Jacquizz Rodgers"ability to run, catch passes, block and tackle is helping him emerge as a valuable asset for the Chicago Bears. The former Oregon State star is catching the eye of the coaches with his play during training camp.
"He"s a guy that"s solid (and) doesn"t make a whole lot of mistakes," Bears running backs coach Stan Drayton told the Chicago Sun-Times. "Any time you have a player like that, you really feel comfortable with him in the game."
The Bears certainly appreciate Rodgers" ability to catch the football, making him an important element in the passing game. He has caught 156 passes during his career, including catching 53 passes during the 2012 season and 52 passes in 2013.
Rodgers displayed his versatility during the Bears 22-0 loss to Denver Thursday night in the team"s first preseason game. Playing in the second quarter, he caught two passes, one a 20-yard pass from quarterback Brian Hoyer, ran the twice and posted a tackle on a punt return.
Another reason for his value is his ability to block to help protect quarterback Jay Cutler. That ability was on display when the 5-foot-6, 205-pound Rodgers took on 6-foot-5, 336-pound defensive lineman Akiem Hicks in a goal line drill during practice last week. Hicks won the battle, but Rodgers willingness to attempt to block has impressed the coaching staff.
Rodgers, 26, is in his sixth NFL season and his second year with the Bears after spending his first four seasons with the Atlanta Falcons. Rodgers didn"t carry the football (14 carries) very much in 2015, but he was a valuable special member before suffering a season-ending broken arm during Week 6.
With the departure of Matt Forte, Rodgers is now the oldest of the running backs and is seen as the leader of the group. Rodgers versatility on offense, along with his contributions on special teams and work ethic, should make him a valuable asset for the Bears.
Sanchez came through with just the sort of performance he needed if he"s going to beat out Trevor Siemian. The former Jets quarterback completed 10 of 13 passes in the first quarter and led a game-opening 76-yard touchdown drive. He had a pass intercepted by Jerrell Freeman on the Broncos" second possession.
Sanchez maintained his cool against Chicago"s pressure and kept the opening drive going by completing three third-down passes including a 32-yard TD to a wide open Demaryius Thomas along the right side.
As for Siemian, the former Northwestern star looked comfortable throwing short passes and was 7 of 12 for 88 yards in the second quarter.
Chicago starter Jay Cutler threw for 18 yards and got sacked twice in the first quarter. Brian Hoyer threw for 81 yards in the second period, but was sacked three times.
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Denver Broncos tight end Virgil Green (85) is upended by Chicago Bears free safety Adrian Amos (38) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game in Chicago, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016.
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Eddie Goldman #91 and Akiem Hicks #96 of the Chicago Bears participate in warm-ups before a game against the Denver Broncos at Soldier Field on August 11, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois.
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Danny Trevathan #59 of the Chicago Bears participates in warm-ups efore a game against the Denver Broncos at Soldier Field on August 11, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois.
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Chicago Bears cornerback Deiondre" Hall (32) breaks up a pass intended for Denver Broncos wide receiver Jordan Taylor (87) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game in Chicago, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016.
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Denver Broncos quarterback Mark Sanchez (6) celebrates a touchdown pass against the Denver Broncos during the first half of an NFL preseason football game in Chicago, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016.
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Akiem Hicks #96 of the Chicago Bears participates in warm-ups before a game against the Denver Broncos at Soldier Field on August 11, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois.
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Denver Broncos quarterback Mark Sanchez throws before the team"s NFL football game against the Chicago Bears in Chicago, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016.
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Chicago Bears head coach John Fox (C) claps as he watches his team warm up before the start of their preseason NFL game against the Denver Broncos at the Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois, USA, 11 August 2016.
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Denver Broncos running back Ronnie Hillman (23) carries between Chicago Bears linebacker Danny Trevathan (59) and defensive end Mitch Unrein (98) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game in Chicago, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016.
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Jordan Howard #24 of the Chicago Bears participates in warm-ups efore a game against the Denver Broncos at Soldier Field on August 11, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois.
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Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler stretches during pre-game warm-ups before the start of their preseason NFL game against the Denver Broncos at the Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois, USA, 11 August 2016.
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Deon Bush #26 of the Chicago Bears participates in warm-ups before a game against the Denver Broncos at Soldier Field on August 11, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois.
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Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas (88) celebrates a touchdown with center Matt Paradis (61) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Chicago Bears in Chicago, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016.
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Chicago Bears wide receiver Kieren Duncan (85) is tacked by Chicago Bears linebacker Jerrell Freeman (50) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game in Chicago, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016.
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Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) throws before an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos in Chicago, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016.
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Daniel Braverman #83 of the Chicago Bears participates in warm-ups before a game against the Denver Broncos at Soldier Field on August 11, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois.
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Denver Broncos quarterback Mark Sanchez (6) throws against the Chicago Bears during the first half of an NFL preseason football game in Chicago, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016.
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Head coach John Fox of the Chicago Bears encourages his team during warm-ups before a game against the Denver Broncos at Soldier Field on August 11, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois.
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Denver Broncos tight end Virgil Green (85) celebrates a touchdown against the Chicago Bears during the first half of an NFL preseason football game in Chicago, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016.
CHICAGO The Bears likely arent ready to start talking about the future only the next game but at 5-7 and fading fast in the postseason picture, thats what some of the conversation will shift to amongst fans and media.The good news is we caught two bright glimpses of the defense"s future from the Bears" crushing 26-20 overtime defeat to San Francisco, including one from an expected mainstay and one whose outlook beyond 2015 was quite murky as recently as a month ago.Eddie Goldman and Willie Young accounted for 3.5 of the Bears four sacks and three of their four tackles for loss in Sunday.Goldman was a dominant force early on, impressing a number of his teammates in the process.Eddie Goldman will be a Pro Bowler within the next two years, Jarvis Jenkins said. Obviously hes been growing, everybody been seeing it and I see it with his preparation everyday.Goldman spearheaded the improvement of Chicagos run defense, which held the Niners to 77 carries on their first 22 runs (3.5 ypc) after allowing season-highs of 177 and 170 over the past two weeks, respectively. Goldman also supplied consistent penetration in the backfield, showing power and quickness to notch his first multi-sack game in the NFL.He has the best hands of a nose that I face around the whole NFL, said Hroniss Grasu, the man whos been tasked with blocking Goldman in practice throughout his rookie year. Right on the snap, his hands are on your chest. He plays with great great leverage; those are his weapons.He gets his bear paws right into your chest; it sucks.Young has awakened over the past three games, tallying 3.5 of his 4.5 sacks over that span, and picking up the slack while Pernell McPhee has fought through a knee injury.Young beat former All-Pro left tackle Joe Staley on multiple occasions Sunday, including to begin San Franciscos final drive.I just told [Staley after the game], I didnt get no sleep all week watching you. This didnt happen overnight. I told my son, go on and watch TV or something, Ive got some studying to do. Joe Staley this week. My hat go off to him. Hes a great player.Suddenly, Young is looking like a difference maker at a position he still wont call his own. Coming off a ruptured Achilles suffered last December, his explosion and flexibility are improving noticeably every week.And thats not the part that impresses McPhee the most about Youngs rise.His focus level. Earlier this season, he wasnt playing that much. He stayed focused. He stayed asking questions. When we got his opportunity, he just took it to another level. And you can see every day hes improving. Hes asking questions about dropping into coverage, and he really takes it into consideration, as he moved from D-end to outside linebacker.
Perhaps Chicago will still have speed edge rush at or near the top of its offseason to-do list, but it"s encouraging the 30-year-old Young, slated to earn a reasonable $3 million in the final year of his contract in 2016, is helping bolster Chicago"s rush more than earlier in the season.
Of course, the key to a formidable pass rush is one that can get home from different areas and as Goldman ascends, it"s creating more chances for Young, McPhee and Lamarr Houston.
"How many plays did he have today? Two sacks? Heck yeah. Im very proud of where hes at," Young said of Goldman."That allows the guys on the edge to get after the quarterback and just let it go. When you have that kind of inside production, its crucial."
With the postseason push taking a step back Sunday, it"s also crucial for Ryan Pace and John Fox to know what kind of defensive playmakers they have for the future. With their recent surge, Goldman and Young are rushing into that category.
Three teams the 49ers, Falcons and Bears have asked to interview Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)
Can Adam Gase become the answer to the enigma that is Jay Cutler?
The Chicago Bears are curious enough to interview the Broncos offensive coordinator.
The Bears became the third team to formally consider Gase for their head coaching position, joining the Atlanta Falcons and San Francisco 49ers.
Those three teams have one thing in common: Talented quarterbacks who have led their teams to at least one conference championship game but are coming off disappointing seasons. Cutler has been perhaps the NFLs most underachieving quarterback the past three years.
A first-round draft choice of the Broncos in 2006, Cutler earned a Pro-Bowl berth in 2008. But when the Broncos fired longtime coach Mike Shanahan after the 2008 season, Cutler demanded to be traded both in the days before and weeks after the team hired Josh McDaniels as their new coach and head of football operations.Dealt to Chicago in 2009, Cutler helped the Bears reach the NFC championship game in 2010 and he was playing well in 2011, winning five games in a row when he suffered a season-ending thumb injury. He has been erratic since, throwing 66 touchdown passes in the past three years, but also 44 interceptions.
Still, the Bears gave him a contract extension that paid him $22.5 million this season and hes virtually guaranteed to make about $15.5 million in 2015.
Cutler would pose a unique challenge for Gase, who worked closely the past three seasons with Peyton Manning, the Broncos meticulously prepared star quarterback. Gase was the Broncos quarterbacks coach in 2012 and offensive coordinator in 2013-14.
Manning averaged 43.7 touchdowns against just 12 interceptions in his past three seasons while leading the Broncos to records of 13-3, 13-3 and 12-4.
Ryan led the Falcons to the 2012 NFC championship game, in which they lost to Colin Kaepernicks 49ers. Ryan compiled a 56-22 record in his first five seasons as a starter but is 10-22 in his last two seasons.
Kaepernick was 21-8, including playoffs, in his first two seasons as the 49ers starter, but was 8-8 this season as he fell from the 10th-rated passer in 2013 to 20th this season.
Gase has been working with the Broncos offense this week in preparation for the teams second-round AFC playoff game next week Sunday, Jan. 11. However, thanks to having a first-round bye, the Broncos are off Thursday, Friday and Saturday before reconvening Sunday at Dove Valley.
Gase will conduct his interviews during the off days with contingents from the Bears, Falcons and 49ers meeting him here in the Denver area.
The Bears have hired former NFL general manager Ernie Accorsi to oversee their search for a new coach and GM. Broncos general manager John Elway has called Accorsi his front-office mentor.
The Falcons are using former Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns executive Joe Banner as a consultant for their coaching search. Banner was with the Browns last year when the team courted Gase to fill their head coaching vacancy. Gase withdrew from consideration and the job went to Mike Pettine.
The 49ers coaching search is headed by owner Jed York and general manager Trent Baalke. Gase worked for both in 2008 when he was the 49ers offensive assistant to offensive coordinator Mike Martz.
Gases work as an offensive coordinator includes an NFL record 606 points and 55 Manning touchdown passes in 2013, and a midseason shift to greater run balance in 2014 as the Broncos still finished second in scoring at 30.1 points per game.
Chicago Bears safety Chris Contethinks playing in the NFL is worth having a shorter life, he said on WBBM-AM780"s pregame show on Monday.
Conte, 25, did not play during Monday night"s 31-15 loss to the New Orleans Saints because of a back injury. He has been injured several times this season, including a pair of concussions.
Conte said he is not worried aboutthe long-term health risks associated with playing professional football, according to a transcription from The Chicago Tribune"s Rich Campbell.
"I"d rather have the experience of playing in the NFL and die 10 to 15 years earlier than not play in the NFL and have a long life," he said.
"I don"t really look toward my life after football. I"ll figure things out when I get there. As long as I outlive my parents."
"I"m not saying I"m going to go die when I"m 45, 50," he said. "I"m fortunate to go out and play football."
Bears suffer all-systems failure in loss to Saints
The Bears selectedConte in the third round of the 2011 draft, and he has played his entire four-year career in Chicago. In 12 games this season, he has 43 tackles and three interceptions.Conte"s rookie contract expires after this season, making him a free agent this offseason.
The Bears dropped to 5-9 on Monday and are eliminated from playoff contention. They host the Detroit Lions on Sunday and face the Minnesota Vikings on the road the following week.
KING: The book on Marcus Mariotaas an NFL pocket passer
Bears QB Jay Cutler holds brief press conference after Monday night loss
Chicago Bears QB Jay Cutler cuts a press conference short after Monday night loss.
