Weems shows Bears flashes of what he can do

**short faced bear** · 08-19-2012, 07:03 PM

80 percent healthy, free-agent signee makes impact on special teams, offense

By Vaughn McClure, Chicago Tribune reporter

6:26 p.m. CDT, August 19, 2012
Eric Weems felt 80 percent healthy Saturday yet managed to accumulate 123 all-purpose yards in the Bears' 33-31 exhibition victory over the Redskins.

Imagine how productive the veteran receiver/return specialist could be at full strength.

Weems admitted being frustrated after spraining his left ankle early in training camp. The injury kept him from displaying the type of toughness he brought to the Bears when he signed a three-year contract with a maximum value of $6 million and $1.7 million guaranteed this offseason.

"It was a mid-sprain, not a high one,'' Weems said. "They didn't tell me a specific time frame: just day to day. It just depended on how well I healed.''

He looked fine Saturday.

Weems showed a glimpse of his explosiveness when he fielded a second-quarter kickoff, sped straight ahead, then veered right for a 48-yard gain. It would have been the best kickoff return of the night had teammate Lorenzo Booker not taken one back 105 yards for a score.

Weems' ability to hit the hole at full speed is the reason he could become the primary kickoff returner — depending on Devin Hester's role on offense.

Last season with the Falcons, Weems finished 18th in the league with an average of 23.5 yards per kickoff return (no touchdowns). Hester was 24th at 21.9 but had a 98-yard kickoff return for a score against the Vikings.

Special teams coordinator Dave Toub said in some cases on kickoffs, Weems' straight-forward return style will benefit the Bears more than Hester's elusiveness.

"With what we do, we do a lot of doubles teams, and we want to run right at the double team,'' Toub explained. "And sometimes it takes a different type of guy to be able to hit that thing north and south and run through a crowd. That fits Weems' personality. That's what he does well.

"It's going to be a good, change of pace for us to have two guys: a guy that hits it north and south like Weems, and a guy like Devin who can make you miss and get outside.''

Hester, who holds the NFL record with 17 combined kick return touchdowns, continues to work as the primary punt returner. But even Hester admitted he would be willing to take a lesser role on kickoff returns if he remains an integral part of the offense, as promised. Toub also mentioned the possibility of using Hester and Weems together on kickoff returns to challenge opponents.

But Weems, who also had a 20-yard punt return nullified by a penalty Saturday, won't be measured simply by his returns. He showed he could contribute to the offense with a 33-yard, catch-and-run off a pass from Jason Campbell.

Weems, named to the 2010 Pro Bowl as a special-teamer, was a top free-agent target for the Bears "because of the way he plays gunner,'' Toub said. "He plays with great effort. He never gives up. Even though he gets doubled and he might get knocked down, he's still going to make the play. … He's just a tough guy.''

Weems believes he'll be even tougher at full strength, and he's getting closer, though he said the ankle sill hurts when he fights pressure.

"I'm just really trying to get myself back healthy,'' Weems said. "That's my focus right now, so I can be 100 percent."

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports...,2882201.story

**JustAnotherBearsFan99** · 08-19-2012, 10:48 PM

Hester, who holds the NFL record with 17 combined kick return touchdowns, continues to work as the primary punt returner. But even Hester admitted he would be willing to take a lesser role on kickoff returns if he remains an integral part of the offense, as promised. Toub also mentioned the possibility of using Hester and Weems together on kickoff returns to challenge opponents.

But Weems, who also had a 20-yard punt return nullified by a penalty Saturday, won't be measured simply by his returns. He showed he could contribute to the offense with a 33-yard, catch-and-run off a pass from Jason Campbell.

Weems, named to the 2010 Pro Bowl as a special-teamer, was a top free-agent target for the Bears "because of the way he plays gunner,'' Toub said. "He plays with great effort. He never gives up. Even though he gets doubled and he might get knocked down, he's still going to make the play. … He's just a tough guy.''

I thought Weems looked great as both a WR and a returner. Do you think we lose Sanz if Weems makes the team? Or can both be kept?

**short faced bear** · 08-19-2012, 11:11 PM

Not sure why you think Weems would be the barrier to Sans. It was Thomas exit that opens the door to keeping Sans. The only hurdle is Rasheed Davis now. Weems is a lock from the get-go.

**MPBears68** · 08-20-2012, 09:50 AM

Originally Posted by short faced bear

Not sure why you think Weems would be the barrier to Sans. It was Thomas exit that opens the door to keeping Sans. The only hurdle is Rasheed Davis now. Weems is a lock from the get-go.

Agreed. Weems was always a roster lock barring injury. With Thomas' retiring, the way for Sanz to stick is open and we'd be STUPID to let him go for a has-been 33yo ST-only guy like RDavis. Sanz has way more upside and I doubt he'd make it to the PS. Summers and/or Golden, probably no issue but Sanz has potential and he scored 3 TDs last year as an udfa rookie.

**soulman** · 08-20-2012, 10:40 AM

Weems was one step away from a TD return too. That would have been a kick.

Weems is solid to make the roster and after watching STeams play on Saturday I think R. Davis has a good chance of sticking around too. He was the guy leading the downfield blocking on Booker's TD return just doing a nice job of hand checking his guy and keeping him from closing the angle to make the tackle. Davis can also play "gunner" on punt coverage and after watching that crap on Banks TD return we may need him.

To me it looks like Summers may edge Sanz out because of his size but I'm hoping they do the smart thing and keep Sanz while seeing if they can park Summers on the PS. It's gonna be touch and go for him.

**JustAnotherBearsFan99** · 08-20-2012, 10:40 AM

Originally Posted by short faced bear

Not sure why you think Weems would be the barrier to Sans. It was Thomas exit that opens the door to keeping Sans. The only hurdle is Rasheed Davis now. Weems is a lock from the get-go.

Thanks. That makes sense.

Weems is one heck of a solid pickup for our team. The guy can play.

**MPBears68** · 08-20-2012, 11:51 AM

Originally Posted by soulman

Weems was one step away from a TD return too. That would have been a kick.

Weems is solid to make the roster and after watching STeams play on Saturday I think R. Davis has a good chance of sticking around too. He was the guy leading the downfield blocking on Booker's TD return just doing a nice job of hand checking his guy and keeping him from closing the angle to make the tackle. Davis can also play "gunner" on punt coverage and after watching that crap on Banks TD return we may need him.

To me it looks like Summers may edge Sanz out because of his size but I'm hoping they do the smart thing and keep Sanz while seeing if they can park Summers on the PS. It's gonna be touch and go for him.

You think Summers>Sanz?

And how could we keep one of them AND Davis too? That would be 7 WRs.

**JustAnotherBearsFan99** · 08-20-2012, 11:53 AM

Originally Posted by MPBears68

You think Summers>Sanz?

And how could we keep one of them AND Davis too? That would be 7 WRs.

Summers will be light-years better than Sanz (and I like Sanz). But Summers will be a 6'5" version of Brandon Marshall (he has BM's speed, but has more height and length). Invest a year in Summers and you'll have a GREAT weapon. While Sanz is as good as he's going to get.

If Summers hits the PS though, I'd wouldn't be surprised if he's grabbed by another team.

**short faced bear** · 08-20-2012, 12:02 PM

Originally Posted by JustAnotherBearsFan99

Summers will be light-years better than Sanz (and I like Sanz). But Summers will be a 6'5" version of Brandon Marshall (he has BM's speed, but has more height and length). Invest a year in Summers and you'll have a GREAT weapon. While Sanz is as good as he's going to get.

If Summers hits the PS though, I'd wouldn't be surprised if he's grabbed by another team.

Summers needs a TON of work. Key word "invest" and how many seasons before positive returns outweigh the neutral or negative ones and what value lost to other players is viable. I'd put Summers on the PS ten out of ten times rather than Sanz. Might be different if someone other than Drake was "developing" him.

**JustAnotherBearsFan99** · 08-20-2012, 01:00 PM

Originally Posted by short faced bear

Summers needs a TON of work. Key word "invest" and how many seasons before positive returns outweigh the neutral or negative ones and what value lost to other players is viable. I'd put Summers on the PS ten out of ten times rather than Sanz. Might be different if someone other than Drake was "developing" him.

I agree there is "no free lunch" here. He comes from a tiny school (Liberty college), so it will take extra time to jump to being a quality NFL receiver. But he looks to me like he's the real deal. Beautiful to watch him work.

Here's my 2-cents worth on Sanz. He's an overachiever (love to see that) who makes the most of what he has. But he's at his ceiling. Before we added quality weapons like Brandon Marshall & Jeffreys, a guy like Sanz is pretty decent due to the fact we were starved for true NFL-level talent.

But now we HAVE real talent at WR, and Sanz may not be our best option for the roster. Not that he's bad at all. Also, you DO want to look to the near future for this roster. Do you let a future Brandon Marshall type go, because you want to keep a Sanz? Maybe. But maybe not.

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