Thread: Martz's Hate Affair With Hanie Surfaces Again? Enderle Gets 2nd Team Reps

Has rookie Nathan Enderle work with 2nd team
Brad Biggs

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Mike Martz clearly wasn’t smitten with Caleb Hanie last season and now the Chicago Bears offensive coordinator has injected at least a little drama into the backup quarterback position. Nathan Enderle, a fifth-round draft pick from Idaho, took the second-team reps in practice on Monday, two days after the Bears deemed Hanie performed poorly in the preseason opener against the Buffalo Bills at Soldier Field.

It was a surprise to Hanie, who declined to speak with reporters after practice. It’s expected he’ll be back with the twos when practice begins tonight, but there could be a controversy brewing before long. Hanie, an undrafted product from Colorado State, was with the team before Martz was hired in January 2010. Enderle is a player Martz personally scouted.

"There are sometimes when he's missing some throws that he shouldn't because he's just not setting himself right," Martz told Vaughn McClure of the Chicago Tribune about Hanie. "What he's doing with his eyes (and) technical stuff … the only way you fix it is by playing." (Great so let's demote him to the 3rd team so he gets even fewer reps. Mike, what a genuis you are)

Hanie was in position to back up Jay Cutler last season but Martz lobbied hard for a veteran backup and the team signed Todd Collins, who filled that role. Now, they have a youngster pushing Hanie.

“It's good to get the mental reps in, you know, sitting back and watching the older guys do it right,” Enderle said. “But it's also nice to actually physically get the reps in and see the things with my eyes. I get a little more used to it. "I just go in when they tell me to go in. I don't look too much into it."

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Brad Biggs covers the Bears for the Chicago Tribune

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BBAO: Bears' Caleb Hanie under scrutiny

August, 16, 2011Aug 16
7:15
AM ET

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By Kevin Seifert


We're Black and Blue All Over:

How many examples do we need to conclude that Chicago Bears offensive coordinator/general manager Mike Martz isn't enthused about Caleb Hanie as his No. 2 quarterback?

Last year, Martz positioned veteran Todd Collins in that spot even after a four-interception start in Week 5 against the Carolina Panthers. That decision proved disastrous in the NFC Championship Game, when Hanie had to relieve an ineffective Collins after starter Jay Cutler's knee injury.

On Monday, Martz decided that Hanie's performance in the Bears' preseason opener necessitated a look at rookie Nathan Enderle with the Bears' second-team offense. Coach Lovie Smith later explained Hanie "didn't play as well as I thought he did initially" Saturday night and that "you look at how a guy played and that determines what types of reps he gets the following the week."

Hanie was visibly upset and did not speak with reporters.

I realize Hanie hasn't had much experience in the NFL, and he's far from perfect. We shouldn't overreact to one day's training camp practice. But Martz and the Bears need to make a decision on Hanie, one way or the other, and stick with it.

Originally Posted by soulman

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BBAO: Bears' Caleb Hanie under scrutiny

August, 16, 2011Aug 16
7:15
AM ET

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• Print
• Comments659

By Kevin Seifert


We're Black and Blue All Over:

How many examples do we need to conclude that Chicago Bears offensive coordinator/general manager Mike Martz isn't enthused about Caleb Hanie as his No. 2 quarterback?

Last year, Martz positioned veteran Todd Collins in that spot even after a four-interception start in Week 5 against the Carolina Panthers. That decision proved disastrous in the NFC Championship Game, when Hanie had to relieve an ineffective Collins after starter Jay Cutler's knee injury.

On Monday, Martz decided that Hanie's performance in the Bears' preseason opener necessitated a look at rookie Nathan Enderle with the Bears' second-team offense. Coach Lovie Smith later explained Hanie "didn't play as well as I thought he did initially" Saturday night and that "you look at how a guy played and that determines what types of reps he gets the following the week."

Hanie was visibly upset and did not speak with reporters.

I realize Hanie hasn't had much experience in the NFL, and he's far from perfect. We shouldn't overreact to one day's training camp practice. But Martz and the Bears need to make a decision on Hanie, one way or the other, and stick with it.

You know I couldn't agree more. I hope they start to realize that they have a talented guy in Hanie and not keep screwing with him but if Martz is gonna hate on him like he does again this year then I hope they cut him so he can go to a team who does appreciate what he's got.

I keep seeing these "he isn't Martz's guy so we'll dust him" things going on every so often and I don't like it. Martz isn't even signed for 2012 so essentially he's a lame duck OC right now and the influence he has on personnel decisions should be minimal at best. There is no way that Hanie looked any worse than Enderle did on Saturday night. This is just another one of "Brainiac's" issues with a guy he doesn't care for.

Maybe the opening sentence should read, "how many more examples do we need after that Todd Collins affair to conclude that Mike Martz doesn't know what the F he's doing".

Hanie's back at the #2 spot and some other news from camp. And then there's this incredible news for Oreo addicts like me, LOL.

Double Oreo
For those who think the Double Stuf Oreo is too dainty, Kraft Foods' has launched the Triple Double Oreo which combines a layer of vanilla cream, a layer of chocolate cream and three layers of chocolate Oreo cookies.



Bears' Hanie back to backup

QB running with 2nd unit 1 practice after playing behind Enderle

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Caleb Hanie was working with the second team during Tuesday's practice. Nuccio DiNuzzo/ Tribune photo

By Vaughn McClure and Brad Biggs, Tribune reporters 11:02 p.m. CDT, August 16, 2011


BOURBONNAIS — Caleb Hanie was in a much better mood Tuesday.

A day after the backup quarterback was working with the third string, Hanie was back running with the second team ahead of rookie Nathan Enderle.

Hours before the team's night practice, Hanie said his reps would be back to normal. Coach Lovie Smith and the staff wanted to give Enderle a longer look Monday after the fifth-round pick performed well in Saturday's 10-3 exhibition victory over the Bills.
Tuesday, Enderle didn't get any snaps until near the end of practice in full team drills.

Hanie had an average night as he returned to the backup role. His passes underneath were crisp but he missed on several long balls.

He had one pass intercepted by Corey Graham and another tipped by Nick Roach and picked off by Craig Steltz.

"It's not going well," Hanie said of training camp. "It's just middle of the road. I'm still getting timing back and rhythm back and all that stuff."

Hester quiet: Bears receiver Devin Hester had little to say about the Yahoo! Sports article that alleged Hester received extra benefits while in college at Miami.

According to the article, Hester allegedly received rims for his SUV, $3,000 for an engagement ring, cash bonuses for kick returns and NBA playoff tickets through former Miami donor Nevin Shapiro.

"I didn't know the guy," Hester said after Tuesday's practice. "I have nothing to say about it."

Depth charge: Starting nose tackle Anthony Adams remains sidelined with a left calf muscle injury. But the Bears appear to have so much talent that one scout attending the Bills game predicted "they're going to have to cut a good football player."

Second-round pick Stephen Paea has been too upright at times. His jersey number shows and that means he's not playing with proper pad level. He should come along and former Texans' first-round draft pick Amobi Okoye could figure in the mix. It means a veteran like Tank Tyler could be cut loose.

Extra points: Free agent defensive end Aaron Maybin turned down a contract offer from the Bears, according to a league source. … The Bears said defensive end Corey Wootton had a successful knee scope Tuesday. … Cornerback Zack Bowman suffered a mild concussion against the Bills and sat out Tuesday's practice along with, J.T. Thomas (hip), and Adams (calf). … Receiver Earl Bennett returned to practice after sitting out Monday. … Johnny Knox blew by Joshua Moore for a deep ball during 1 on 1 drills. … The Bears waived receiver Travis Cobb, an undrafted rookie.



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Well Hanie's back in the #2 chair but still struggling with his timing and giving up picks. This sytem of Martz's of having the QB's throw before the WR breaks into the open may be tough to master. Even Cutler seemed to struggle with it last year.

Big news on this NCAA investigation of "The U". Hester and others are mentioned but of course they all deny ever knowing the guy. Even the ones who were photographed with him, LOL.

I'm not worried about them cutting Tank Tyler. I never thought he'd make the team anyway but I don't like hearing about Paea's struggles with his technique. It's probably a good thing we picked up Okoye since Paea may have a way to go before he's ready to play full time in the rotation.

So we did offer Maybin what probably amounted to a one year minimum salary deal and I'm sure he thought he was worth more. I'm kind of glad he turned us down because I don't think we need him but that was probably short sighted on his part. That may well have been his only chance to stay in the NFL. Not many teams besides the Bears seem to be interested in attempting to resurrect failed pass rushers these days. Pride goeth before the fall Aaron.