Thread: Bears ready to settle O-line jobs

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/bear...-secure-a-spot

Walters has opportunity to secure a spot

August, 20, 2012 Aug 20
5:36
PM CT

By Jeff Dickerson | ESPNChicago.com

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BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- Even before Chris Conte and Brandon Hardin got hurt against the Redskins, second-year safety Anthony Walters was making a strong bid to win a spot on the Bears' final 53-man roster.



Walters arrived in Chicago last year as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Delaware and spent the first six weeks of the 2011 season on the Bears' practice squad before he got bumped up to the active roster for four games. He ultimately suffered a hamstring injury that ended his season.

Although the Bears spent a third-round pick on Hardin in the offseason, Walters remains very much in the mix to make the team as a reserve safety and special teams contributor after a strong showing versus the Redskins. He finished the game with the second-highest point total on special teams behind kicker Robbie Gould.

"Opportunities are opportunities," Walters said. "I had a couple of chances since I've been here so far and I kind of look at every opportunity the same. This one I'll have more chances, more reps to prove myself. But I've always had reps here or there to show, which is why they kept me here last year and put me on IR. I was grateful for that. Now I'm just working off of last year.

"I thought I was mostly a cover safety. I played corner in college. I was coming here expecting to play free safety. But the way we do it here, if you know more of the system, they'll put you at strong. You make a lot of adjustments there. I look at myself as a cover safety until I got here. And then I realized that there aren't any cover positions on this team. Everybody's going to hit. You better hit or you won't be in there. That's what I learned."

Walters started on two phases of special teams last week (punt return and kickoff return) and is slated to see increased duties Friday night in New York after he was placed on the No. 1 punt team Monday morning.

"It's (special teams) a way to get on the field. It's a way to stay employed. Like I told somebody earlier, I'm going to do whatever they ask to make the team -- especially (special) teams. You start the game with a special-teams play and they're a very important play, especially here. We're top five every year in special teams. They take it extremely serious."

In addition to Walters, receiver Dane Sanzenbacher and tight end Even Rodriguez both graded out well in the special teams department last weekend. Rodriguez, a 2012 fourth round draft choice, was already all but assured a roster spot, but the development can only help Sanzenbacher who is making a strong push to make the club for a second straight year.

"Anthony Walters played well," Coach Lovie Smith said. "We asked him to improve his play from the first game and he did that as a safety and as a special teams player. That's what you find out when guys get cast into a different role. You know they can do a little more than you thought they could."

http://espn.go.com/chicago/nfl/story...ter-matt-dodge

Source: Bears to work out Matt Dodge

Updated: August 21, 2012, 10:48 AM ET
By Jeff Dickerson | ESPNChicago.com

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LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- The Chicago Bears will bring in free-agent punter Matt Dodge for a tryout on Tuesday, according to a league source.

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The Bears are kicking the tires on experienced punters after starter Adam Podlesh suffered a hip flexor injury while trying to make a tackle in the club's preseason victory over the Washington Redskins on Saturday. With Podlesh out for an unspecified amount of time, the only other punter currently on the Bears roster is undrafted rookie free agent Ryan Quigley.

"Adam Podlesh, hip flexor ... whenever you're a guy that makes his living (punting) has that type of injury, you're concerned," Bears coach Lovie Smith said Monday. "But he should be eventually be all right also."

Dodge was selected in the seventh round of the 2010 NFL draft by the New York Giants and beat out Jy Bond for the starting punting job. Known to have a strong leg, Dodge averaged an impressive 44.8 yards per kick as a rookie.

However, he drew the ire of Giants coach Tom Coughlin when he elected to punt the ball to Philadelphia's DeSean Jackson near the end of a regular season game in Dec. 19, 2010. Jackson returned the punt for a touchdown as time expired, capping off a remarkable comeback win for Philadelphia. Many felt Dodge should have kicked the ball out of bounds.

The Giants signed veteran punter Steve Weatherford last summer following the NFL lockout and released Dodge at the end of the preseason.

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/bear...-impress-at-lg

Rachal to get chance to impress at LG

August, 21, 2012 Aug 21
12:36
PM CT

By Jeff Dickerson | ESPNChicago.com

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LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Friday night’s third preseason game against the New York Giants will give Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Mike Tice one final chance to evaluate the left side of the offensive line versus one of the best pass rushes in the NFL.

[+] Enlarge
AP Photo/Nam Y. HuhChilo Rachal started 38 games at right guard for the 49ers over the past four seasons.

While the bulk of the focus has been directed toward the battle at left tackle between J’Marcus Webb and Chris Williams, Tice has steadily turned up the heat on starting left guard Chris Spencer in the wake of Spencer’s poor preseason debut against the Denver Broncos on Aug. 9. Despite the fact Spencer finished last season with the second-highest grade of any Bears’ offensive lineman, the converted center is being challenged by fifth-year veteran guard Chilo Rachal, who was signed to a one-year deal in the offseason.

Although a minor injury kept Rachal on the sidelines for several days leading up to the Redskins game, he and Williams were on the field together at various points with the rest of the members of the Bears’ first unit. Tice said Monday he plans to use a similar rotation when the team travels to the New York area for Friday's game.

“I can always get better in some areas, but I feel I played pretty aggressive, strong,” Rachal said. “That’s what I critique my game after is being a mauler. But like I said, there’s always room for improvement.

“I just picked up the system recently, but as far as bonding with the guys, I think we’re getting along pretty good. My thing was just coming from a different system and learning different terminology, stuff like that, so it’s been pretty good. I’m always ready. When my number’s called, I go out and help my team the best way I can. That’s why I prepare hard every day. I work so in the event that they do need me, I can step right in and won’t miss a beat.”

Rachal started 38 games at right guard the past four seasons for a San Francisco 49ers offense that produced three 1,000-yard rushing seasons for tailback Frank Gore. Originally a second-round choice of the 49ers out of USC, the 6-foot-5, 323-pound Rachal is known for his physical play along the interior of the offensive line.

Rachal smiled when asked if Tice appreciates his nasty style of play.

“Most definitely,” Rachal said. “I try to let that speak for itself.”

I like Rachals upside

Very troublesome that neither Williams or Webb hasn't seperated themselves from the other.

I agree Roadhouse, the fact that both are looking at losing a starting gig if they don't step up is bothersome considering neither have.

If this guy is so good, then why did SF basically call him a "bust" and let him go?

MP, b/c for them he was. Sometimes that has nothing to do w/talent and everything to do w/work ethic. I said this in another thread about Webb, sometimes these guys don't get the amount of work needed until they are cut. Marhsal Faulk said he wouldn't have been the player he became if the Colts hadn't traded him. Benson didn't take the NFL seriously until he was cut and given a 2nd chance; and there are plenty other examples.
Maybe that will be the same w/this guy...or maybe he'll be another sub par player that doesn't amount to much.