WR Dane Sanzenbacher (Official Thread)

[scarletmike]

Its exciting and great to hear he's doing this well at the next level, but man, he's gonna be missed in the 'Shoe.

I may have to become a casual Bears fan now, when he makes the roster.

 

[utgrad73]

Its exciting and great to hear he's doing this well at the next level, but man, he's gonna be missed in the 'Shoe.

I may have to become a casual Bears fan now, when he makes the roster.

Feel the same way, sad that he's gone, but happy to see him in a Bears uniform. Couldn't be prouder of the skinny little kid from Toledo Central Catholic!. :osu:

 

[utgrad73]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/chi-110828-dane-poll,0,6459553.poll

Would you keep Sanzenbacher on the Bears roster?


If you are Bears GM Jerry Angelo, do you keep undrafted wide receiver Dane Sanzenbacher on the roster?

• Yes (4157 responses)
  95%
  
• No (216 responses)
  5%
  

4373 total responses
(Results not scientific)

Readers of the Tribune say Dane stays.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sport...-0829-bears-pompei--20110829,0,4153917.column
Wide receivers

Bears quarterbacks had a fairly productive night throwing the ball with 277 yards, but they could have had close to 100 yards more if the wide receivers had done their jobs on catchable passes.

Of course there was Roy Williams' tip on the second play of the game that resulted in an interception. Jay Cutler hit Williams square in the hands and should have had a 20-yard gain.

We have come to expect that from Williams. We should not have to expect it from rookie free agent Dane Sanzenbacher, who dropped what could have been at least a 14-yard gain. The only reason to keep Sanzenbacher on the final 53-man roster is he is supposed to catch everything.

The game against the Titans provided an opportunity for Johnny Knox to step up, and he failed to do so. On his sideline non-catch that was reviewed and upheld, Knox did not establish possession before stepping out. He also allowed Titans cornerback Chris Hawkins to reach around and break up a pass that hit him in the hands. Knox left at least 30 yards on the field.

Devin Hester added to the trend by dropping two catchable passes.

The only receiver who did his job well was Earl Bennett.

He missed a low ball that he has caught in the past - i.e. Sugar Bowl 2nd TD. He had it and then bobbled it. So did a few other receivers.

 

[utgrad73]

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/foot...t-whos-in-whos-on-bubble-whos-in-trouble.html

Bears roster: A look at who's in, who's on bubble, who's in trouble

MARK POTASH ON THE BEARS August 29, 2011 11:00PM

Decisions, decisions. The Bears have a lot of them to make in a short time.
Because of the lockout, evaluations might be kind of dicey this year. The Bears didn?t get an offseason to see their rookies and free agents. In fact, veteran free agents such as Roy Williams, Sam Hurd, Amobi Okoye and Vernon Gholston didn?t start practicing with the team until Aug. 4.

Wide receivers (5-6)
Locks: All Earl Bennett does is get open. Roy Williams has two catches and two drops, but even Bears fans have to give him more than 16 practices. Devin Hester needs to look as improved in the games as he does in practice. Johnny Knox is better than he was last year.
Good bets: Sam Hurd is a must-have on special teams. Intriguing Dane Sanzenbacher would be diffi-
cult to sneak on to the practice squad.
On the bubble: Undrafted 6-3 rookie Kris Adams warrants a
longer look on the practice squad.
Long shots: Onrea Jones has produced during the preseason (five catches, 78 yards) but is buried in this group. Rookie Jimmy Young and Andy Fantuz have been lost in the shuffle.

He needs to play...

 

[utgrad73]

http://www.chicagobears.com/DailyBlogs.asp?DAILY_BLOG_DATE=08/30/11

Sanzenbacher makes final push


Posted: 8/30/2011 2:15:00 PM
One of the most pleasant surprises of training camp, undrafted rookie Dane Sanzenbacher gets one final opportunity to prove that he deserves a spot on the Bears' 53-man roster.
The wide receiver from Ohio State is among the young players who are expected to see significant action Thursday night when the Bears host the Cleveland Browns in the preseason finale.
"You never know at this point," Sanzenbacher said when asked to assess his chances. "We've got one more big test against Cleveland, where a lot of us are going to get a lot of playing time. I'm sure that will always come into the equation. But you always want to put your best foot forward."
Sanzenbacher has done just that. Getting reps with the first- and second-team offense, he impressed in training camp and has caught six passes for 57 yards in three preseason games.
"I feel like I've put myself in a good position," Sanzenbacher said. "It was a wild camp and everything was flying around and it hasn't much changed since we got here [at Halas Hall]. Every day you just try to absorb what they're installing and try to minimize your mistakes."
With no offseason program due to the NFL lockout, Sanzenbacher made up for lost time by burying his nose in his Bears playbook once a new collective bargaining agreement was in place.
"When you are going into a college situation, you study the playbook hard and you want to get in there," he said. "But in the back of your mind, you always have that cushion: "Well, I have four years here." When you come in here, we didn't have OTAs, didn't have any of that stuff, so you're right into camp and it's like, "Well, I better go learn it now or there might not be a tomorrow."
After going undrafted, Sanzenbacher opted to sign with the Bears over several other NFL teams that had expressed interest in the two-time first-team All-Big 10 selection.
"It was just a gut decision," he said. "There were other options out there and we entertained them all. Chicago was a place that we knew even pre-draft that might be a good destination for me. When it came down to be my decision, I wanted to go to a place where not only was it a good situation but that I really wanted to make that team. Since it was my opportunity and I finally got to pick, I wanted to go to a place like this."

Dane has the correct attitude and perspective on his situation. They really have a gem there, but he needs a good showing Thursday with a bunch of catches and a TD. If not, at least show them he can keep the drives alive. Here's to a success showing against the Brownies. He's a Buckeye, he'll be fine. :osu:

 

[Buckskin86]

Sanzenbacher looks like solid pick
August, 30, 2011
By Jeff Dickerson

AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh
Mike Martz said Dane Sanzenbacher's knowledge of several positions is an important asset.

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Barring an injury in the next couple of days, undrafted rookie free agent wide receiver Dane Sanzenbacher has a strong chance to make the Bears' final 53-man roster as the sixth wideout.

The former Ohio State star began taking some reps in the slot with the first team early in camp, and saw action during the Bears' second offensive series on Saturday in Tennessee.

He caught two passes for 23 yards on six targets against the Titans, and he's tied for second in overall preseason receptions with six.

"Dane has done a really nice job," Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz said. "He knows several positions, which is really important. He's got some similar skills as Earl [Bennett] in the slot. The match-ups for him inside are very good, so we're really pleased with him."

That's not to say Sanzenbacher is taking a roster spot for granted. He is expected to receive plenty of playing time in the preseason finale versus the Browns on Thursday. However, the prevailing feeling in the locker room is that six receivers -- the Bears kept 5 in 2010 -- will be on the active roster heading into the Week 1 match-up with the Atlanta Falcons.

"I think there's still a lot to do this week and obviously with the Browns game," Sanzenbacher said. "You never stop proving yourself of trying to get a spot, especially when you're in my position. So you can't rest on anything.

Cont...

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/bears/post/_/id/4671615/sanzenbacher-looks-like-solid-pick

‘Dinger’ shows he’s got game
By TOM MUSICK – [email protected]

Bears wide receiver Dane Sanzenbacher looks good to make the team's 53-man roster after a solid performance in training camp. (Charles Rex Arbogast / AP)

LAKE FOREST – Dane Sanzenbacher has made a name for himself with an impressive college career at Ohio State and a strong preseason with the Bears.

As for possible nicknames, well, those could use some work.

“Some of the trainers call me ‘Dinger,’ or ‘Sanzendinger,’ – I don’t even know where that comes from,” Sanzenbacher said Tuesday at Halas Hall. “They just all come off slaughtering of my last name, and whatever they can get out of [it], that is what we go with.”

Pretty soon, Sanzenbacher could be called something else: An NFL player.

The Bears must determine their 53-man roster for the regular season by Saturday, and Sanzenbacher is one of several undrafted rookies with a legitimate chance to make the team.

Others include tight end Kyle Adams (Purdue), linebacker Dom DeCicco (Pittsburgh) and defensive end Mario Addison (Troy).

Bears coach Lovie Smith praised Sanzenbacher for his consistency.

“Since day one, he’s made plays,” said Smith, who was an assistant coach at Ohio State in 1995. “We feel like we have a pretty good handle on what he is.”

During his senior year at Ohio State, Sanzenbacher (5-11, 180) was voted as a team captain and the Buckeyes’ most valuable player.

He caught 55 passes for 948 yards and 11 touchdowns to earn a spot on the all-Big Ten team.

Sanzenbacher’s success continued into the preseason after he signed with the Bears. He impressed coaches during training camp in Bourbonnais, and he is tied for second with six receptions for 57 yards in three preseason games.

Despite that, Sanzenbacher said, he has not done enough to make the team.

“Not yet,” Sanzenbacher said. “I think there’s still a lot to do this week and obviously with the Browns game. You never stop proving yourself of trying to get a spot, especially when you’re in my position. You can’t rest on anything.”

Cont...

http://www.nwherald.com/2011/08/30/dinger-shows-hes-got-game/awa4s9r/

Rookie Diary: Dane Sanzenbacher -Scout $

 

[GeorgiaBuck2]

Dane's eyes...

 

[Meyer]

Everyone on this board could tell NFL GM's, "I told you so."

He should have been drafted, no doubt about it.

 

[utgrad73]

http://www.chicagobears.com/DailyBlogs.asp?DAILY_BLOG_DATE=08/31/11

Bears rookie on OSU scandal

Posted: 8/31/2011 2:40:00 PM
Bears rookie receiver Dane Sanzenbacher, a former Ohio State star, thinks that the Buckeyes will rebound from the memorabilia-for-cash-and-tattoos scandal that cost Jim Tressel his job as coach.

"It was a tough situation," said Sanzenbacher, who was not implicated in any of the rule violations. "It has been for the last few months. But I think the guys that they have in place there with not only the head coach but the senior leadership they have, I don?t think they?ll have any trouble rebounding from it."

Sanzenbacher never dreamed that Tressel?s career at Ohio State would end like it did.

"I was surprised it went down like that," said the undrafted rookie. "When you play with a coach like that for four years, you never expect anything like that to happen. In my mind and I'm sure in a lot of people?s minds, we all thought he?d be able to leave that job when he felt like it. It was a shock."

Despite the scandal, Sanzenbacher remains proud of his association with Ohio State and how playing for the Buckeyes prepared him for the NFL.

"The biggest thing that I noticed from Day 1 is it has helped in the competition aspect of it," Sanzenbacher said. "When you're at a university like Ohio State, you know that every year they're going to bring in the top recruits of the country, the best guys, and they're trying to take your job. So every camp you have to compete for that job and I think that's been able to transfer over here."

This is the first time I've heard him talk about his alma mater and former coach.

 

[utgrad73]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sport...season-finale-20110831,0,4706185.story?page=2

Bears roster breakdown: Heated battles remain

Dane Sanzenbacher (18) seems to have won a roster spot, and Kris Adams is a practice-squad possibility. (Nuccio DiNuzzo/Tribune Photo)

By Brad Biggs
Tribune reporter
2:09 p.m. CDT, August 31, 2011

The number crunching has started for the Chicago Bears and they?ve already got a good idea how 80 will turn into 53 come Saturday.

Injuries in the preseason finale Thursday night against the Cleveland Browns could reshape things. It has happened before. Backup running back Kevin Jones was lost for the year in the final preseason game two years ago with an ankle injury. In 2003, the team suffered a greater blow as guard Rex Tucker was lost for the season with an ankle injury in the final preseason game at New England.

But any way you slice and dice the roster, it looks like there could be one and possibly two jobs up for grabs. Keep in mind the club made a slight personnel shift to being a running team during the offseason. But that's probably not going to stop six wide receivers from making the roster because of the emergence of undrafted rookie free agent Dan Sanzenbacher.

"We have to have an idea this late in preseason," coach Lovie Smith said. "But (Thursday's game) is one more look and if a player does do something that you haven't seen ... I'll say the last couple games we learned a lot about a few players. The last game hopefully we'll see the same thing. Every year there are a couple surprises and that will probably be the case this year, too.

"Everyone realizes 53 guys will stay and there's (an eight-man) practice squad. But it's still tough telling guys his dream is maybe not ending right now but it's cut a little bit short for the time being. That's always hard. But again, when guys get into it, they know that it's part of it."

Let's take a look at the roster and how it could shake out:

Wide receivers
Projected to make team: 6
2010 opening roster: 5
Players: Devin Hester, Roy Williams, Earl Bennett, Johnny Knox, Sam Hurd, Dane Sanzenbacher
Comment: There's not going to be a role for Sanzenbacher on special teams, but he is a specialist of sorts for offensive coordinator Mike Martz and he figures to stick. Hurd is expected to pick up the special teams role Rashied Davis held last year. He also will be a possibility in the red zone because he has good size at 6-3, 200 pounds, and he blocks well. Lanky Kris Adams is an interesting possibility for the practice squad as he has made plays downfield.

"A specialist of sorts" Yeh, he can play several positions. He's a backup to the backups - can't wait to see him in the endzone.

 

[utgrad73]

http://blogs.suntimes.com/bears/2011/08/can_the_bears_find_room_for_sa.html

Can the Bears find room for Dane Sanzenbacher?
By Mark Potash on August 31, 2011 11:19 AM | No Comments | No TrackBacks
Like it is with a lot of NFL teams, the Bears' don't have enough depth for the last few cuts down to 53 -- the ones that will be decided in Thursday night's preseason finale against the Cleveland Browns -- to make a big difference. Whether its keeping Mike Hass and cutting Joaquin Iglesias or vice-versa, moves to fill the final spots on the 53-man roster rarely prove costly or fruitful.

There are potential exceptions: Henry Melton edged out Jarron Gilbert for one of the last defensive line spots last year and is entrenched, at least for now, at defensive tackle. Matt Toeaina made the team as a ''bubble'' guy in 2008 and 2009 and is in the three-man rotation at tackle with Melton and Anthony Adams.

If there's a logjam anywhere on the roster it's at wide receiver, where the Bears might have to find room for undrafted rookie Dane Sanzenbacher. Unless the Bears suddenly lose interest in Roy Williams or don't need Sam Hurd on special teams, they have five ''locks'' at wide receiver: Earl Bennett, Devin Hester, Johnny Knox, Williams and Hurd. More often than not, they only keep five on the active roster.

This is getting very interesting. Dane needs to have a solid game tomorrow against Cleveland. Should he not make it, there may be several teams interested in acquiring his skills. I think this could be a win win for Dane.

 

[Buckeye86]

Sanzenbacher is getting a lot of action in the game against the Browns so far. He has been targeted (terribly) twice, ran a reverse, and just caught a 3rd and 14 first down pass. He was the "featured" player on offense according to the guys in the booth as well.

It's fun to see him getting so much face time and game action.

 

[exhawg]

After watching the first series of the Browns/Bears game the Bears would be dumb not to sign Dane because someone else would pick him up. He's the next Welker

 

[utgrad73]

Sanzenbacher is getting a lot of action in the game against the Browns so far. He has been targeted (terribly) twice, ran a reverse, and just caught a 3rd and 14 first down pass. He was the "featured" player on offense according to the guys in the booth as well.

It's fun to see him getting so much face time and game action.

Trying to find a link, is anyone watching or listening>

 

[utgrad73]

Sounds like Dane is making his presence known, another catch for 16 yards