
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Q: With all of the injuries the Bears have at linebacker, why not bring back Marcus Freeman, the fifth-round pick? He knows the system and probably has more upside than a veteran.

Marty F., Indiana

A: When the Bears cut ties with Freeman at the start of the month, and didn't pursue him for the practice squad that sent a clear message how they felt about him. I would be very surprised if Freeman resurfaces here. He joined the Buffalo Bills practice squad last week. The Bears didn't believe that Freeman played with much instinct and didn't see a lot of passion in his game. Plus, he did little on special teams and that is where they would want help from a reserve linebacker. Maybe the light turns on for him elsewhere. Sometimes a player needs a new environment.
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What's up with Vasher? ...and other great queries :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Sports
 
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