Bears feature menagerie of wide receivers
Bears wide receivers coach Darryl Drake has a real zoo on his hands this year, but that's a good thing.
“We've got two giraffes outside, and we've got some cheetahs inside,” Drake said. “So I'm looking forward to it.”
The giraffes are 6-foot-4 veteran Brandon Marshall, a three-time Pro Bowl pick; and 6-foot-3 rookie Alshon Jeffery from South Carolina, who caught 88 passes for 1,517 yards as a true sophomore playing in the SEC.
The cheetahs include smaller, faster Devin Hester and Johnny Knox, along with Earl Bennett, who's a somewhat bigger cat.
“I'm looking forward to those guys doing things they're capable of doing,” Drake said. “When you have guys with that kind of ability and that kind of size, the ball doesn't always have to be perfect. Jay (Cutler) doesn't always have to put it right there. He can throw the ball up in the air, and the guys have the ability to go up and get it. It makes a difference.”
Familiar faces:
New Bears quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates spent three years (2006-08) working with Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall as an offensive assistant, and coaching wide receivers and quarterbacks, and he's excited to be reunited with them.
Cutler was voted to his only Pro Bowl in 2008, and Bates sees only positive changes since then.
“He's still the same quarterback,” Bates said. “He has a great arm. He's definitely more mature as a player because he's had good games and bad games, and you get better every game. The more experiences, the more snaps, you're always going to get better at your craft. He (still) loves football. He's super intelligent. He can make all the throws. He's athletic and he comes to work every day.”
Marshall gives the Bears a better big, physical, go-to receiver than they've ever had.
“He's a great player,” Bates said. “He caught over 100 balls two years in a row with us (in Denver), so I'm excited.”
In 2007 and '08, Marshall had a total of 206 receptions for 2,590 yards.
Less is more:
After back-to-back seasons (2008-09) in which he appeared to be peaking as a wide receiver, Devin Hester's production has decreased in each of the past two seasons.
With the addition of veteran Brandon Marshall and rookie Alshon Jeffery, Hester's future as a pass catcher is uncertain.
“The talent has always been there,” wide receivers coach Darryl Drake said. “It's just a matter of not having him play 70 plays a game and throw to him (just) twice. Play him 15 (snaps) and let him touch it 13 (times). That's always been my stance. If he's going to play 70, the ball needs to come his way 10, 12 times a game, easily.
“But, in order for him to be effective, we don't need to have him out there playing that many plays. We need to have that package, and I promise you (offensive coordinator) Mike Tice is going to do it and let him do things. When he's out there, put the ball in his hands.”
Coming into focus:
The six draft picks and 11 undrafted free agents under contract will move into the off-season program Monday after Sunday's conclusion of the rookie minicamp.
In addition, the following tryout players were signed after Sunday's practice: quarterback Matt Blanchard (Wiscconsin-Whitewater); wide receiver Joseph Anderson (Texas Southern); tight end Brandon Venson (Illinois State); offensive linemen Tyler Hendrickson (Concordia) and Nick Pieschel (Central Florida); punter Ryan Quigley (Boston College); and kicker David Teggart (Connecticut).
“They'll blend right in with our veterans,” Smith said. “Now the roster really is starting to (shape) up the way we want it to.”