In the eighth of nine position previews in advance of training camp, coach Jon Hoke discusses the Bears defensive backs.

How would you characterize the secondary in terms of depth and talent?

Well, we haven’t played a game yet, so it’s kind of hard to say. But I’d say through what we’ve done so far they’ve worked extremely hard, We’re got enough guys competing for positions that at the end of the day we’ll end up having some depth and some quality starters that will help us win games.

Kevin Payne led the Bears with four interceptions and ranked second with 129 tackles last season.

They work hard. You see them play hard on game tape, but you don’t know what their work’s going to be like through the week in practice, and they do a good job. They’ve adapted to any new techniques that we’ve put in. They’re good learners, and you see potential there that guys can make plays on the ball.

What message are you trying to convey to them?

It’s always going to be about the details, especially in this defense. You’ve got to be exact in what you do. It’s very technique-oriented from the standpoint that you’ve got to be technique-sound. Those are the things that are going to make the difference in this scheme.

What have been your impressions of Charles Tillman?

It’s hard to say because he didn’t practice a whole lot [during OTAs], so you’re kind of going off your tape evaluation. Obviously, he’s a good player. He has an uncanny ability to strip the ball. He has tremendous hand-eye coordination to always get his hand right on the ball to be able to knock it out.

What about Nate Vasher?

He’s very efficient as an athlete in what he does. He does not have a whole lot of wasted motion. He has very good instincts as a football player. He knows where he’s supposed to be. He knows what his job description is. He’s very technique-oriented. He knows he has to be exact in his technique to be able to put himself in position to make plays.

Zackary Bowman led the Bears with seven interceptions in OTAs. What did you think of his performance?

He’s had an excellent offseason. He bought into the techniques that we’re trying to teach. He tries to be very exact in what he does. He put himself in position to make plays. He’s a tall guy and that has allowed him to go make some plays. He’s definitely a guy who showed up during OTAs.

What’s the key to Bowman picking up in training camp where he left off?

He’s just got to continue to show improvement and understand situational football. He’s done a good job with the fundamentals and the basics. Now he’s got to understand third downs, red zone, two-minute; all those situations that show up in a football game.

What does rookie cornerback D.J. Moore do well and what does he have to work on?

D.J. is a very good athlete. He’s got to understand the defense and his job. He’s learning technique. It’s all new for all those young guys. But you see the athleticism and the ability to go make plays. He’s got good hands. When he gets himself in position, he can go make a play for you. He’s just got to continue to develop and understand what pro football’s all about.

Several team insiders have mentioned that strong safety Kevin Payne performed very well during OTAs. How would you assess him?

He’s done a good job. He’s been pretty consistent. Athletically, he’s done a real good job. He’s worked hard on technique and understanding what his techniques are. He’s still got room to go and he’s still a young guy, so we should see him continue to improve. But he did a good job during OTAs.

What have you seen from Craig Steltz how confident would you be if he were the Bears’ starting free safety this season?

Craig’s a very instinctive player. He knows football. He knows where he’s supposed to be. He knows where his teammates are supposed to be, so his instincts definitely show up. He ends up in the right spot, and those are good things. He’s a good communicator. He has a very good understanding of the defense. That gives you a comfort level as a coach, knowing that he’s a guy you can count on. You trust him back there that he’s not going to have too many mistakes to hurt the team.

Who do you see challenging Payne and Steltz for starting jobs at safety?

We’ve got some quality guys trying to compete. Corey Graham’s taking reps at free safety, transitioning from corner. Athletically, he will challenge those guys once he gets a feel totally for that position. We’ve got Josh Bullocks in here who’s a veteran player. He’s been in the league for four years. He knows football. His instincts show up, which is a good thing for us that you know what he can do a little bit. We’ll see more once we get into training camp, and then Al Afalava, the kid we drafted out of Oregon State, has made a very good impression in the short time he’s been here as an athlete and with his instincts at that position.