Re: Official thread of non-gay NFC North fans Didn't take long. Already getting time with 1st team. As an undrafted rookie free agent trying to make the team without any offseason workouts, Bears wide receiver Dane Sanzenbacher has one one thing in mind when he comes to practice: ''Do something they're going to remember.'' The 5-11, 180-pound rookie from Ohio State is doing just that. Sanzenbacher earned reps with the first-team in Monday night's practice and will get more after catching everything that came his way. ''He's got a chance. He's a player,'' Bears wide receivers coach Darryl Drake said. ''You get an opportunity to make plays and that's what he does. He's steady. I've been impressed with what I've seen so far from him. We're going to keep giving him opportunities.'' Sanzenbacher had 55 receptions for 948 yards (17.2 yards per catch) and 11 touchdowns at Ohio State last season and was a first-team all-Big Ten pick. It looks like he's responded to the challenge of the next level and raised his game since coming to the Bears. ''I haven't had a choice but to raise my game,'' he said. ''Having everything shrunk down with the lockout, it's even more limited time for rookies to get reps. And you've got to make the best of your opportunities. You want to show them you'll do whatever it takes to make this team. That's what I'm trying to do every day.'' ''He's a good football player,'' Smith said. ''We want to get the players in game-type situations. He's making the most of it. We all noticed him tonight.'' Sanzenbacher isn't big by any stretch and his reported 40 speed of 4.56 is far from blazing for a 5-11 wide receiver. What does he do well? ''His routes are good. They're solid,'' Drake said. ''He's where he's supposed to be. He doesn't let me screaming and hollering at him faze him. He just comes out and works. As long as he continues to do that he should be OK.'' The Bears liked Sanzenbacher when they did their draft evaluations, but had priorities ahead of a wide receiver in the draft. Sanzenbacher reportedly had 25 NFL teams contact him and was offered more money by a couple of them, but chose the Bears. ''I didn't come to Chicago because I thought it was my best chance to play in the NFL. Or if it didn't work here I could get somewhere else. It was because I wanted to make this team. I felt like, 'I'm undrafted and I get a choice. I want to go to a team that I wanted to make and play for them.' And I felt this was it.'' Why the Bears? ''I don't know. I was never a big NFL fan growing up. I never had a team I followed or anything. I think when you just look at a team's personality, I think there's a certain toughness about Chicago and a certain grit and all that. And I think it's a team that is on the brink of being great and winning a championship and I want to be a part of that.''
Lofa Tatupu talking to the Bears. I think he'd be a nice back up on the team. Also, the Baltimore Sun is saying the Giants would take a 2nd round pick for Umenyora.....done.
Martz said yesterday they're still on the hunt for a guard, slim fucking pickings now boys. Wonder if we could pull a good young guard for our 1st? All-pro guard with the 1st, umenyora with the 2nd
They addressed the line with Spencer and Carimi. I do wish they would have picked up a guard and cut Chris Williams though
You don't trade a first round pick for a guard unless he's like 25 and under contract for several years.
Are they adding a new team to the NFC North because I don't see the shitty Lions or Vikings finishing above the Bearss or Packers in the North
Vegas odds just released on NFL regular season wins. As a Bears fan, I am a little confused at this. 8.5 wins. Over +130. Under -150 Heading to Vegas on Monday. Convince me not to bet the over other than never bet on your favorite team.
they were incredibly fortunate last year because their defense was virtually injury free and mike martz is batshit crazy.
If they won 11 games last year with the worst o line in football, I think they'll do fine this year. I'm thinking around 9-7, if the OL is still shit. Webb is just balls. D looks nasty though. The DL is just crazy talented. We need to actually use this topic
Webb didn't look particularly good last year at all and I never could understand why he was the anointed LT this season. Too slow for a man of that size at that position. Carimi to LT? You guys would know more from watching CFB. Looking forward to seeing Henry Melton in action this year.
We've gotta do something with the o-line. Maybe sign lenard davis, start Spencer, and trade for a tackle.
Honestly I'd be more comfortable if they just moved Omiyale back out to tackle like they did last year.
I thought that Okoye looked really good last night same with marion barber. Barber was energizing the crowd with his runs. He looks really lean and thick. I was very impressed with those two... Like others have said, it was evident how poor the o-line was playing. Carimi looked lost at times but i thought he was pretty impressive.
All you Buckeye homers have to admit that adams looked damn good and he's ahead of sazenbacher after Saturday or at least has pulled even for the last wr spot.
Saints released stinchcomb JA needs to give him a look. Pro bowler in 2009 but had a major quad surgery this summer, he's worth a gamble. He's a RT so they'd probably slide carimi over to LT which was his college position anyway.
They need to leave Carimi at left tackle because I think he can be an elite left tackle rather than just an ok left tackle.
I remember when we signed tait at RT and moved him to LT, he did a damn good job. Why the fuck the staff won't give Williams 1 more try at LT is fucking insane.
Especially given that they spent a no 1 on him. You'd think the front office would be insisting on their pick a bit more.
John Tait was a much better right tackle than left, and the same is true of Carimi. His strength is run blocking, and his weakness is protecting against speed rushers. Which means his natural position is right tackle.
Sick of hearing that it was all luck that we won our division and got to the Conference game last season. We had 0 luck the year before and nobody seemed to notice. If you looked at our schedule this time last year you would hardly call it 'soft'. The Packers were favourites in many peoples eyes last year. The Vikings were coming back from a Conference Championship appearance and were primed for another run according to many. We were playing the NFC East who are always darlings before the season. The AFC East is hardly a walk over either with the Jets and Pats. We got 'lucky' in playing against a couple of backup/3rd string QBs, but our defense knocked a couple of those out-Stafford in game 1 and Farve in his last ever game. We also lost our QB for a regular season game but some people seem to forget that. If our offensive can go up to just above average we can get 10 wins still. Our defense is still good enough.
My favorite part of the new season is how the Detroit Lions are suddenly some juggernaut. That's still a team painfully lacking depth and talent overall. Megatron + good DL + Mr. Glass at QB -shit talent everywhere else =/= Playoff team