Look for resurgence at tight end for Bears

Look for resurgence at tight end for Bears
Tice traditionally has made good use of versatile players at the position

By Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune reporter

8:49 p.m. CDT, July 14, 2012
Fifth in a 14-part series leading up to the start of Bears training camp.

Ultimately, the Bears traded Greg Olsen on the eve of training camp last summer because they didn't want to invest in him for the long haul.

So, the Bears got what they could for Olsen, now 27, a third-round draft pick from the Panthers. Olsen wasn't a fit for what offensive coordinator Mike Martz wanted to do and that's a shame now because he probably could help the offense this season. The pick, of course, was packaged to bring Brandon Marshall aboard, and the wide receiver definitely will help.

You could stir a pretty good debate about whether or not the Bears would want Olsen right now with the $24.7 million, five-year contract he received from the Panthers. Yes, he'll have to perform well to get all of the money in the deal in addition to the $8.7 million guaranteed, and he made 45 receptions for 540 yards and five touchdowns in his first season. Look for those numbers to grow with Cam Newton entering his second season and Jeremy Shockey no longer around to take some opportunities from Olsen. But Olsen might not ever be a Pro Bowl-caliber player.

It's difficult to say if the Bears will be getting a lot more out of their tight ends this season, at least in terms of pass-catching statistics. But there's only room to improve. The 25 receptions Kellen Davis and Matt Spaeth combined for was the lowest output of any team in the NFL in what seemed like the year of the tight end. Twenty-five catches is a two-game tear for Rob Gronkowski or Jimmy Graham.

New offensive coordinator Mike Tice has more use for the position than Martz. Jermaine Wiggins made 140 receptions in 2004 and 2005 for the Vikings when Tice was the head coach.

That's not suggesting by any means that one of the Bears tight ends is destined for big numbers but after the end of the 2011 season did the coaching staff heap more praise on anyone than Kellen Davis? The former fifth-round pick was re-signed in free agency to a $6 million, two-year contract and projects again as the starter. Back issues plagued him a little during the offseason program but you have to take notice of his production in the red zone. He has nine touchdown receptions (five in 2011) in his 28 career catches.

Davis is a massive target at 6 feet 7, 267 pounds but lacks the awareness of a player like Olsen when he gets downfield. It's not all about the passing game, though. Davis and newcomer Matt Spaeth played key roles in the running game. The Bears topped 2,000 yards rushing and Matt Forte enjoyed his finest season. Explosive plays often were sprung on the outside with help from the tight ends.

A peek ahead: It's fair to expect the offense to incorporate the tight ends more in the passing game. Davis and Spaeth no longer will be given such restricted roles and should find themselves in pass patterns more often. Tice, a tight end during his long playing career, puts a premium on versatility at the position. Both Davis and Spaeth block effectively.

Tice was seeking an "F-tight end," which is typically a smaller player who can block on the edges and excel as a receiver and that is what led the team to select Evan Rodriguez in the draft's fourth round from Temple.

Tice refers to the "F" as the "move" tight end and the Bears likened Rodriguez to a poor man's Aaron Hernandez. If he can become two-thirds of what Hernandez is for the Patriots, he will be a welcome new weapon. Rodriguez runs well and provides a dimension that has been missing. How he adjusts to the NFL remains to be seen.

The Bears also are looking at Kyle Adams, an undrafted player from Purdue a year ago, at that spot. Adams was impressive during training camp last summer and was a two-phase performer on special teams before he was forced to injured reserve with a hamstring injury after eight games.

Draylen Ross is a big man who moves well and spent time in the offseason working with running backs in positional drills as the Bears consider him for possible use as a fullback.

It could come down to a numbers game between tight ends and fullback. If the Bears opt to keep fullback Tyler Clutts, that could limit them to three tight ends on the 53-man roster, especially if six wide receivers make the cut. If the decision is made that one or more of the tight ends can perform adequately in the backfield when needed, the team could keep four tight ends and go without a true fullback. Right now, that sets up Adams, Clutts and Ross in a position to battle for one job.

Glass half-full: You're probably not going to see Rodriguez bust onto the scene like a handful of young tight ends have done in recent seasons. But if all goes well, he will be a target for Jay Cutler in the middle of the field and Davis and Spaeth will remain reliable red-zone targets while also holding up well blocking on the edges. It's reasonable to think Davis could approach 40 receptions.

Glass half-empty: It can't get worse in terms of pass-catching production. This is one of the most injured positions in the game and the depth chart could be thinned out quickly. That could be a problem given the overall lack of experience.

Bottom line: Tice has more use and creative options for the position than Martz ever did and the Bears made the first step toward re-shaping the unit by re-signing Davis in free agency and drafting Rodriguez. Now, we have to see how they are deployed and to what level the rookie can contribute.




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