Sanzenbacher catches a lot of attention

BOURBONNAIS — It was difficult to not notice undrafted rookie wide receiver Dane Sanzenbacher during the Bears’ muggy Monday night practice, their first with pads.

The 5-foot-11, 180-pounder from Ohio State is one of the smaller players in camp, but he made several big plays on a still, humid night under the lights. A couple of deep sideline routes and another couple in the middle of the field, flashing sure hands and enough quickness to create separation.

“That’s what you expect from a Buckeye,” said coach Lovie Smith, who coached linebackers at Ohio State in 1995. “He had a lot of different opportunities coming in, and he chose us.

“He’s a good football player. We want to get the players in game-type situations, and he’s making the most of it.

“We all noticed him tonight.”

Sanzenbacher was a team captain and the Buckeyes’ MVP last season, when he caught 55 passes for 948 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Especially this year, when new players haven’t had the luxury of learning the playbook in the off-season, Sanzenbacher will have a narrow window to earn a job.

“I haven’t had a choice but to raise my game,” he said. “Having everything shrunk down with the lockout, it’s an even more limited amount of time for rookies to get reps, and you have to make the best of your opportunities out here.”

Moving the pieces:First-round draft pick Gabe Carimi took all his snaps at right tackle with the first team Monday night after working at left tackle with the twos during the first two days of camp, and indications are that#146;s where he will remain. That necessitated a shift of last year#146;s No. 1 right tackle J#146;Marcus Webb to the left tackle spot, which also appears to be the direction the O-line is headed.Frank Omiyale, last year#146;s starting left tackle, took his snaps with the second team Monday.Making progress:While the Bears are closer to giving running back Matt Forte a well-deserved extension than they were early in the summer, a deal doesn#146;t appear imminent.Forte has a year left on his rookie contract, a four-year, $3.78 million pact that included $2 million in guaranteed money and pays him a base salary of $550,000 this season.#147;I wouldn#146;t give him anything definitive,#148; general manager Jerry Angelo said of earlier talks with Adisa Bakari, Forte#146;s agent. #147;I had my thoughts, but I#146;m very measured when I talk about players#146; contracts, particularly extensions.#147;We have a pretty good track record of doing it. I told him, #145;I can#146;t give you any timetable. That#146;s not possible.#146; He didn#146;t like hearing it. But that#146;s the way things go sometimes.#148;But there has been progress.#147;When we talked these past weeks, I told him now our intent is to do that (extension),#148; Angelo said. #147;That#146;s a strong word. When I say intent, then we#146;re motivated to do something. The timetable is yet to be determined.#147;(I told him) #145;Just be patient. Take care of your job as you already have and continue to do that and then we#146;re going to do our part.#146; We#146;ve got to find that common ground. That part of it will be a challenge.#147;You#146;re not talking about an unrestricted free agent. When there#146;s an open market there, you bid. But he#146;s not a UFA. That#146;s the challenge. I feel optimistic, but we#146;ll just let that work itself out.#148;Personnel moves:Punter Richmond McGee and undrafted rookie defensive tackle Sean Murnane, a Carmel High School graduate, were released Monday.