Bears rookie diaries with Ruben Hyppolite II, Kyle Monangai | Week 3
As told to Gabby Hajduk

Bears fourth-round pick Ruben Hyppolite II — a linebacker from Maryland — and seventh-round pick Kyle Monangai — a running back from Rutgers — share their training camp experiences exclusively on ChicagoBears.com. This series will feature both players giving first-person accounts once a week throughout training camp.

I went into our first preseason game Sunday with a pretty simple mentality: fly around and make plays.

I knew there would be things I needed to clean up and mistakes I'd need to correct, but for Game 1, I just wanted to put things on tape that I could be proud of and just enjoy myself. I think I did just that.

I went into our first preseason game Sunday with a pretty simple mentality: fly around and make plays.

I knew there would be things I needed to clean up and mistakes I'd need to correct, but for Game 1, I just wanted to put things on tape that I could be proud of and just enjoy myself. I think I did just that.

First of all, playing in DA's (Dennis Allen's) defense for the first time in real action was a lot of fun. Especially when we were playing goal line defense, just running through guys and making things happen in a high pressure situation, I loved it. We really attacked rather than playing conservative, so it was just truly fun. I can't wait to keep playing for him.

I know there were a couple plays I left out on the field that I want back, but for the first game, I feel good about how I showed up and how I executed my role within our scheme. I felt like I was really just getting my feet wet and gave myself a good foundation to build on the rest of the preseason.

The one play that definitely stood out was the tackle-for-loss I had. That was really just me playing ball. The ball carrier came to where my assignment was and I just made the play. It wasn't anything bigger than me doing my job, but I definitely had fun with that one.

That type of physicality, which the entire defense showed, really gave us an edge in that game. I felt like we were the more physical team and obviously we didn't get the win, but I feel like that showed on tape. And that went back to Friday with the joint practice as well.

With the way our coaches have had us practicing all of camp, from the preparation to the intensity, playing in my first game since last November didn't feel foreign.

In college, you have some scrimmages in camp, but your first regular season game is the first time you see game action. Having the preseason now is a nice way to warm up and take time to feel everything out, whether it's on the field or even fine tuning pregame routines. The whole thing felt a lot better than the typical first game of the year where you just step out and have to perform.

It felt like our defense as a whole was flowing well and it was cool to see some guys like Noah and Booker get hot. Noah and I have been practicing together, but being able to play a game together was a fun experience. He played a heck of a game, so it was exciting to watch.

Obviously chemistry between teammates is built in practice, but you really get to know a guy in live action when bullets are flying. I learned a lot about him Sunday and I know he learned a lot about me as well. It's important to see that you can rely on the guy beside you when things get going.

We got back in the building Monday morning to watch the film and make corrections early in the week. In our film sessions, there was definitely a lot of critiquing, a lot coaching, but that's to be expected.

I don't take any opportunity lightly, so I want to be coached hard and I want to learn. I already have a high standard that I want to perform to that I've been following for a long time, so this is nothing new to me. Coming in this spring, I expected our culture to be physical and demanding, so none of the coaching is surprising.

So far I've learned a lot from [linebackers] coach [Richard] Smith, who is a very old school type of coach in how he teaches. He stays on me about the little things because for him, they're big things. Whether it's alignment or technique, he's a stickler, but I wouldn't want a coach that isn't because then I wouldn't have the opportunity to become the best player I can be.

I know his coaching will help me in the long run, so I'm not shying away from that. He's coached a lot of guys who have had success, have earned second contracts in the league and gotten paid. He's just full of knowledge and I have a ton of respect for him.

I'm looking forward to correcting my mistakes from Game 1 and taking advantage of another opportunity this weekend. Like I said last week, the spot I'm in hasn't really hit me. But looking back on the game, it's cool to have put on my uniform for the first time and run through the tunnel pre-game.

That moment of coming out to the field was definitely when I thought, 'okay, this is an NFL game.' Being on the field against a quarterback like Tua also made everything feel a bit more real. And then after the game, I got to catch up with two of my guys from Maryland who play for Miami — Jordan Phillips and Dante Trader.

For the last few years, we all worked to get to this place together and it's something we always talked about. To be able to share that moment with them felt special.

Playing an actual football game again was fun.

I hadn't played a game since November and it was cool to see a glimpse of what's to come in the regular season. I played the first quarter and a half on offense and played special teams the entire game, but in terms of my performance, I think I showed flashes of who I can be.

But it wasn't up to my standard.

I don't think I played as well as I wanted to play, so I know I've gotta get better this week. I'm not a nervous person, but I think it being my first NFL game, I wasn't totally playing within myself. With it being preseason, we were rotating guys more often, so it's also understanding that in the regular season, the rhythm will likely be different.

I think having this experience will help my approach and comfort level for the second game. I just know more of what to expect, know the speed of the game, so I feel confident I'll be better than Sunday.

I know I was still able to give an idea of how I can play. In my opinion I had one really solid run and even then, there's things I would change about it. But it was a 13-yard run that started our third drive off after we had back-to-back three-and-outs. It felt good to move the chains like that and help the team. Once I get to playing more like that consistently, I'll be fine.

Experiencing my first NFL game as a whole was cool. I'm still figuring out my pregame routine, but the night before, I went over the playbook and the call sheet and watched some film. In the morning, I focused on staying hydrated and stretching before I drove to the stadium and started getting my mind and body right.

I got to Soldier Field around 9:30 and I thought maybe I would have too much time, but it was actually perfect. I wasn't rushed. I got to the locker room, worked in the training room, got in the tubs, did some warmups on the field to feel the grass out, came back in to change, did our full-team warmup then got ready to play.

I know it sounds underwhelming, but I really didn't experience any big emotions for it being my first time putting the Bears uniform on. Thinking about it now, yeah, it was a pretty cool moment. I'm just not the type of person that sits in the moment and thinks, "wow." But I can recognize now that it was special — just putting the pads on, walking out to the tunnel and running through the smoke to the field.

My parents made the trip out from Jersey to see the game and it was good to have them there and experience my first NFL game with me. My older brother played a little for the Eagles and Vikings, so they've been to NFL games before, but I know it was still different for them seeing me out there. I was happy we could share that experience and spend some time together after the game at dinner, just chopping it up.

We went over game film Monday morning and I'm just ready to come out better this week in the joint practice and Sunday night game against the Bills. Coach EB (running backs coach Eric Bieniemy) definitely let me know everything I did wrong, like letting a veteran guy get the best of me on some reps, so I know what I need to work on to have a good week of practice and carry that into game day. It's really just small stuff like footwork and reads that I need to clean up and learn from.

We'll have our joint practice with the Bills Friday, which I'm ready for. Doing that with the Dolphins last Friday was a nice glimpse of going against an opponent for the first time. We've been playing against each other since July, so it was good to see another color jersey and compete against guys who don't really care about your well-being and have a vendetta to beat you on every play.

It was great competition and I'm expecting the same from Buffalo. I definitely am eager to get back to Sunday, especially it being a night game. I loved playing at night in college because the atmosphere is just different.

Playing under the bright lights is exactly what I imagined as a kid when I thought about playing football. Big games with the lights shining down and the crowd bringing the intensity — there's just something special about it. It raises the level of play and I'm ready to play the style of football I know I can play.