Chicago Bears Depth to Have Ripple Effect on Dane Sanzenbacher, Others: Fan
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/chicago...dPhEIAgKLQtDMD
By Brian
Davis | Yahoo! Contributor
Network – Thu, Jun 14, 2012 9:10 PM
EDT
Depth is unquestionably important in professional sports. No team
came face-to-face with this reality more than the Chicago
Bears did last season when they lost Jay
Cutler and Matt Forte to injuries which, quite directly, cost
them a chance at a playoff run. There is no doubt the Bears have made some
significant upgrades to their roster and have some of the more impressive depth
found throughout the league.
While depth is great for the team, it doesn't always mean great things
for individual players. With all the Bears' additions this offseason, there are
some players that will be (and have been) affected by the added talent. The
first formal casualty of the increased depth was the waiving of 2011 fifth-round
draft pick Nathan Enderle. Enderle was supposedly hand picked
by former Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz. Now that Martz is long gone,
and the Bears are sitting pretty with Jason
Campbell set to backup Jay Cutler, Enderle was the odd man out. Following
the move, the Bears have four quarterbacks remaining on the roster: Cutler,
Campbell, Josh McCown, and undrafted rookie Matt Blanchard,
A player of slightly more consequence that might not benefit from the added
depth is wide receiver Dane Sanzenbacher. However, if there is one player that
can overcome the odds against him, Sanzenbacher seems like the man to do it. He
came out of nowhere last offseason and simply played too well to not put him on
the roster. With the Bears bringing in Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery, Eric
Weems, and Devin Thomas, the receiver position is a lot more crowded than last
season. Additionally, you add in Devin Hester, Earl Bennett, and (eventually)
Johnny Knox, and Sanzenbacher's road is that much more difficult. Sanzenbacher
is one of those hard-nosed players that is really a joy to watch play the game.
I understand the reasons if he doesn't make the final roster, but he's the kind
of player I find myself pulling for.
I doubt we will find many Bears fans complaining about the depth the Bears
seem to enjoy, but there will certainly be some hard roster decisions come
preseason. Though. I think it would be hard to find someone who wouldn't agree
that that is a pretty good problem to have.
Brian is a lifelong Chicago Bears fan, having lived in Illinois his entire
life and having followed the NFL throughout.
I think Sanz got a bit of a bad wrap last year. Ya he had a ton of drops, but then again, he was a UFDA at one of the hardest positions to learn; and earned playing time in real games, and also had some great success early. I really hope they find a way to get this kid to stick for another year or 2.
