Thread: Dane Who???? Maybe Rookie Can Find Rapport With Hanie................

Forgotten Dane Sanzenbacher has rapport with Caleb Hanie
By Mark Potash mpotash@suntimes.com November 25, 2011 10:16PM
Updated: November 25, 2011 10:53PM


Remember Dane Sanzenbacher?

The rookie wide receiver from Ohio State made the roster as an undrafted free agent and filled the Earl Bennett role as Jay Cutler’s favorite target with 17 receptions for 166 yards and three touchdowns in six games after Bennett suffered a nagging chest bruise in Week 2 against the Saints.

But since Bennett returned against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sanzenbacher has not caught a pass in a limited role. A glaring drop against the Eagles probably didn’t help his cause. But it’s Bennett’s return that pushed Sanzenbacher to the background.

Does he feel like the forgotten man?

‘‘I don’t think anybody in this room feels forgotten,’’ Sanzenbacher said. ‘‘We have a unique room in that we root for each other. We want each other to succeed, and I think not every team has that. It’s a good thing we have going.

‘‘It’s hard to think about yourself when you have a [winning] streak going. I’m obviously not satisfied with where I’m at. I want to be on the field. But it’s a process.’’

For what it’s worth, Sanzenbacher was Caleb Hanie’s favorite target in the preseason. Hanie threw to Sanzenbacher 16 times, completing seven passes for 81 yards.

He said he doesn’t think that will earn him more playing time.

‘‘But it can’t hurt,’’ he said. ‘‘I think it was good for me to have worked with Caleb so much. And even through the year — a lot of times in route timing I’ve worked with Caleb, too. We’ve become familiar, and the more you can get the timing, the more you can connect on passes with the same guy.’’