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Rodriguez a Work in Progress; His Mini-Camp Work was Spotty..........
Chicago Bears Report
Bears 'begin process' with TE Rodriguez
May, 17, 2012 May 17
2:38
PM CT
By Michael C. Wright | ESPNChicago.com
The Chicago Bears used a fourth-round pick to draft Evan Rodriguez thinking he’d quickly develop into the quintessential “move” or “F” tight end that would add to the growing arsenal of the team’s evolving offense.
[+] Enlarge
AP Photo/Nam Y. HuhEvan Rodriguez showed some potential at rookie minicamp but also struggled to catch the ball at times.
Certainly, Rodriguez flashed glimpses of that during the rookie minicamp at Halas Hall. But there’s still plenty of work left for the rookie, based on what appeared to be an up-and-down showing during three practice sessions in which he was arguably outshined by tryout player Brandon Venson, who impressed the staff enough to sign him to a contract after minicamp.
“It went pretty good,” Rodriguez said. “I’ve been out of it a long time. I mean this was one long offseason.”
That showed throughout workouts, but it’s important to point out Rodriguez definitely improved over the course of three days. On Day 1, Rodriguez slipped running routes on several occasions and appeared to become sluggish as the workout progressed.
Rodriguez also struggled to catch the ball at times, dropping several passes hitting him in both hands. Given the stiff learning curve -- whether schematically or simply transitioning into the pace of an NFL workout -- faced by all rookies, the coaching staff isn’t overly concerned with how Rodriguez fared.
“He started out real nicely,” Bears offensive coordinator Mike Tice said after the first workout. “We ran a lot of routes there today. He got a little sluggish and bounced back. He’s got good hands, good quickness. The things we thought he was on tape: he is. He’s also a good blocker. We’re happy to have a true, different type of tight end, or an F-tight end.”
Rodriguez should know the job won’t simply be handed to him. Kellen Davis and Matt Spaeth likely will receive the majority of the snaps in 2012, and Rodriguez will compete for the role of “F” tight end with Kyle Adams, who was undrafted in 2011, but caught 79 passes for 660 yards at Purdue and is highly regarded by the staff.
Based on the success of tight ends around the league such as New Orleans’ Jimmy Graham, New England’s Aaron Hernandez, and San Francisco’s Vernon Davis, Rodriguez believes the current time is as good as any to be a tight end in the NFL.
Statistically, the Bears receiving corps ranked among the league’s worst last season. The receivers ranked 28th or worse in receptions, catch percentage, drop percentage and first-down percentage on throws of 10 air yards or fewer last season, according to ESPN Stats and Information. Although the Bears added weapons at the position through the draft and free agency, they also had the foresight to try to alleviate some of the pressure on the receivers by bringing in a tight end capable of posing matchup problems for defenses on passing downs.
“This is definitely a time to be hyped up to be a tight end in the NFL,” Rodriguez said. “Things have changed a lot for the position, and now we can go out there and do a whole lot to help a team win. I can be one of those, sure.”
But Rodriguez isn’t yet quite ready. His performance at rookie minicamp made that apparent.
“We started the process,” Bears coach Lovie Smith said after Rodriguez’s first workout. “But we think in time he’s going to be a pretty good football player in the league.”
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. 
Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
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They don't need to hurry to bring this guy along. I would like to see more of Adams anyway.
Last edited by short faced bear; 05-18-2012 at 10:26 PM.
Arguing on the internet is like winning the special olympics, even if you win your still messed up.
Restore the roar!
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I'm a little surprised to read that Kyle Adams went undrafted. Those statistics he put up while at Purdue were pretty damn good, and Purdue is in a far better football conference (Big Ten) than is Temple, which is in the MAC.
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Originally Posted by
Dagan81 
I'm a little surprised to read that Kyle Adams went undrafted. Those statistics he put up while at Purdue were pretty damn good, and Purdue is in a far better football conference (Big Ten) than is Temple, which is in the MAC.
Sheesh you SEC aficionado's are all about "where did he play" aren't you. Temple sends guys to the pros all the time Dags.
Where these two guys played their college ball means about as much to their pro careers right now as as whether it's gonna rain on September the 24th, 2013 or not. Kyle Adams showed some talent and he's in the mix. Nobody is just gonna hand Rodriguez the job just because he was drafted and Adams wasn't. We keep UDFA's all the time.
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
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Originally Posted by
soulman Sheesh you SEC aficionado's are all about "where did he play" aren't you. Temple sends guys to the pros all the time Dags.
Where these two guys played their college ball means about as much to their pro careers right now as as whether it's gonna rain on September the 24th, 2013 or not. Kyle Adams showed some talent and he's in the mix. Nobody is just gonna hand Rodriguez the job just because he was drafted and Adams wasn't. We keep UDFA's all the time.
I was making the allusion to the fact that the Big Ten is a far more competitive conference and that more talent comes out of the Big Ten than from the MAC. Geez. lol
Adams' statistics were superior at Purdue than Evan Rodriguez's were at Temple. I was making this comparison because Adams had better stats against better competition and that it surprised me that he didn't get drafted while Rodriguez did. I'm glad that the Bears picked him up, but I won't be too surprised if Adams eventually gets cut simply because there are no expectations for him to succeed like there are for Rodriguez.
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High Fives / Like - 1 BEAR DOWN!, 0 Dislikes
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Originally Posted by
Dagan81 I was making the allusion to the fact that the Big Ten is a far more competitive conference and that more talent comes out of the Big Ten than from the MAC. Geez. lol
Adams' statistics were superior at Purdue than Evan Rodriguez's were at Temple. I was making this comparison because Adams had better stats against better competition and that it surprised me that he didn't get drafted while Rodriguez did. I'm glad that the Bears picked him up, but I won't be too surprised if Adams eventually gets cut simply because there are no expectations for him to succeed like there are for Rodriguez.
Simply put, Rodriguez is the better pro prospect whose athleticism is a true plus. Adams is an okay at everything, great at nothing prospect. He can block alright, has decent movement skills and route-running and was a dependable big target inside of ten yards. On the flip-side, his blocking isn't a strength, he doesn't run very well and his production contribution was as a check-down TE at Purdue.
As for the assertion that Adams' stats are more impressive because of the conference, I don't buy that. Not only did he have better numbers in three years at Temple than Kyle did at Purdue in four, but he also scored more, was much more of a field stretching threat and led his team in receiving yards as a Sr while Kyle never was higher than third fiddle on his.
Evan...
REC - YDS - AVG - LONG - TD
13 - 145 - 11.2 - 34 - 3
21 - 247 - 11.8 - 46 - 2
35 - 479 - 13.7 - 55 - 2
Kyle...
6 - 58 - 9.7 - 25 - 1
8 - 109 - 13.6 - 28 - 2
29 - 249 - 8.6 - 23 - 0
36 - 244 - 6.8 - 19 - 0
Evan is simply the more explosive and potent threat through the air whose upside is clear. I like Kyle, and I think he's an NFL TE with some work, but the upside on Rodriguez is substantially higher.
Last edited by lklrlolnlilklsox; 05-18-2012 at 09:13 PM.
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Originally Posted by
lklrlolnlilklsox Simply put, Rodriguez is the better pro prospect whose athleticism is a true plus. Adams is an okay at everything, great at nothing prospect. He can block alright, has decent movement skills and route-running and was a dependable big target inside of ten yards. On the flip-side, his blocking isn't a strength, he doesn't run very well and his production contribution was as a check-down TE at Purdue.
As for the assertion that Adams' stats are more impressive because of the conference, I don't buy that. Not only did he have better numbers in three years at Temple than Kyle did at Purdue in four, but he also scored more, was much more of a field stretching threat and led his team in receiving yards as a Sr while Kyle never was higher than third fiddle on his.
Evan...
REC - YDS - AVG - LONG - TD
13 - 145 - 11.2 - 34 - 3
21 - 247 - 11.8 - 46 - 2
35 - 479 - 13.7 - 55 - 2
Kyle...
6 - 58 - 9.7 - 25 - 1
8 - 109 - 13.6 - 28 - 2
29 - 249 - 8.6 - 23 - 0
36 - 244 - 6.8 - 19 - 0
Evan is simply the more explosive and potent threat through the air whose upside is clear. I like Kyle, and I think he's an NFL TE with some work, but the upside on Rodriguez is substantially higher.
Thanks for correcting me, sox.
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Originally Posted by
lklrlolnlilklsox Simply put, Rodriguez is the better pro prospect whose athleticism is a true plus. Adams is an okay at everything, great at nothing prospect. He can block alright, has decent movement skills and route-running and was a dependable big target inside of ten yards. On the flip-side, his blocking isn't a strength, he doesn't run very well and his production contribution was as a check-down TE at Purdue.
As for the assertion that Adams' stats are more impressive because of the conference, I don't buy that. Not only did he have better numbers in three years at Temple than Kyle did at Purdue in four, but he also scored more, was much more of a field stretching threat and led his team in receiving yards as a Sr while Kyle never was higher than third fiddle on his.
Evan...
REC - YDS - AVG - LONG - TD
13 - 145 - 11.2 - 34 - 3
21 - 247 - 11.8 - 46 - 2
35 - 479 - 13.7 - 55 - 2
Kyle...
6 - 58 - 9.7 - 25 - 1
8 - 109 - 13.6 - 28 - 2
29 - 249 - 8.6 - 23 - 0
36 - 244 - 6.8 - 19 - 0
Evan is simply the more explosive and potent threat through the air whose upside is clear. I like Kyle, and I think he's an NFL TE with some work, but the upside on Rodriguez is substantially higher.
Yes, this. 
And Dags you know I'm always busting peoples asses over this bigger school vs smaller school thing just like I do you SEC guys when you start walking a bit too proud and talking a bit too loud. Then I bring up little ole BSU and ask why the SEC schools don't want to play them in non-conference games. LOL
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
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Originally Posted by
soulman Yes, this.
And Dags you know I'm always busting peoples asses over this bigger school vs smaller school thing just like I do you SEC guys when you start walking a bit too proud and talking a bit too loud. Then I bring up little ole BSU and ask why the SEC schools don't want to play them in non-conference games. LOL
Georgia stepped up and played Boise State last year and lost by a score of 45-23, I do believe, down in Atlanta, which is 25 miles from Athens, GA. Meanwhile, I hear that Boise State is joining the Big East Conference, so that duo of Boise State and TCU are both now in the Big East and Big XII, respectively. Now they can play their games and shut the fuck up about not making it to any major bowl games because they are both now in major conferences. I'd say Boise State will have trouble dominating the Big East since those schools are more into playing a game of round ball than anything else, but TCU is basically back to playing some of its old rivals from the old Southwest Conference years since Texas, Texas Tech, and Baylor are all in the Big XII. Texas A&M would be in the Big XII, but they left the conference during its free fall and jetted off to the SEC along with Missouri. This saddens me, not because I'm afraid that Texas A&M and Missouri will whip Tennessee, but because this kills the old rivalries between Texas and Texas A&M, and Missouri and Kansas. Those are two of the oldest rivalries in college athletics in both football and basketball. This realignment stuff is ridiculous.
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BSU is rethinking their alignment with the Big East so that may not happen.
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
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