Wootton out to prove doubters wrong

**JustAnotherBearsFan99** · 07-29-2012, 03:42 PM

Good read:

LINK to the article
Wootton out to prove doubters wrong

Corey Wootton beat offensive tackles during one-on-one pass rushing drills on Saturday.

BOURBONNAIS, Ill -- Because of all the attention lavished on first-round draft choice Shea McClellin in the aftermath of the Bears' first padded practice, third-year defensive end Corey Wootton's on-field performance flew under the radar. But make no mistake about it, the Bears would love to see Wootton emerge as a consistent and reliable presence in their rotation at defensive end after he was limited to 13 games the past two seasons.

"A lot of people are doubting my abilities and if I can come back," Wootton said. "I'm trying to show them the player I can be and everyday that's what I'm trying to prove."

A dominant pass rusher his junior year at Northwestern to the tune of 10 sacks, Wootton suffered a serious knee injury during the 2008 Alamo Bowl. Wootton returned to the field the next fall for the Wildcats but continued to battle knee issues. That didn't stop the Bears from taking Wootton in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL draft even though his knee was still not 100 percent when he reported to training camp as a rookie. Wootton showed up to camp last summer healthy, but got hurt again on the opening kickoff of the club's preseason opener against the Buffalo Bills. Wootton dressed for just seven games last season and so far has only 13 tackles and one sack to show for his time spent in the NFL.

Wootton tried to strengthen his knee in the offseason by doing a variety of work which included weight training four to five times per week and speed and agility drills at least three times a week. The goal was to improve his quickness getting off the line of scrimmage once the ball is snapped. The training camp appeared to pay off, at least on Saturday night, when Wootton routinely got around offensive tackles during one-on-one pass rushing drills.

But nothing is expected to be handed to Wootton. After a pair of quiet seasons, he now finds himself in direct competition with McClellin, veteran Chauncey Davis and Thaddeus Gibson for a spot on the team's game day defensive end rotation, behind starters Julius Peppers and Israel Idonije.

"I feel good, I feel like I definitely have my burst back," Wootton said. "Last season was tough for me coming of out training camp feeling good then unfortunately the knee injury slowed me down and I didn't get that burst back that I had in training camp. I feel like I have it back."

**bearsinhouston** · 07-29-2012, 04:13 PM

LOL Everybody beats our offensive tackles. The question is can he beat some of the top tier offensive tackles?

That would be sweet if he had gotten to that level.

We really need a pass rush and pressure on the OL.

Originally Posted by JustAnotherBearsFan99

Good read:

**Riczaj01** · 07-29-2012, 04:26 PM

I wish the guy the best, and hope he turns it on; but right now I consider Wooton the D's answer to the legend that is Aurise Currie

**JustAnotherBearsFan99** · 07-29-2012, 05:17 PM

Originally Posted by bearsinhouston

LOL Everybody beats our offensive tackles. The question is can he beat some of the top tier offensive tackles?

Ouch.

**Riczaj01** · 07-29-2012, 05:21 PM

JABF99, what have you noticed being out there? Who have been some standouts as a whole over the past week?

**JustAnotherBearsFan99** · 07-29-2012, 06:01 PM

Originally Posted by Riczaj01

JABF99, what have you noticed being out there? Who have been some standouts as a whole over the past week?

I have a confession to make. I spent over half my time watching the oline. My son always razzes me at games because I focus on the oline more than the skill players (secretly I know he loves it, because he was a LT when he played football).

I was impressed with our rookie TE, Evan Rodriguez. He's fast for a TE, but small for a TE. He looks to me like a "tweener" .....something between a small/fast TE and a big/slower WR.

Spaeth and Davis both look really really good. Big 6'7" guys who both have great hands. Spaeth is slower though, but a huge target.

Webb was invisible to me. I left camp and realized I hadn't focused on him 1 time the whole time I was watching the oline. Really.

Cutler is light-years better than Jason Campbell (like the difference between a high school QB and a college QB). No comparison. Our new rookie QB, Matt Blanchard, is that much behind Jason Campbell. Green as a gourd. But to his credit, when all the other players quit for the day, Matt B. convinced a few players to stay out there and catch his passes. So, he's working his butt of to improve.

I was surprised at how youthful Briggs and Urlacher looked. They must take unbelievable care of their bodies because they look like time has been good to them. They were like little kids too. Laughing and high fiving and jumping around like goofy kids. I loved it. Peppers is more "business" out there. But he too looked pretty darned youthful. I guess that's "real pros" for ya. They aren't boozing it up or drugging it up. They take care of their bodies.

Lovie was pretty low key. Tice was absolutely a live wire. Like he was "possessed" and driven to whip this oline into shape. Didn't notice Rod M. I guess I was too focused on oline.

Peanut looked great.

The rookies all seemed a bit clueless. Including Jefferies. And that's to be expected.

**Riczaj01** · 07-29-2012, 06:32 PM

Thanks man!

**bearsinhouston** · 07-29-2012, 06:50 PM

Having focused on the line, any impressions on the different players? Either good or bad? Obviously the OL is a huge concern to many of us. And it sounds like Tice either coaches like a madman or is having an "oh shit" moment with his "our OL is fine" line.

Originally Posted by JustAnotherBearsFan99

I have a confession to make. I spent over half my time watching the oline. My son always razzes me at games because I focus on the oline more than the skill players (secretly I know he loves it, because he was a LT when he played football).

I was impressed with our rookie TE, Evan Rodriguez. He's fast for a TE, but small for a TE. He looks to me like a "tweener" .....something between a small/fast TE and a big/slower WR.

Spaeth and Davis both look really really good. Big 6'7" guys who both have great hands. Spaeth is slower though, but a huge target.

Webb was invisible to me. I left camp and realized I hadn't focused on him 1 time the whole time I was watching the oline. Really.

Cutler is light-years better than Jason Campbell (like the difference between a high school QB and a college QB). No comparison. Our new rookie QB, Matt Blanchard, is that much behind Jason Campbell. Green as a gourd. But to his credit, when all the other players quit for the day, Matt B. convinced a few players to stay out there and catch his passes. So, he's working his butt of to improve.

I was surprised at how youthful Briggs and Urlacher looked. They must take unbelievable care of their bodies because they look like time has been good to them. They were like little kids too. Laughing and high fiving and jumping around like goofy kids. I loved it. Peppers is more "business" out there. But he too looked pretty darned youthful. I guess that's "real pros" for ya. They aren't boozing it up or drugging it up. They take care of their bodies.

Lovie was pretty low key. Tice was absolutely a live wire. Like he was "possessed" and driven to whip this oline into shape. Didn't notice Rod M. I guess I was too focused on oline.

Peanut looked great. I didn't

**JustAnotherBearsFan99** · 07-29-2012, 07:08 PM

Nobody really knows anything this early. Least of all me. But I was VERY encouraged by the fact that Tice was coaching his heart out. Totally focused on these guys. He really is a perfectionist. He wasn't demeaning the guys. He was being a great TEACHER and I was so amazed by how he was correcting even the littlest things in their techniques. He made it crystal clear to the guys what was BEST in technique.

I couple this with the fact that it takes ~3 years to really develop oline players (This is Tice's 3rd year with 'em) and I feel really good in general about the unit. And it IS a unit. 1 unit. 5 moving parts. It has to be as flawless as a fine ballet choreographed to perfection. I can see Tice is molding it to be something special.

C.Will looks pretty darned solid to me FWIW. Lance Lewis is one MEAN dude man. Definitely a killer instinct in that guy. He has that "look" that says he'd like to stomp your windpipe just for grins. He's a load too. I about crapped just taking his pic (he looks like he didn't like it).

Garza is rock solid man. I never dreamed he'd be good at center. I doubted when they put him there. I was wrong. He is obviously a GREAT LEADER of the unit. He's a powerful guy, but going against monster interior dlinemen, he HAS to be.

Chris Spencer HAS to be a starter. He's too good to sit on the bench. He's a better guard than he was a center. Go figure. He was a decent center for Seattle, but he's a better guard IMHO. He's smart, moves very well, and is a powerful guy too. I can see why our run game prospered with him at RG.

Carimi looks SO young. He has a ways to go. But I was impressed (very impressed) with his athleticism. For a 320 pound man, he looks cut. His body fat must be pretty low. Looks more like a mamouth power forward in the NBA than an olineman.

That's what stood out to me anyway. I don't think we stink at LT, but rather we don't have any veteran depth beyond 1 swing tackle. Lance Lewis should stay at RG. He's not a "real" tackle. The 3 young tackles (not counting Webb, C.Will & Carimi) have a grand total of 1 year experience between the 3 players. 1 year. That's scary.

**bearsinhouston** · 07-29-2012, 07:14 PM

How about your thoughts on LT. If you had to pick today (and thank God we don't) ... Who would you pick and why? And what would you do with the person that lost (will differ I expect based on who it is)?

Originally Posted by JustAnotherBearsFan99

Nobody really knows anything this early. Least of all me. But I was VERY encouraged by the fact that Tice was coaching his heart out. Totally focused on these guys. He really is a perfectionist. He wasn't demeaning the guys. He was being a great TEACHER and I was so amazed by how he was correcting even the littlest things in their techniques. He made it crystal clear to the guys what was BEST in technique.

I couple this with the fact that it takes ~3 years to really develop oline players (This is Tice's 3rd year with 'em) and I feel really good in general about the unit. And it IS a unit. 1 unit. 5 moving parts. It has to be as flawless as a fine ballet choreographed to perfection. I can see Tice is molding it to be something special.

C.Will looks pretty darned solid to me FWIW. Lance Lewis is one MEAN dude man. Definitely a killer instinct in that guy. He has that "look" that says he'd like to stomp your windpipe just for grins. He's a load too. I about crapped just taking his pic (he looks like he didn't like it).

Garza is rock solid man. I never dreamed he'd be good at center. I doubted when they put him there. I was wrong. He is obviously a GREAT LEADER of the unit. He's a powerful guy, but going against monster interior dlinemen, he HAS to be.

Chris Spencer HAS to be a starter. He's too good to sit on the bench. He's a better guard than he was a center. Go figure. He was a decent center for Seattle, but he's a better guard IMHO. He's smart, moves very well, and is a powerful guy too. I can see why our run game prospered with him at RG.

Carimi looks SO young. He has a ways to go. But I was impressed (very impressed) with his athleticism. For a 320 pound man, he looks cut. His body fat must be pretty low. Looks more like a mamouth power forward in the NBA than an olineman.

That's what stood out to me anyway. I don't think we stink at LT, but rather we don't have any veteran depth beyond 1 swing tackle. Lance Lewis should stay at RG. He's not a "real" tackle. The 3 young tackles (not counting Webb, C.Will & Carimi) have a grand total of 1 year experience between the 3 players. 1 year. That's scary.

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