Bears rookie Kevin White strives to win over Adam Gase, Jay Cutler

SHARE Bears rookie Kevin White strives to win over Adam Gase, Jay Cutler

The Bears put wide receiver Kevin White everywhere and made him do just about everything during the first day of rookie minicamp. It’s all part of the No. 7 overall pick’s trial-by-fire education.

“Yeah, [I] did a lot of movement,” White said Friday at Halas Hall. “[It was] left side and in the slot on the right side, slot in the left. So, [it was] a lot different than college.

“[I’m] just trying to get adjusted. First day, so it wasn’t as good as I wanted it to be. But I’m learning the system and trying to get better each and every day.”

Bears offensive coordinator Adam Gase is very confident that White, who played primarily on the right side at West Virginia, will do just that.

White won over Gase during his pre-draft visit, when he was able to quickly understand and relay concepts they were teaching him.

“I don’t think intelligence-wise we have any concerns with him,” Gase said.

White’s limited route-running in college also doesn’t worry Gase, who was a receivers coach for the Denver Broncos before becoming a coordinator.

“We look for specific routes,” Gase said. “When we see one or two things, we know they can do the entire [route-running] tree. So his speed, his body control, the way that he bursts off the ball, all those things we really liked.”

White is undoubtedly the main attraction at the Bears’ rookie camp, which saw defensive tackle Eddie Goldman and offensive tackle Tayo Fabuluje leave early for unspecified reasons on Friday.

“There’s a lot of information to take for Day 1,” White said. “Everything gets thrown at you at one time. So you’ve got to kind of relax and try to take it all in and just learn.”

To do that, White said he studies for hours at the rookies’ hotel.

“[Gase is] a big guy on terminology and just knowing the system,” White said.

Should he need extra help, White said he can text or call quarterback Jay Cutler at any time. White’s plan, of course, is to win over Gase and Cutler.

“[It’s] just try to get on the same page, catch every ball, do my job,” White said of his upcoming work with Cutler. “If he’s in trouble, he can come to me. If he has trust in me, it’s a lot better for me. I get more chances. If a quarterback doesn’t trust you, he isn’t going to go to you very often.”

Right now, everything is a learning experience, including where he lines up.

“I know there’s a lot expected of me,” White said. “I just stay away from it, though. [It’s] fight the next fight, play the next play.”

Email: ajahns@suntimes.com

Twitter: @adamjahns

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