Long before the combine, Chicago knew plenty about Urlacher's ability. He was an All-America free safety at New Mexico who also played a little wide receiver and returned kicks and punts. His combination of size and athleticism made him an attractive prospect as an NFL linebacker, so much so that the Bears made him the ninth pick in the draft and immediately penciled him in as their starter on the strong side.
"I look for the kid to be a franchise-type player," says Kansas City Chiefs coach Gunther Cunningham, who coached Urlacher in the Senior Bowl. "He's going to carry a team on his back some day. Why do I say that? Because of his skills and the type of person he is."
As Chicago went through a minicamp last week in Lake Forest, Ill., Urlacher looked very much like a rookie trying to find his way. "He looked a little off at times," said Bears coach Dick Jauron. "But he's athletic, and that's what we drafted."
"For the most part, I'm lost," Urlacher admitted. "I'm still looking at one thing instead of the whole picture. I just roamed in college. Here everything is much faster, especially being closer to the line of scrimmage. You don't have as much time to react because the linemen are on you so quick."
"He has to learn how to play his position," says Mark Hatley, the Bears' vice president of player personnel.
