May 10--When Vic Fangio was asked Saturday about building blocks he inherited as the Bears' new defensive coordinator, his mention of cornerback Kyle Fuller came as no surprise.
The second player he named, however, opened some eyes -- linebacker Shea McClellin.
The Bears' 2012 first-round pick hasn't produced consistently at a level commensurate with that draft pedigree, but Fangio sounds optimistic McClellin can be an important part of the new 3-4 defense.
"He has good size (6-foot-3, 260 pounds)," Fangio said. "He has good athletic ability. He has been hindered, I think, by being moved around -- to no fault of anybody's. That's just the way it goes. He has a chance to be a good inside linebacker."
Fangio's endorsement should be a lift for McClellin, especially after new general manager Ryan Pace declined the team's option on his contract for 2016.
Fangio believes McClellin will benefit from devoting his time and focus to one position over an extended period. Inside linebacker is Fangio's preference, even though McClellin trained during the winter to play outside linebacker.
"He has good instincts," Fangio said. "He can run. He could be a good blitzer from in there. Just a little bit of everything."
Vote of confidence: The Bears signed embattled defensive end Ray McDonald in March largely because Fangio vouched for his character in the wake of separate assault accusations from two women.
Fangio believes so strongly in McDonald that he recommended McDonald to two other teams after Bears Chairman George McCaskey initially vetoed the signing.
"I'd been around him for four years, so I knew what kind of guy he was on a daily basis," Fangio said. "Nobody gets to know players and players get to know coaches more than when you're in football because we're with those guys eight, nine hours a day, and in training camp more. I know who he is."
Fangio said McDonald's legal troubles were "unsettling," but he heavily weighs the fact McDonald has not been charged to this point.
"The headlines, I think, looked worse than what actually happened, but they happened," Fangio said. "He made a mistake putting himself in those positions for that to happen. But ultimately he was not charged with anything, so we felt good about it here."
Settling in: Nose tackle Eddie Goldman, the Bears' second-round pick, participated in rookie minicamp practice Saturday. He left Friday's session early as a precaution with minor back tightness, he said.
Goldman said he hadn't experienced such discomfort before. That led to a recap of his flight to Chicago.
"You know how you get your ticket, but you don't have your seat yet and they give it to you at the gate?" he said. "They gave me the middle seat. It was a full flight, too."
Players don't wear full pads at rookie camp, so coaches won't get a first-hand look at Goldman's strength fighting run blocks until training camp. For now, he's trying to show his grasp of techniques and his assignments.
"That's the reason why the walk-throughs are so physical," he said. "People trying to prove themselves."
rcampbell@tribpub.com
