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WR Dane Sanzenbacher (Official Thread)

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Buckskin86;2163435; said:
Dane Sanzenbacher has been impressive throughout OTAs. He is running very tight routes and has shown improved hands. He has the look of a seasoned player and has been a nightmare for defensive backs during 1-on-1 drills.
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:rofl: Sanz has no room for improvement on his hands. Someone wasn't paying attention last season.
 
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Sanzenbacher proved he belongs, now he must do it again
June 7, 2012
JOHN "MOON" MULLIN

Indeed, Dane Sanzenbacher believes he dispelled doubts and skeptics and proved that he belongs in the NFL.

?Yeah. I think I proved I belong here,? Sanzenbacher told CSNChicago.com, although not sounding particularly satisfied with the accomplishment.

?But I haven?t reached my full potential in this league yet. There?s a lot more things to do. It?s one thing to belong, but what?s that mean? To just be a part of it, to participate? There?s a lot more.?

Yet Sanzenbacher, whose three touchdown catches were second on the Bears behind only tight end Kellen Davis, is facing perhaps an even stiffer challenge for a roster spot than he did as an unproven rookie out of Ohio State this time last year.

The Bears have four roster locks at wide receiver: Earl Bennett, Brandon Marshall, Devin Hester and rookie Alshon Jeffery. Devin Thomas and Eric Weems were signed for their special-teams prowess and Weems rates an edge as a kick returner.

This has Sanzenbacher in the position of potentially needing to beat out one or two receivers who have never matched his offensive production in their careers. And chances of the Bears keeping seven receivers are slim to none, given their situation at tight end with two veterans under contract (Davis, Matt Spaeth) and one drafted in the fourth round (Evan Rodriguez).

But ?that?s how it?s been,? Sanzenbacher said. ?That?s how last year was too. I think until you start to prove yourself, it?s warranted. You need to make plays and make people realize it.

?They?re not going to automatically come out and give you credit. Second year in the league, I still have a lot of proving to do.?
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http://www.csnchicago.com/football-...belongs-now-he-mu?blockID=721378&feedID=10330

Here are other observations from Wednesday's OTA:

* Wide receiver Dane Sanzenbacher made some impressive moves in one-on-one drills vs. cornerbacks. He ran tight routes and was elusive after the catch. It?s going to be a challenge for him to make the roster; the sixth and final roster spot at wide receiver could come down to a battle between him and Devin Thomas, who was signed to a one-year deal and could provide more value on special teams. Brandon Marshall, Devin Hester, Earl Bennett, Alshon Jeffery and Eric Weems figure to have spots locked up. It wouldn?t be a surprise for the Bears to keep a sixth receiver but it?s highly unlikely they would keep seven.
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http://articles.chicagotribune.com/...brandon-marshall-alshon-jeffery-wide-receiver
 
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We hear this every year. If he falls out of favor and doesn't make the team, he will have been beaten by a better player. I doubt that will happen. Homer - yes. Realist - yes. We have seen him beat the odds. On the other hand, there are teams that would "love" to have him.
 
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Second-year wideout Dane Sanzenbacher, who led the team in drops last season and dropped several passes during organized team activities in recent weeks, appears to have rebounded somewhat during the first two days of minicamp. Sanzenbacher didn?t drop any passes thrown his way during 7 on 7, but still might face long odds to make the team because of the arrival of free agent Devin Thomas, who gives the club value as a special teams player.
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http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/bears/post/_/id/4676326/day-2-minicamp-observations
 
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Sanzenbacher knows he's in Bear of roster battle
With deep receiving corps, 2nd-year player will have to show worth on special teams
By Fred Mitchell, Chicago Tribune reporter
June 14, 2012

Last season's heralded losses of Jay Cutler and Matt Forte underscore the harsh NFL reality ? the next man on the Bears roster must be prepared to deliver. Too often, that didn't happen in 2011.

Now, positions of apparent strength, such as the wide receivers group, will keep players such as Dane Sanzenbacher on high alert when training camp begins July 26 in Bourbonnais.

The lithe second-year receiver from Ohio State knows his ability to be a dependable situational receiver and a contributor on special teams will be paramount to his sticking on the roster.

"You've got to do whatever (it takes)," Sanzenbacher said. "There are a lot of guys, a lot of talent in that room. They brought some new guys in. The best guys are going to stand out in the end. Got to make plays, got to keep yourself in it.

"It's a little bit of a different feel ? a new offense (under Mike Tice). Trying to learn everything fast."

Coach Lovie Smith said he likes the makeup of his team from top to bottom.

"When I say we are a better football team, I'm talking about the 53-man roster, even the 60-man, with the practice squad," Smith said. "We have some good training-camp battles going on. I feel like we have an idea which direction we're going, but as far as some of the roster spots, it's hard to evaluate. When you talk about evaluation, you can't really evaluate linemen until you get the pads on."

The Bears receiving corps is brimming with potential, but Sanzenbacher hopes to survive an expected roster battle with Devin Thomas. The 5-11, 180-pound Sanzenbacher said he learned a great deal as an undrafted rookie who caught 27 passes for 276 yards and three touchdowns.

"Just learning how to play at this level, learning how to practice at this level," Sanzenbacher said. "You know, learning that you have got to bring it every day.

"Last year you had vets like Roy (Williams). This year you bring in Brandon Marshall. And for a guy that good, he teaches me how to work hard too. You learn so much from the older guys in the room and just how to play the game as a professional."

cont...
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http://www.chicagotribune.com/sport...-side-bears-chicago--20120615,0,6290077.story
 
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http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?story_id=8884

In advance of training camp, coach Darryl Drake discusses Bears wide receivers.

LM: Where does Dane Sanzenbacher fit in with this group?
DD: "Dane's in the mix. He's a great route runner and [Jay Cutler] feels comfortable with him. We know everybody's not going to make the team. But it's going to be a good battle. Dane does some good things in practice every day. He overcame odds last year; he's a guy who was a free agent. You can't count him out; don't do that. He'll find a way. He's had a good offseason. We just need to continue to let him do that and we'll let the chips fall where they may in training camp and the preseason."
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He'll memorize the playbook faster than the rookies and leave them in the dust.
 
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Bestbuck36;2163678; said:
No way he should be the "6th" reciever. He's much better than that. Just keeps getting no respect.
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He had some huge drops towards the end of the season that earned him a spot on the bench. The bears then added some quality WR's - without an injury ahead of him he is not guaranteed anything.
 
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sammyjenkis;2185649; said:
He had some huge drops towards the end of the season that earned him a spot on the bench. The bears then added some quality WR's - without an injury ahead of him he is not guaranteed anything.
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Too many drops was the killer for him... then once Cutler got hurt he was left on the bench as the Bears cut down the passing game.
 
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Bears WR Dane Sanzenbacher: It's on me to make roster
By Mark Potash on July 27, 2012

A year ago at this time, Dane Sanzenbacher already was on his way toward first-team reps in the Bears' first padded practice of training camp -- pretty good for an undrafted free agent whom the Bears had signed two days before training camp because of the NFL lockout.

But even after an impressive rookie season in which he caught 27 passes for 276 yards in limited play and still led all Bears wide receivers with three touchdowns, Sanzenbacher is almost back where he started: on the roster bubble, trying to ''do something they're going to remember.''

In fact, Sanzenbacher might be facing an even tougher task this season since the Bears have upgraded their wide receiver corps. Last year he had to beat out Andy Fantuz, Kris Adams, Onrea Jones and Jimmy Young for a roster spot. This year, even with Johnny Knox likely out for the season, he might have to beat out kick returners Devin Thomas or Eric Weems. Thomas' speed gives him an edge with Knox out. Weems' special-teams ability makes him tough to cut.

''It's going to be tough,'' Sanzenbacher said. ''[But] I can only control what I can control in the end. You just have to take it one day at a time, keep your head down and work.''

Sanzenbacher does have the year of NFL experience to lean on. And while he's only 5-11, he has the quickness and know-how to adapt to any offense. He's not wasting time ruing the unfortunate circumstances that have put him back to Square One with the Bears.

''It's totally on my shoulders. If I don't make the team, it's on me,'' he said. ''It's not because of unfortunate circumstances or a roster breakdown. It's going to be because I didn't do a job. It's my job to give them a reason to keep me.''

Sanzenbacher, who wasn't quite as sure-handed as he was expected to be last year, will have to make the most of likely limited opportunities in training camp. He's never talked to new general manager Phil Emery and doesn't know what he likes or doesn't like in a wide receiver. But he's buoyed by the knowledge that ''he's going to keep the guys who help him win games.''

That's all Sanzenbacher needs to know. And if he doesn't make the Bears' roster, there were enough teams interested in him as an undrafted free agent last year and enough tape from last year's regular season that another team likely is keeping an eye on him at the Bears' training camp.

His job in this camp isn't too complicated.

''We can over talk it, but it's a simple formula,'' Sanzenbacher said. ''Get open, catch the ball and the guys want you here.''
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http://blogs.suntimes.com/bears/2012/07/bears_wr_dane_sanzenbacher_bac.html
 
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