All Access: Whitehair talks position move

we could have sent a rat guard. Could have been a left tackle in college, where you were a left tackle in college. So the man of many talents is kind enough to give up some of his afternoons here before he hits downtown as the Bears get ready to check in a little walk through today and now ready to go. And you know, I don't know if you're gonna play at all, but you got to get your

mental self all ready to go just in case. Right, Yeah, you bet, And it's going to be exciting to go against somebody else than our own teammates for the first time in this year. So you know, we're really looking forward to that. And you know, getting back into the swing of the season. That's so cliche, but against what's been going on with that defense, it feels pretty good, right, Yeah, it does it does you know what? It turned back to dial a little bit because I don't know if

you're gonna play at all. I'd rather put your mind in the head of these young guys that are getting prepared. First game that you played, were you prepared? I was Secondly, what was more difficult the mental part of it or the physical part of it, because you know, Cody, when you break the huddle in your coachesn't standing here and you don't have all the comfort zone of training camp. Now, it's for real, the mental, mental or physical part of

it more challenging. I think it's more mental. Obviously it's the first game of the season two, so they could potentially throw some matu that hasn't been scouted. You know, they have all this time to prepare for us, and you know, you get a lot of that physical contact in training camp, so you just got to carry over what you didn't practice to the game. Where did you take your first snap in the NFO, Yeah at left guard? Left guard? You know, because what I've seen out of

you throughout training camp up into this point. Wow. I mean it's kind of your kind of you're everything that you are built for the NFL to be. Even though you succeeded at center, you have the ability to play tackle, you know, your power, your ability to work with Charles Leno Junior, your ability to work with James Daniels, first level, second level. It's got to be exciting for you in terms of everything you got going on in your life.

You're about to be a father for the first time, you're change in position, and you're probably at the best part of your early career. Yeah. Absolutely, And you know, I'm just taking a day by day. Obviously, it's a new position and I haven't played it in you know, three or four years live in a game, so you know, I've really embraced it and just try to get better every day and I'm going to carry it over to the game. You know, it's kind of weird that you're

still on your first contract. You have so much experience. We expect Cody to be a ten year VET right now, but you're still on your first gray hair and the beard. Yet don't rush him. Well, that's why he's shaving his head, So that's right. Don't rush him yet, but you know, you're just so accommodating of a guy. I mean, it's got to be the way you were brought up. Whatever's

best for the team, there's no complaining that. I'm sure you have your own anxieties from time to time over the course of your young career, but why why are you that way? I think that everybody's built and wired that way, right, I think you know, as a growing up, it's always a dream to you know, fulfill and play in the NFL. So every opportunity you get, you just have to embrace it, even though it can be challenging.

It can you know, you it can be uncomfortable at times, but you just got embrace it and take it, take it day by day and just try and get better every day. Who are the elder Statesman when you first got here and did they give you any any advice? And what advice would you give these young guys getting ready to play? Yeah, it was mainly Kylin Charles Um. You know that that really helped me through my rookie year, and and Bobby too. You know a lot of the guys that were here when I first got here are

still here. So you know, we're really fortunate to have most of our rooms still here, um, you know, but I think that the biggest thing for the younger guy. It's just, you know, embrace every every opportunity, every rep you get, because everyone knows there's a ninety man roster right now and we cut it in half in about two or three weeks. So what you put on tape is what you're graded by, um, you know, and other

teams are going to see that as well. So just go out there and play your best, and you know, embrace every opportunity you've got. You've got two offensive line coaches since you've been here three this is my third one really well, you know, Magazoo and Harry Houston. They can get pretty heated pretty quick. You know. We sit off to the side and we watch these drills and Harry's a no nonsense guy. So it's kind of weird how veteran handles it or how a rookie has to

accept it, you know. And I think we all lived through that in the course of our careers. Yeah. Absolutely, And Harry's just very passionate and wants you to be the best player you can be, and um, you know, he's going to obviously hope you get to that potential. You have Cody White Harr guest here on Bears All Access.

It's brought to you by IGS Energy along with Paul's ring Or Engineering, Greg Miller producing today, I'm Jeff Joniak along with Tom Thare, and I want to go back to you know, that versatility that you bring to the table, because if I'm not mistaken, Bill Snyder at Kansas State say hey, we need you to play tackle. You just threw you in there. Boom, you're in there. Bears say, hey, when you we throw you in there, ye hadn't snapped maybe a couple of times at the Senior Bowl, but

never in your life. I mean the view from the top looking at a guy like yourself. They wouldn't ask you to do it if they didn't think you could handle it. Right. So that's that, I guess is the silver lining of the story, right absolutely. And you know it all started too when I when I got to k State, I mean my retchirt freshman year, they threw me in at right tackle and then you know, as you're red shirt and they're obviously trying to see where

you're you're gonna fit best, and play best. But you know, I played everywhere along the line at k State other than center. Um, you know, so I think that just carries over, and you know it prepares you to be versatile in the NFL as well. So do you do you lay there in bed at night and say, oh my god, they're gonna bring me a tackle, oh my god, they're gonna mark me a center, and you know, you

just don't get to sleep. I mean, honestly, you're human. Yeah, I mean, it's obviously something in the back of your head, especially on game days. You really have to be prepared for for every position in every situation that could happen due to you know, the amount of guys that shot up. So um, you know, you definitely have to prepare yourself. But I don't think it's really much of a worry. You just it's more of like a mindset in a

preparation standpoint. So you're kind of an old man. Oh man, Well, let's no. I mean, this is kind of fun I'm having with this question. Duke Shelley, rookie draft choice from the Bears, is from K State. Does he know you? He does? I played one year with him, you did, Yeah, So there was no really, so there's just a reintroduction because you know, here's a guy, because you know, it's it's kind of neat when you get a guy from

your same college. You know, you got two rookie offensive lineman from Notre Dame that it can kind of you know, continue their friendship that they started in college. Now you have a guy that you met a few years ago comes on board. Yeah, it's it's pretty cool to play

with your means that you know, you played within college. Also, one of our linement, Cornelius Lucas, is also from k State, And it's kind of funny too because when I got to k State and he was there, Um, obviously I kind of tried to see where I fit best, but they ended up putting me a left guard for my first two years in college before I moved to left tackle. But Cornelius was a left tackle in college too, So it's just a big guy. He is a big guy. Yeah, so it's kind of crazy how you know, um, you

end up meeting later down the road as well. It'll be interesting to see if his talent convert, you know, can play left tackle in the NFL because he's got the length of Bobby Massey. He's got good feet, he's got he's he has bendability in him, and you know, he's one of the guys that's going to be an

interesting guy to watch in the first preseason game. Yeah absolutely, And you know he's come in and done a great job and um, you know, Harry's worked with him really good and we're just really excited to see what he can do. It's a great competition going on. The depth chart is different now at all positions, but in the offensive line situation, you got your your five blocks of granite right now, and the pieces may move around. But

those young guys have learned a lot too. I mean we could we can go down the list, but the guy that really is impressive to me because of the switch is Rashod Yeah, Rashod Kaward trying to make this move to right tackle. Yeah absolutely. You know, he played defensive line my second or third year, his rookie year.

I guess it was my second year, you know, and then he was asked to come play offensive line, and you know that can be you know, have its own challenges, of course, you know, but he's done a great job and really embrace that role as the Bears get ready to meet the Carolina Panthers. Were with Cody Whitehair as we continue on here on Bears All Access with Tom There, I'm Jeff Joni Ek. Let's take our first break. This

is Chicago Sports Radio six seventy The Score. Welcome back to Bears All Access, brought to you by IGS Energy, a proud partner of the Chicago Bears, providing electricity, natural gas, and home warranty products to over one million customers across the country. Learn more about IGS Energy at IGS. Tom Cody white Hair our guest here on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy the Score with Jeff and Tom talking Bears Panthers in town tomorrow at the start of the preseason.

You know, in the offseason and and the more you're here, you get asked to do things, whether this this show for example, or more interviews and being out there in public and so forth. Um. Not everybody loves it, not everybody is engaging, but you have embraced it. You're starting to do a lot more. Is this something you are trying to challenge yourself to do more of that too? I know you did some stuff back in Kansas too. Yeah. Um, you know it's it's kind of like the offensive line

really aren't in the spotlight. So when, um, you know, the opportunities come, you're just taking embrace it. And it's also an opportunity to talk about guys in your room and and your other teammates across um, you know, the team to really um, you know, get a one on one with somebody and really talk about how they're doing both you know, on the field. And there's also a business component too though too. You're you're you're marketing your brand a little bit too. Have you opened some doors

for yourself in future? You know, I've you obviously meet people along the way and it's good networking as well. But you know, I've just been focusing on football and you know, hopefully that'll all work out well. You know. It's it's like the Bear schedule this year. It's all over the place because, like Matt Seton, Aggie says, you guys are a good team and people want to see you four and twelve. Nobody wants to interview twelve and four.

Everybody wants it. It's amazing as you lift threose times. Look, I've been through a five and ten, five and eleven season, the whole deal. And you see the media room empty at the end of the year as opposed to last year when you see a double digit amount of credentials requested. So it is the benefit of being on a good team. But it's also a lot of fun. Yeah it is. And you know, obviously when you win, it brings more attention to you, like you should. But you know that

attention is good, especially when you're winning. It's always good to talk to the media when you're winning. Cody White here, our guest here on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy the score. You are a nominee for the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award last year. I would then mean to you, and what what does that say about you? Yeah, that means a lot um you know obviously that's voted on your your players and coaches throughout you know, our office, and so

it's really cool. It just reassures you that you're you're you know, you fit this locker room and you fit the culture that this organization is trying to bring. And I know because Ryan is as referred to you in public about this. For example, t J. Clemings comes aboard, you know, uh, does he fit the culture? And coming from you says a lot, because yes, you're you're very mild mannered and calm, and you do your interviews in your own way, but you know you're one of the

heartbeats of that locker room. And so to have a pillar asked that question, first of all, is rare, I think, And but it does feed into what Matt is, Matt and Ryan have tried to put together here. They're they're not budging from those core principles. And what how does

that reassure you here for not only today but tomorrow. Yeah? Absolutely, Um, obviously, you know, and you always want good guys in here that because you know, the better the culture is, the better you're gonna be on the field, the closer you're going to be, you know, and you're going to be more disciplined on the field if you if you bring in great guys and guys with good characters. So I think you know, that's where it all started, and that's

how we turn this thing around. It's amazing though, you guys that's got character all over the board. You know, you got his high character guys, hard working guys on the defensive side of the ball, and it's important, you know, just just to analogize a little bit in nineteen eighty five when we used to go to practice. There are times that I was intimidated and also apprehensive because of the talent that we are practicing against. And I kind of see it out here too. That's a talented group

of guys. And so you can't go out there lethargically and go, oh, I'm just gonna walk my way through practice. It's not happening. If you got the inside big guys, you got outside talent, you got second level, third level. But it really benefits you guys in the long run, doesn't it. Yeah, absolutely, And you've got to be on your you know, especially with our defense, there's no days off. You got to be on your game at all times.

But you know, it'll definitely help us for the season, you know, going against that defense and you know, the high caliber guys that we're going up against, it only makes us better. You know, when we used to be have double days, we used to have run concentration in the morning, pass concentration in the afternoon. So you go to the afternoon practice and those guys had it cranked up because they knew that we were throwing the ball a majority of the time. Sometimes it was hard to

complete a pass because they were such good rushers. Now in this new collective bargaining agreement where you go through everything in a daily practice, do you like it that way that they're kind of off guard and they really don't know what you're doing rather than having run pass And yeah, it definitely makes our job a lot easier

for sure, because it keeps them honest. Um, you know, they're not going to tee off unless you know it's a situation where you're fourth in one or third and one and you're you're obviously more than likely going to run the ball. But you know, it's it definitely gets heated out there and it's a good competition, but it also keeps um you know, them on their toes as well. Fighting. Yeah, yeah, he did. Yeah, but no, no, it's not spilled over

knock out wood. No, it hasn't, you know. And that's that comes back to the character too, and keeping poise and that kind of deal, because you know that that stuff could carry over in the game and then you end up costing your team a fifteen yard penalty and

then it sets your team back. There's a hefty fine that goes along with fight nowadays because it's across the landscape of the NFL, not only the Bears, but I think everybody has that, you know, that fine sheet in their playbook on look some ridiculous fight that we don't need to happen, right, Yeah, But the funny thing is everybody's waiting for that training campbell. But like what Ted Larson was resigned first thing out of his mouth. Oh boy,

training camp is gonna be. But you know, maybe you know he's he's one of only three ten year vets on the team, so maybe he's calming down right. You know, Ted was a good addition for us, a good veteran um, you know, a good person for a room, and you know he's definitely making us better. Can you name the other two ten year guys, let's see, Chase Daniel, Yes, Ted Lorshon and too much Day Jack McManus. You know, And it's kind of funny because we are talking about

this and talking about those guys. They're the three guys that have gone through double day sessions in a training camp. You know, luckily that you guys weren't cursed to have to have to go through that. But you know, it's just made a man out of you. Hey, I envy the players and what they go through, but you know, the day is just divided differently. It would have been fun. But you know, also we always talk about we went to training camp with an unlimited roster, so you could

have one hundred and thirty guys. There's a lot more guys competing for your position, but there's also you know, probably a third less reps you're taking when you have four complete offensive lines or three complete defensive four to complete defensive lines. Right, when when did you have When's the last time you had two days in your in your life? Probably college? Yeah, but they weren't like padded

both both times. You know, the the early practice would be your heavier contact, your more padded days, and then you know that next practice would not be a walkthrough. You may have shoulder pads on, but it wouldn't be

a full pad, live contact and all that. I mean, you know, once you got shoulder pads and a helmet on, it's yeah, it's kind of hard to dial it down because I always when I see I hate no pad football, and when I go out there, you guys are no pads, because it really makes you secure or insecure depending upon the position you play, because you don't really have that collision to the whistle type of feel that you know, if you have the right block or the good for sure,

you definitely scale it back a little bit when you're not in pads. But you know, I think the biggest thing for us when we're not in pads is just working fits and footwork and hands and just making sure technically we're sound, so you're still getting something accomplished. Yeah, it's not like it's just a wasted day or no

moving around, not at all. You know, we're still trying to work and obviously you know it's it's not as physical and you know, as hard as pads, but um, you know, they're definitely some some technical things you can work when you're not in Padget what did'll helpless? The speed of the talented guys, they're still going full speed and the receivers bas linebackers and stuff. Absolutely, and we are two for that first you know, three or four steps.

It's that you know, that initial contact and stuff like that that we try and scale back. How about the how about the fan support this year? Because I was going to bring it up at the Family Night. You know, you guys went through a two hour and forty minute full practice there. But between the fan support at Soldier Field the fans support down at bourbon A pretty impressive. Yeah,

our fans have been great. Um, you know, it's it's it's really cool to come out and see it at eight fifteen in the morning, eight to ten thousand people out there at bourbon A and then we come to Soldier Field and it's just, you know, a packed house and they're loud and everything. So we definitely have our fans behind us and that's a good feeling to have for sure. Cody white Hair, our guest here on Bears All Access. Let's step away for another break here on

Chicago Sports Radio six seventy to score. The Chicago Bears Network presents Inside the Bears, brought to you by Verizon, Anthony Adams and the n Screeden cover the world of Bears football, on and off the field every Sunday night at ten thirty five pm on Fox thirty two Chicago, or watch anytime at Chicago Bears dot com or on the Bears official app. Tom There, Jeff Joni At Cody white Hair, our guest starting left guard, for the Chicago Bears.

Is the gulated to meet the Carolina Panthers tomorrow night at Soldier Field, the first of their four preseason games. And don't know what the snaps are going to be, but we do know the younger guys are going to definitely be on the field. The guys that are trying to win roster spots are not all younger guys. Sometimes how you know, he's assumed that, But it is a

young team buying large with some sprinkling of veterans. As you have gone through practice and you're watching tape, you're going through your meetings, have you sat there for a moment and thought, wow, our talent level has definitely changed since you got here. Yeah? Absolutely, Um. You know, the good thing about our team is we have great depth,

and that's what makes you know, team collectively better. It pushes your starters a little bit, It pushes you know, everyone from every every side of the ball and even you know, first string, second string, and third strings. So I think, you know, good young players is obviously good

to have. It's kind of fun too, the depth on the other side of the ball, because you know, I always talk about the Bears have the luxury of having experience backup quarterbacks and really helps develop young backs and receivers because they know the offense so well. But it also benefits you guys. No matter if you're going through the first unit, second or some of the third group, guys,

you're always going against the talented, fast group. You know, whether you're going, you know, against the backup linebackers, and you know they run well. The big the defensive linemen on the second team are big and strong themselves. So it's got to benefit you guys. Yeah, absolutely, And like I said, the organization has done a great job at

creating that depth and making this training camp really competitive. Um, you know, it keeps guys hungry and keeps you guys, you know, coming out to work really hard every day. Crazy thing is with Chase and Tyler, they have seven

years each of experience in this system. I mean you're not getting that on the other thirty one teams, right, not from your backup Yeah, there's no way the dividends for the guys trying to make the roster is the sixth or seventh whatever on the offensive side of the ball.

He's got to feel like, Wow, I'm lucky here because those guys know what they're doing absolutely, and I think it helps us up front too, just you know, those quarterbacks being able to see certain things in changing protection too, that some things, you know, sometimes those rookie guys come in and they don't quite see the field from her perspective to the quarterback seas, So it's obviously nice to

have that helping protection calls as well. So my first year with the Bears, I never got into a preseason game until the second half of the last preseason game because the starters played the whole game and I sat there and just wind about it on the bench. So you and now it's kind of reversal here. The veterans really don't play a lot in the preseason, but the practices mean a lot when you get into the first

game of the season. Are does it Does it take a series or two series that kind of fall into place, or because you guys go through a pretty quick pace practice against the talent to defense, are you ready to go from play one? Yeah? I think our defense will help us obviously, you know, get those reps and get

you know, to feeling good on game day. But obviously there's some jitters, you know, going against a new a new defense, New people that you know may kind of throw a little loop in you for a little bit, but usually after the first series you're kind of backing and comfortable and ready to go. Now that you're playing guard. Have you ever gone on the line of scrimmage and forgot the snap count, because you know, as a center man, you can't. You you got to be the leader of

the snap count, direction responsibilities. A lot of stuff running through your head. Now your offensive guard boom, go to the line of scrimmage. Yeah, you're just worried about mull and a guy, and you might forget about that snap count. Yeah, There's definitely been a time or two where I have, But you know, you obviously lean on those guys to help you out. You know, I taught Jeff and I

talk about a lot. If our offensive line got together right now, we could use our whole communication that we used as an offensive line and no one would know what we are saying, but we could still communicate with each other. Have you guys achieved that status yet where you you're full communicated with each other without ever saying a word or maybe even a language that you have of your own. Yeah, there's definitely. Obviously certain looks you

have to communicate a little bit more. But if it's we go out there and it's a base look, we pretty much know what we're doing. Cody Whitehair our guest here on Bears All Access on Chicago Sports Radio six seventeenth score. It's brought to you by IGS Energy, Jeff Jonny k Tom there as well with Cody Whitehair, the Bears pro bowler last year at center. Look at the grin. Yeah, all right. You don't like talking about yourself, so I know, but you know, that had to be pretty darn cool. Yeah,

it was. It was really cool. And another cool thing too, is there was eight other Chicago Bears. There are seven or eight guys, you know, which really says a lot about the success that we had last year and the support, you know, from our fans and other people around our organizations to help us get get to that spot. This may be dumb question from a guy who never played

certainly never played offensive line. Do you have to think the game differently a guard versus center or do you just think the game like a center to benefit you at guard? I honestly think you know through the years that I played center it's obviously helping me see the field a little bit better at guard, um, you know, being able to see certain pressures and see it a little bit faster than I would if I hadn't played center,

because you're constantly looking at certain things when you play center. Um, you know. So I think it's definitely helped me out of playing guard, just seeing from different perspectives the pressure of a snap for anybody where they're they're been doing it forever or that's gone. Yes, and I definitely had my fair share of hiccups there, but hey, you know, everybody's learning, right. I mean you never did it before, you know, so, But is that is that relax you

a little differently? You know mentally? Yeah, it's definitely. You know, one last thing you have to worry about. Now you can just you know, line up at the guard position and just worry about your assignment, you know, and just kind of fire off the ball and be physical and not have to you know, slow down and worry about a snap. So that's that's nice. Yes, I'll let the experts handle it here, the two of you who've done both. But um, for a guy, and I think I know

you this way. Little things would irritate you. Right, So how much of that experience last training camp and in Denver and you know that did those things haunt you a little bit? Yeah, it definitely ate me up. Um, you know, you never want to be that guy to let your team down, and as a center, it all starts right there to get the ball to the quarterbacks.

So um, you know, it definitely eated me up. But you know, I just went back to the drawing board and figured out, you know the basics of just snapping the ball, and um, you know, it really helped me out and I cleared my mind a little bit because because kind of after you have a few, it then kind of becomes mental and you kind of, um, you know,

got to work through that. But I went back to the basics and then, um, you know, try to new snapping technique that you know, the coaches believed and thought it would help me out. And it did. And you know I had very minimal, if any, you know, snapping issues last year, So that was great. You know, it's amazing about professional athletes a picture as good as John Lester for the Cubs. He has a hard time throwing at overhand to first base, and I'm just the small

things in terms of sports. So what conversations James Daniels the new Center. You know, is he an introverted guy, because we kind of see an introverted side of him is in the huddle. Is he more talkative to you guys than what we see from him. Yeah. I think obviously to the outside world he comes off as an introvert. But you know, once you really get to know him and he gets to know you, he really opens up.

But you know, him getting being in that center role, um, you know, he's had to obviously talk a little bit more, but he's done a great job in communicating with the whole line, so that hasn't been an issue here. He's pretty funny, he's hilarious. He's a cut up, a little bit hilarious. You just gotta get get past that introvert side of him and then he's hilarious. So take us into when all you guys go hang out, Well, is it just one, you know, funny moment after the next.

I mean, how would you characterize your guys? Yeah, I mean, you know, the offensive line is a pretty tight group. We hang out a lot both you know, in the building, out of the building. Stuff. Like that. Um, you know, and we got some characters in the room that make you laugh all the time. Um, you know. But I think that the cool thing about us and the thing that's really helped us take the next step in our plays.

We know when to turn the switch on, um, you know, and there's a there's a time and a place to have a good time joke around, but there's also a time and a place you got to come in focused and ready to work. So I think that's that's really been good for us. We are always a lot funnier in our room on our offensive line. Coach wasn't in there yet. It's kind of it's got to be the same thing for you guys, because the camaraderie is like

no other. But you know, as soon as that guy comes in the door for us, Dick Stanfell for you, Harry's right, Yeah. Yeah, do you make Harry laugh? Yeah, we we make him laugh, and you know, we joke around and let he does. Yeah. We have a good time in our meeting rooms and um, you know, like you said, obviously, when the coach comes in, it's more business, but there's a these times where we're you know, working together and all having a good time and laughing it out.

Cody white Hair, our guest here on Bears All Access. Let's step away another break here on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy the score. Get up close to the twenty nineteen Chicago Bears at Enjoy Illinois Bears training Camp now through August tenth in bourbon at Get free tickets at Chicago Bears dot com. Yeah, it's winding down, just a couple of more practices, I think, one more open to the public, and they'll put the rap on the training

camp portion of the offseason. Here preseason, i should say, because it really doesn't stop in any way, shape or form. The competition. The practice is really kicking to high gear at this palace we now call Hallis Hall, the new renovated Hallis Hall. And just walking around here today I was up in Coach Naggi's office and just saw all the new stuff that you guys have already seen. They're putting the finishing touches on it. It words do not do it justice. I just got to say it. I'm

not exaggerating us players. How are you viewing this? Because it is something? Yeah, it's it's a beautiful place. We're very lucky. Um, you know, to be in the the wonderful palace that it is. You know that we have here, Um, you know, so we're very fortunate, and you know what a nice place it is. You know, a hall is just kind of reserved for wedding and receptions. That word alas,

this is a campus because there's multiple buildings. There's areas that if you're at one practice field the farthest away, I mean it's a it takes you a cant like you're crossing a campus in between classes. That's how big it is here nowadays. Yeah, for sure, it's it's definitely, um, you know, pretty big. But what a wonderful place it is. Well. And also you know, the aesthetics are obvious. I mean

it is like a museum up there. I mean they've they've got, you know, all the history that you would expect from a team in the league for the one we're celebrating for a hundred years. But uh, there's some quiet places there for the whole building. I mean it's just not football operations, but the football operations side. From a health point of view, there are benefits to what is here. The different types of ways for you guys to stay healthy or get healthy if you're banged up.

You know that you wouldn't get say a training camp or whatever. Um. So now that you're back here and you will be back here next week. Uh, those things important now to us players. You take advantage of everything you possibly can. I'm assuming yeah, absolutely, And those are the little things we're talking about that you know, they're taking care of your body, making sure you're fresh each and every day to to help you perform at the highest level in practice and um for whatever you're doing,

whether you're sitting in meetings, practice, whatever you're doing. Um. You know. So they've done a nice job with with getting us those recovery tools and and everything we can use. I like that weight room. It's wonderful. Is that's where you live? Absolute clearly right. You don't look like me. It looks like you know Tom Benny play. Yeah, it's it's it's a beautiful place. Um, you know, wonderful equipment, UM,

beautiful view. Um. You know they just did well. You're an outdoors guy, so yeah, you're looking for things out actually, so you know it's just a beautiful place and room to work. You know. The camaraderie is built in the weight room also built in the locker room. Are you still locker and next to the same people you did in the old locker room? Does it seem more expansive where you guys have Is there more room in the

locker room? Because you know that, you know, you go through the original locker room back at old Hollis Hall and that's all you had. You didn't have a dining hall, you didn't have it. That's where everything took place. Now you have a locker room where those types of conversations during the downtime take place and stuff. So you like

where you're how that's going. Yeah, it is. And you know the cool thing I think that the coach Nagie's done and this organization is they've kind of intermixed people throughout the locker You're not just sitting with your your own position group because you talk to them all the day throughout the day. So it's pretty cool they they

intermixed different positions. Next he got right and left. To to my right, I got a keym right and then to my left I have Danny so um So it's loud ones bellowing, the infectious laugh of a big bad to Kim Hicks and Danny Travathan's like he's like a preacher,

like he is just spouting right now, you know. But I think it's so cool too because you get to, you know, interact with them in the locker room when you're sitting there for ten minutes that you know, if you weren't sitting next to them, you may you may not get to talk um, you know, and figure out a little bit about their life as well. So that's pretty cool to really get to know them on a personal level. A couple of the team leaders there too.

You know. It really impressed me. The other day I practice. Alex bar is one of the free agent offensive guards that's trying to make the team. He dinged up his knee a little bit, so he was walking off and Danny went over to him to check up on him, and I said it. Dan said, man, that's that's nice to see how much that means to you because this he's a seasoned vettery, he's got great experience, he's a hell of a player, and now you have this guy that he goes and checks up and it means a

lot to the play at the free agent too. It means a lot to the player that this veteran is coming to see me, and the next day he was back on the practice field. So you know, just those little things by veterans mean a lot to the young guys. Yeah, it definitely makes him feel welcomed. Um. You know, I think that's the biggest thing is you're gaining trust of

the veterans and respect from the veterans as well. So anytime you get that chance, and you know, Alex has done a great job and he's a tough kid, so that didn't surprise me that he was back out there the next day. Last year, we did a show with you at training camp. It was spur the moment. We didn't know we were having. You walks in, there's courty white hair, and we knocked out a show. But at that time, you didn't have Kalel Mack or Roquine Smith.

So this training can't feel different with the two of them there. Do you feel their presence? Yeah, you definitely do. Um, those are two great players that that make us better each and every day. Um. You know, both Kalil on the outside and Roquan their linebacker. Um. You know, so those were those were great additions to our team for sure. Same thing with Kyle. You know, Kyle Long, here's a

guy that had a healthy offseason. He's able to be around you guys, not in a rehab manner, but in a in a manner that you guys are all in the weight room together, and it benefits it benefits him to see all you guys working together, and that it benefits you guys to see him working along side you guys. Yeah, it definitely helps both both of us, both collectively as an offensive line and and him personally. Um, you know,

he's he's the type of guy that's that's ball is everything. Um, you know, so it's it's hard for him to be away from ball, but you know, we're really happy that he had a great offseason and he's back healthy and back on the line with us. A line extremely talented as a group. Three of you now been to the Pro Bowl, and James Daniels has that type of talent to get to the Pro Bowl. Indeed, so and Bobby Massey, you know, he's he's not he's not retracting. He's getting

better in his career as a group. You guys didn't hold anybody last year. It's a it's an amazingly lone number with an offense that likes to throw the ball. You guys had five holding penalty he's as an offensive line last year, the fewest in the National Football League. How did that happen? And why? Yeah, we take a lot of pride in it. And obviously we preach about you know, not not hurting ourselves, and obviously penalties or something you can control, um for the most part, especially

those those certain type of penalties, um, you know. And I think it all comes back to the to the techniques and everything that coach Erry hoastand teaches us, um, you know, to to move our feet and to be good with our hands. That way, we're not putting those situations where we tend to grab or or you know,

reach and hold, um you know. So I think a lot of it goes, you know, to coach Cherry and his techniques and also just all the guys working at it and trusting and believing in those techniques that that they that they carry over to the game and um, you know, we don't have those problems. Harry does a great job of the positive reinforcements of proper technique because you can hear him one year going through one on ones.

How he talks about the importance of the hand placement and the direct result is when you get five Haulding calls in the amount of time to throw the ball in these days. But you know, all it's also the versatility of your offensive line too. You guys got athletes that can have assignments that are outside the box that also keep the defense off guard. Absolutely, And it's not

it's not just us, it's every buddy, you know. It's it's Mitch's drops, it's you know, the receiver's timing, it's everything. That everything was working so well and we were, you know, so in sync last year that you know, that definitely helped us out as well. Yeah, we talked about this too. You know, you had as a center, you have to think like your quarterback and you still do, probably not to the level that I did last year, you know, but I definitely feel like I still have some of

that that center blood in me. Um. You know, so I do kind of think a little bit like the quarterback, but not as much as I would last year. And how's he doing? How's he doing? Because you know, even admitted it could be a little frustrating at times going

up against that d and working through that typically. And I just I was just listening about this from several other teams hearing, well, the defense is always ahead of the offense at this time of year, And maybe that is cliche, maybe it's reality, but a little bit maybe

that these guys have been together for a while. Yeah, Mitchell has done a great job, you know, just the level of confidence he's playing at and his leadership in the way he's taking over this offense, and you know, the level of knowledge that he has of this offense. Being in his second year. You know, you just see him, you know, moving a lot faster and not thinking as much, and you know, he's just really done a great job

of conducting himself both on and off the field. Hey, he throws against a confident group of guys led by Eddie Jackson haha, Clinton Dicks, Prince of Mukamara, Kyle Fuller and the different Slottery Nickel guys that you know, they're they're confident group of guys also. Yeah, absolutely, And like I said, the competition on our defense is only going to make us better and you know, help us later on the season. That's Cody Whitehair Bears starting left guard

with Tom There I'm Jeff Joniac. Another segment to go to wrap us up. It's brought to you by IGS Energy. This is Bears All Access on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy. The score coming at you from PNC Studio at hallis Hab. Bears back at it before they get the Carol Lada Panthers on the field tomorrow night. This is Bears All Access. Jeff Joniac, tomp there and Cody Whitehair. Now you're getting back into your routine. What's your game day routine? You know,

you gotta go to the team hotel. You know, I'm talking about home games, and then what do you know, what do you get yourself at? You know, do you you know Ottawa Goonly used to take three showers before game? You know, I mean there's all sorts of things that go on. And then what you're after the game? Rich or what? Tell us what you do? Now? You're you're in, you're you know, you've played forty eight NFL games. You got you got some you got a big, a big

part of this thing down. Yeah, obviously the night before we go to the hotel. Um, that's that's pretty typical every night. But I think the biggest thing is is it the morning of or the day of. It all depends on what time the game's at. You know, if it's a later game, you know, things maybe started a little bit later. As if it's an early game and

noon game, you know, everything's pretty pushed up. But you know, my my biggest ritual is you know, I've always been the guy to get there four and a half five

hours early. Um. You guys, you know, go over you know, any last minute notes that I have before the game, or you know, if I didn't feel very good on something, um, you know throughout the week, I may work that in in the morning, just so I have one last time to make sure that I'm not gonna have any regrets, um, you know, and then I just go out there and play free. Um, you know, try not to think so much and just you know, fall back on the techniques

and everything that I've learned throughout the week. How about after a game home game, usually I have family in town, so um, you know, we'll we'll either go grab a bite to eat or um, you know whatever, and sometimes we'll just go home and order some lu Mount out East pizza or something. That's your jam, that's my jam. Yeah, So what's your what's your pizza of choice? The Chicago classic Deep Dish one hole one. Right. So Jeff's talking

about your routine and your post game routine. So there's times that you've played a game and there's plays that stick in your mind that are absolutely haunting. And the whole idea is getting through tape the next day, is just getting through that tape. Do you have any like recall of any plays like that, because Cody, I can sit here thirty years after the fact and I can

tell you some plays. I remember giving up a sack the first regular season game of the year, and I said to myself immediately, I go, oh my god, I want Pace to give up sixteen sacks this year. And I, you know, luckily didn't give up one for a while. But there's haunting plays that stick in your memory. Yeah, obviously, I think the ones that that obviously haunt you the most. Or a quarterback sack is obviously the you hate to get your quarterback hurt, you hate to let your team

down and take a loss. And um, you know the other thing that really each me up to is if if I'm out there and you know it's it's a scoring play and it's my guy that makes the tackle that doesn't allow the score. Um, you know that each me up. And then obviously penalties that you have total control over, those those eat you up as well. But you know, it's a fun last year when you were able to lead up tree cone into the end zone and it's a dB standing between you and pay dirt.

That's that's everything we live for. Yeah, that was a new England. It was New England. Okay. Yeah, those are the blocks that you just flick your chops and um, you know, you see a little bit small all our guy corner safety right there, and that's just a great opportunity for you to get a nice pancake and blow guy up. Yeah, they're going to present themselves more this

year at the guard position. You'll have more pulling responsibilities, trapping and different things on the offensive line away from your actual position, which it's gonna be fun to use all that strength you build up in the offseason. Yeah, absolutely, and those those are always the fun blocks. You know, they kept track of your pancake blocks in college. I think you know what it was, I don't remember. I think it was one hundred and forty maybe in one season.

I don't know, it's I think I saw that stat about pancake blocks. But those are the ones that we as announcers go, that's that's a while. Like we know when when you're out there running full steam, you're getting a recognition whether you lagging that because I love calling those when the big guys out front. Yeah, and those are always the ones that you know as big guys. We don't make the highlight reel too many times, but those are the ones that you'll see, um, you know,

make the highlight reel and those are really pumping. Yeah. I like I like the tackle sweeps that you know in the tax goes out front leading the way. That's old time football, right, that is you know, I love it. So when you change transition from senator guard, what's your weight difference and where were we able to gain strength because of the weight you were able to gain Yeah, um,

you know I put a little bit on. I think I was playing it, you know, between three hundred and three or three last year and I'm I'm between three ten and three thirteen right now. So um, you know, I just try to say heavy as you've ever been. Uh No, I think I was a little heavy. One year in college. I think I may have been around three fifteen, but uh yeah, it obviously wasn't as good

and solid as I am now. But uh, you know, I think a lot of it has to do with, you know, my work in the off season, and you know, our strength coach Jason Lascalzo puts us through, puts us through a great a great workout and really helps us gain the strength that we need. And in pushing prowlers and all this and you know, dieting and protein intake and stuff like that really you know, helped me. But I feel like I focused on a little bit more of this offseason because I wanted to put on the

quote unquote good waight. Um, you know, because I wanted to be a little bit heavier playing guard. But uh, you know, try to stay away from from the foods that can make me gain that bad weight. Yeah, do you are you prone to some of those, uh those lures of those types of like what besides, I was gonna say, the pizza manet this pizza that that'll give me every time? What do you do to relax? I'm a big outdoorsy guy. Um, you know, every chance I get,

especially when the weather's nice. I like to you know, grill outside and do that kind of thing. And um, you know, big country music guy. That's kind of, you know, my go to on game days. It sounds kind of kind of interesting because it's really not the pumping up you know kind of music that that uh that you're here in camp. Yeah, this this stereotypical pump up music or whatever it is. But uh yeah, I'm a big

outdoorsy guy and listening to music comedy. We had Roquine on last week and he's also a country guy, so you guys might you're the same tae. He likes he likes the newer country. You newer you like the old stuff. I like both. Yeah, you know, I saw roquant a country concert actually over this where at Windy City smokeout really really really and who was there that you really wanted to see? It's a whole bunch of groups. Yeah,

it's a it's a bunch. There's what is there five or six concerts a day or something and it's a three day festival. You know. I really liked Cole Swindell. I enjoyed him. That's the guy I saw Roquan with, um, you know, and also uh, you know Chris Young is he he's kind of It's kind of a cool story because me and my wife's first dance and our wedding is sung by him, so we got to hear that around you know, our anniversary live too, So that was

pretty cool. So when Jeff was talking about your weight and stuff with this, you have a new baby coming and we always see that. Fathers talk about how they have a tendency to gain a little bit with the birth of their first child and stuff. Right, well, pathy, wait right, I mean obviously you know, you go through wig ends, you're gonna be able to avoid that. Yeah, I think so, just because I'm gonna be in you know,

the heat of the season. You know, obviously the baby's coming here soon, you know, So hopefully I'll be able to stay away from that, which, you know what I think with the football and in the activity that we have there, I'll stay away from. It's a cool thing. The other aspect of being a pro football player and be young and you're and you're with an organization that

believes in you and made you. One of their core pieces is that you grow with the other guys around you, and so things like marriage, for Bobby Massey, things like a baby for you and your wife, Hannah, or just a young guy getting his feet wet at the age of twenty now twenty one, soon to be twenty two. You're center, Daniels. I mean, you guys are sharing a lot of life moments too outside of football, right, you know how and the wives meet each other and you're

growing up together. Yeah. And that's the cool thing too, is like when I came in here, there there was you know, a core here that you know, I kind of involved into and kind of really followed their ways. And you know, Charles Leno and Bobby Masky and Kyle Long and now you know, we're still pretty much together, um, you know, when adding new pieces that fit this culture

as well. So um, you know, and we've got a lot of good young talent here, um, you know, and some some good veteran leaders to lead us along the way. So you know, that's definitely something to it's it's definitely something fun to be a part of. That's for sure. It's a team of believers, isn't. I mean, you guys believe where you're headed. We do. Yeah, absolutely, Well, good luck, thank good luck, have fun. Thank you for your giving

up your time. You appreciate. Cody White here Bears pro bowler and starting left guard, get ready to meet the Carolina Panthers tomorrow night. That's gonna do it for our show for Cody Top there and Paul's ranger engineer and Greg Miller aren't producer. I'm Jeff Joniac coming to you from P and C Studios at Hallis Hall on Chicago Sports Radio six seventy of the Score. Good night, everybody,