Bears Camp Shorts: Daniel Braverman highlights continue; Tony Moeaki, Jonathan Bullard flash

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BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – Coach John Fox rarely deals in superlatives, so his comments on rookie wide receiver Daniel Braverman suggest that the seventh-rounder is making more than a fleeting impression.
 
“He just keeps making plays,” Fox said Wednesday. “You know we're performance-based and I know it's just practice, but we try and simulate games as much as we can in the practice and he continues to flash and make plays.”
 
Braverman’s plays on Wednesday included out-fighting cornerback Sherrick McManus for a touchdown catch in the end zone. He also turned in a sliding catch of a Brian Hoyer sideline throw, beating rookie safety Deon Bush. Those were in addition to a clutch grab in two-minute work.
 
“We love his heart,” said offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains. “We love how he competes. He works really hard and I think [receivers] coach CJ [Curtis Johnson] has done a really good job with him. He’s got some ‘rat-ball’ in him. You don’t want to take away the best part of him and some of that is that he’s got a knack to get open.
 
“He just has to understand to continue to grow and get open in the timing of the play and not just when the route’s at 10 [yards], break it off at 6 — but he’s open.”

[SHOP: Gear up Bears fans!]
 
Braverman at Western Michigan caught 109 passes last season (No. 2 in the NCAA) and 86 the year before. Meaning: He gets open.
 
Braverman’s personal motto is “one day better,” laying out a daily goal of being better today than he was yesterday. That involves “just learning from your mistakes,” Braverman said. “No one's perfect. You're going to fail; it's just how you react and how you overcome adversity, and going and watching tape and getting better from that and getting ready for tomorrow”….
 
…Zach Miller remained out of practice and in the Bears’ concussion protocol but the tight end situation flashed on Wednesday as Tony Moeaki gathered in a Jay Cutler pass for a touchdown in an 11-on-11 red zone session…Credit cornerback Tracy Porter with the pass defense of the day. Porter perfectly timed a leap to deflect an end-zone heave from Cutler toward wide receiver Josh Bellamy, saving a touchdown…
 
…Jonathan Bullard has shown steady improvement in all areas of his game and the rookie defensive end had a strong pass-rush day. Bullard got superb push against veteran guard Ted Larsen, then used his hands to get Larsen off balance and close for a sack. Bullard later worked a move with nose tackle Will Sutton in two-man work and came free for a second “sack”…
 
…Kyle Long returned to practice on a limited basis after days out with a calf injury. But wide receiver Eddie Royal remained in the concussion protocol and did not practice. Also out: wide receiver Derek Keaton (knee), tight end; Ben Braunecker (ankle); linebacker Roy Robertson- Harris (illness); linebacker Nick Kwiatkowski (hamstring); Brandon Boykin (pectoral).

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