CHICAGO (AP) Rookie Bears coach Lovie Smith's prescription for defensive success is to have quick players chase the football and make the other team give it up.
Through two preseason games, his new team has paid attention.
''We improved from the first game to the second game. Now we've got to make an even bigger step from the second to the third,'' safety Mike Brown said of Friday's game against the New Orleans Saints.
''And then hopefully from then on we're pretty set and we go into the regular season and play some good football,'' added Brown, who had an interception and fumble recovery during last week's 20-13 win over the 49ers.
The Bears forced five turnovers against San Francisco and have seven in two games, without losing the ball once.
They'll face a Saints team that won't have quarterback Aaron Brooks, who's out with a thigh injury.
The third preseason game is generally used to let the first string play into the third quarter before seeing limited playing time in the preseason finale.
It's also a time to sort out the roster before a first batch of cuts next week.
''We have a lot of people we want to make sure to get in there so we can get a good look at them. We've got some key personnel decisions to make,'' Saints offensive coordinator Mike McCarthy said.
Todd Bouman will start at quarterback for New Orleans (1-1).
''It's no extra pressure. This is just one more chance,'' Bouman said.
J.T. O'Sullivan, who had an outstanding NFL Europe season, will also see action.
One spot open for the Saints is a backup to running back Deuce McAllister. Ki-Jana Carter and Lamar Smith are in competition.
''What I'll try to do is just show if they need to put me in they can feel comfortable about it,'' said Carter, the former No. 1 draft pick out of Penn State.
''I think I've had a pretty good camp, but in the games I really haven't run the way I wanted to. I want to pick it up this week,'' Smith said.
Chicago's top pick in this year's draft, defensive tackle Tommie Harris, will start in place of Alfonso Boone.
Smith and the Bears love Harris' quickness and want him to get more game experience.
''It's hard to keep a guy like him off the field,'' Smith said. ''That's the guy that we wanted in the draft, and he hasn't disappointed us at all. He gets better each day.''
Smith, like New Orleans coach Jim Haslett, plans to look at his first team well into the second half.
''This is the last significant time I think the starters are going to have. This is really the last chance for us to be out on the field in a pressure situation, so we're going to take full advantage of it,'' Bears quarterback Rex Grossman said.
Chicago's newest addition, defensive end Adewale Ogunleye, joined the team Monday after a trade last Saturday from Miami but won't play after missing all of the preseason because of a holdout.
Through two preseason games, his new team has paid attention.
''We improved from the first game to the second game. Now we've got to make an even bigger step from the second to the third,'' safety Mike Brown said of Friday's game against the New Orleans Saints.
''And then hopefully from then on we're pretty set and we go into the regular season and play some good football,'' added Brown, who had an interception and fumble recovery during last week's 20-13 win over the 49ers.
The Bears forced five turnovers against San Francisco and have seven in two games, without losing the ball once.
They'll face a Saints team that won't have quarterback Aaron Brooks, who's out with a thigh injury.
The third preseason game is generally used to let the first string play into the third quarter before seeing limited playing time in the preseason finale.
It's also a time to sort out the roster before a first batch of cuts next week.
''We have a lot of people we want to make sure to get in there so we can get a good look at them. We've got some key personnel decisions to make,'' Saints offensive coordinator Mike McCarthy said.
Todd Bouman will start at quarterback for New Orleans (1-1).
''It's no extra pressure. This is just one more chance,'' Bouman said.
J.T. O'Sullivan, who had an outstanding NFL Europe season, will also see action.
One spot open for the Saints is a backup to running back Deuce McAllister. Ki-Jana Carter and Lamar Smith are in competition.
''What I'll try to do is just show if they need to put me in they can feel comfortable about it,'' said Carter, the former No. 1 draft pick out of Penn State.
''I think I've had a pretty good camp, but in the games I really haven't run the way I wanted to. I want to pick it up this week,'' Smith said.
Chicago's top pick in this year's draft, defensive tackle Tommie Harris, will start in place of Alfonso Boone.
Smith and the Bears love Harris' quickness and want him to get more game experience.
''It's hard to keep a guy like him off the field,'' Smith said. ''That's the guy that we wanted in the draft, and he hasn't disappointed us at all. He gets better each day.''
Smith, like New Orleans coach Jim Haslett, plans to look at his first team well into the second half.
''This is the last significant time I think the starters are going to have. This is really the last chance for us to be out on the field in a pressure situation, so we're going to take full advantage of it,'' Bears quarterback Rex Grossman said.
Chicago's newest addition, defensive end Adewale Ogunleye, joined the team Monday after a trade last Saturday from Miami but won't play after missing all of the preseason because of a holdout.
