Bears hope young receivers catch on to NFL expectations

Last year the Bears brought third-round draft pick Earl Bennett along so slowly that he failed to catch a pass all season.

Bennett occupied a roster spot all last season without contributing much at all and playing in just 10 games. This year the Bears are devoting two roster spots to rookies, third-rounder Juaquin Iglesias and fifth-rounder Johnny Knox, both of whom are expected to be given more vital roles than Bennett had a year ago.

"You have to be careful," offensive coordinator Ron Turner said. "They're still young, and they're still growing. They're still learning every time out there. But if they're going to be on the field, we're going to expect them to make plays, whether they're rookies or not. If we're putting them on the field, then that's telling them that they're expected to do the right thing and make plays when they have opportunities."

Iglesias caught 5 passes for 72 yards in a mostly meaningless preseason finale Thursday, and Knox caught 2 balls for 62 yards, returned 4 kickoffs for 117 yards (29.3-yard average) and 1 punt for 38 yards.

Because of his superior speed and his return ability, the spindly (6-0, 185 pounds) Knox may have a bigger role than Iglesias this season, even though he was drafted two rounds later.

"We know he has excellent speed, and he's played with that kind of speed since the day he got here," Turner said. "A lot of guys have great timed speed, but they don't necessarily play that way. We noticed the first day that he showed up here that he played that fast. He's still got a long way to go, got a lot of work to do, but there's no substitute for that speed."

The 6-foot-1, 205-pound Iglesias isn't considered a speed receiver, but he brings his own skill set to the party. He led the Bears in preseason catches with 8 and receiving yards with 130.

"He's a different type of receiver," Turner said. "He doesn't have the speed that Johnny does, but he's a physical receiver, he has good size and good hands."

If they don't already know it, both rookies will discover that putting up numbers when the games are for keeps is more difficult than during garbage time of a preseason game. But Knox's speed gives him a weapon that is effective at any level. Iglesias may require some time before he achieves ideal NFL game speed.

"His big thing is, like it is for a lot of young guys, just learning to play fast all the time," Turner said. "That's the big difference from college to the NFL. You have to play fast all the time, and your motor has to be going. Sometimes it takes young guys a little while to learn that."

At this point the Bears don't appear committed to a particular player as the No. 3 receiver, although veteran Rashied Davis has by far the most experience playing in the slot. But in Turner's offense, the third receiver on the field won't always be the same player. There are different personnel groupings for two-, three- and four-wide receiver formations, and Knox, especially, has flashed enough talent to warrant a longer look.

"People get too caught up in first, second, third receiver," Turner said. "They all have to be ready to play. I really don't get caught up in who's No. 1, 2 or 3. (Knox) will have a role. We plan on playing him. He brings a dimension to this team that we want.

"Whether he's No. 3, 4 or 5, that's for you guys to decide. It's for us to get him on the field to play, and we're going to make every effort to do that."

That sounds fine to Knox, who is making a huge leap in class, moving from Division II Abilene Christian to the NFL. But he did average 18.9 yards on 118 receptions in two seasons there, and he had 30 TD catches.

"I have goals, to (eventually) start as a receiver," he said. "But I'm just going to play my role, even if it's third or if it's not third. When it's my time, I'm going to try to step up to the plate and play that third receiver if it comes down to it."