Carimi Remains Confident About Grasping Bears' Offense
CHICAGO (WSCR) When Gabe Carimi was drafted by the Bears April 28, he had no idea how long it would be before he would actually be able to meet his teammates, participate in team workouts and meet with coaches about the offense.
It's now July 13 and the offensive tackle still doesn't know when all that will happen.
Carimi said Wednesday on The Boers and Bernstein Show on 670 The Score that he has exchanged text messages with Jay Cutler and talked on the phone with Olin Kreutz, but otherwise, he's just been working out in Madison, Wis. where the former Badger played his college ball. Unfortunately, Carimi said he missed getting a playbook by just two hours when the lockout was temporarily lifted the day the NFL Draft started. A stay was put on the temporary lift the next day, just before he arrived at Halas Hall for the first time.
"I have all the clips of every Bear pass and run that they did last year and I've watched that," Carimi said. "So I have an idea of what they run. I don't know the names yet, but I definitely feel comfortable with what they are running."
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Carimi explained that while most college teams run three- or five-step drops with their quarterbacks, the Badgers usually ran seven-step drops, similar to what the Bears run with Cutler.
"Overall, Wisconsin ran a very similar offense and I think that's why the Chicago Bears were so attracted to a tackle like me," he said.
Despite the lack of contact with the Bears over the summer, Carimi remains confident about jumping into Mike Martz's system whenever the lockout ends and being able to contribute right away, whether it's a left or right tackle.
"I feel like I can play either position extremely well," he said. "Obviously I feel more comfortable at left tackle. I've played there for a longer part of my career, but wherever they really need me is how it goes. That's what's going to happen."
Carimi also said he is looking forward to facing defensive end Julius Peppers in practice.
"I'm looking forward to the first day in pads. I want to be able to put a measuring stick out there and say 'Okay, this is where I'm at and there is where I want to be,'" Carimi said.
