March 27--PHOENIX -- In evaluating last season, the Bears' new regime was troubled enough by the team's injury problems to act on them.
"We had a lot of soft-tissue injuries last year," coach John Fox said Wednesday at the NFL owners meetings. "We kind of changed philosophically and the look of our weight room. We're going to do things a lot different, from our offseason conditioning, the approach, to the load, how we handle that."
Changes began quickly. Two days after Fox's introductory news conference, the team announced strength and conditioning coordinator Mike Clark would not return. Clark had been with the Bears for two of his 11 NFL seasons. Fox brought strength and conditioning coach Jason George with him from the Broncos.
It can be difficult to pinpoint a trend among a team's injuries because circumstances for each often involve unique game situations. That's where the soft-tissue element comes in.
Examples of such injuries last season include guard Matt Slauson's torn pectoral muscle, cornerback Charles Tillman's torn triceps, linebacker Lance Briggs' groin injury and the ankle sprains receivers Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery suffered.
So what are the Bears doing differently?
"It's more team-oriented," Fox said. "We have four strength coaches now. It's done more in groups. Just philosophically a little bit different (what) some people are doing and when."
The Bears' strength and conditioning program is scheduled to begin April 6.
Running theme: Fox continues to hint not-so-subtly that the Bears will run the ball, keep running it and run it some more. Part of that plan is to ease how much of the offense's success relies on quarterback Jay Cutler, but it also meshes with Fox's philosophy.
Fox rotated running backs in his previous stops with the Broncos and Panthers. What that means for Bears workhorse Matt Forte remains to be seen.
"I have great respect for him," Fox said. "I don't even know who that other back could be. ...He's obviously a solid performer, a guy we're going to lean on a lot this year."
Get out the vote: The 2015 Bears will have six weekly captains, including five fixed ones voted on by the players.
"There will be two offense, two defense and one special teams," Fox said. "You're allowed six, so I name one weekly, and that's based on performance."
Former coach Marc Trestman's system of rotating captains weekly last season became a media talking point as the team collapsed and leadership questions hovered.
rcampbell@tribpub.com
