Ex-Bear Dent has new role as coach

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- Coach Richard Dent needs no introduction, even if some of the players he's working with now were just youngsters when he was one of the NFL's great pass rushers.

His credentials are well-documented: Dent is fifth on the NFL's career quarterback sack list with 137.5 -- he holds the Bears' single-season record with 17.5 -- and he was the MVP of Chicago's only Super Bowl championship following the 1985 season.

Now, Dent is back on the practice fields at training camp with a different assignment as an assistant defensive line coach. His job is to convey his expertise to a younger generation.

"I'm enjoying it, it's fun," Dent said. "I think it's what I thought it would be. " He said it's also "a little grueling."

Since Dent left the Bears -- he had a short comeback with the team in 1995 -- Chicago has struggled to generate a pass rush from its defensive front.

This season, the Bears also are without their sack leader of the last two years, linebacker Rosevelt Colvin, who signed with New England as a free agent.

Schooling young players

Dent, who was hired in April, is working with players including young defensive ends Alex Brown, who is in his second season, and rookie first-round draft pick Michael Haynes.

The job is also a chance for Dent to see what coaching is all about.

"It's the right situation for us and for Richard," head coach Dick Jauron said.

Dent gets to work with a more seasoned defensive line coach in Larry Brooks, who was a top defensive tackle.

"Richard has a lot of knowledge, he was a student of the game," Jauron said. "The players respect him -- they know what he did -- but not just because he's an ex-player. Because he knows what he's talking about."

Dent's emphasis early on is to get younger players -- and older ones, too, -- to use a nonstop aggressive approach when they go after the quarterback.

Brown said working with Dent has already helped him with his speed on the rush.

"It took me five steps to get to the quarterback in some situations. Coach Dent has shown me how to do it in three," Brown said.

Brown and Haynes were both youngsters when Dent and the Bears capped an 18-1 season in 1985 by winning the Super Bowl.

After Dent's comeback with the Bears in 1995, he finished his career with the Colts in 1996 and the Eagles in 1997. In 15 seasons, Dent had double-digit sacks eight times.

He enjoys being back on the field as a coach.

"You always miss the locker room and the chatter. That's what you miss as a player, being with the guys and having fun," he said.

"This fills that void. Without a doubt."