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JDRochholz wrote:I hope Urlacher sits this one out. We are going to need his on-field leadership more than anything this season. We shouldn't have problems against the team.

patryk7754 wrote:

JDRochholz wrote:I hope Urlacher sits this one out. We are going to need his on-field leadership more than anything this season. We shouldn't have problems against the team.

I don't think we need him for this game either but he needs a warm-up game. I'd only play him if he was at least 80%

BIGGIEsmalls 23 wrote:

patryk7754 wrote:

JDRochholz wrote:I hope Urlacher sits this one out. We are going to need his on-field leadership more than anything this season. We shouldn't have problems against the team.

I don't think we need him for this game either but he needs a warm-up game. I'd only play him if he was at least 80%

The more that this becomes a lingering issue, the more pissed that I get at Lovie Smith.

There was ABSOLUTELY NO reason for Urlacher to be in that meaningless game versus the Vikings.

NZB2323 wrote:Didn't Urlacher also say that he wouldn't miss any preseason games? Color me skeptical.

JOHN "MOON" MULLIN
Evan Rodriguez was drafted out of Temple for his receiving prowess and potential. He caught 13 passes in 2009; then 21 in 2010, an increase of 62 percent; and finally 35 last season, a jump of 67 percent.

But given the choice between catching a pass and delivering a “de-cleater” – a block that takes an opponent completely off his feet/cleats and flattens him – the choice was easy.

“I would have to say a de-cleater. That’s more emotional,” Rodriguez said, then laughed. “But if it’s a touchdown catch, hey, no comparison there.”

Good answer, kid, especially for a starting tight end in the Chicago Bears offense of former NFL tight end Mike Tice.

The top end of the Bears’ 2012 draft class – defensive end Shea McClellin, receiver Alshon Jeffery – have moved into impact positions with chances to start sooner rather than later this season. McClellin is in on the No. 1 nickel unit with Israel Idonije bumping inside to tackle. Jeffery also is in the nickel unit, a third receiver who is on track to be starting by mid-season.

But the first 2012 rookie to break into the starting lineup was neither of those two, but fourth-round pick Rodriguez.

“I think [starting] would’ve eventually happened somewhere down the road,” Rodriguez said. “But the fact that it happened pretty much early, I’m excited about that. I’ve still got to prove myself, though.”

The tight end from Temple, the 111th overall pick last April, is the starting fullback/H back in an offense that uses two tight ends as its base package.

“He’s going to get a lot of playing time,” said Tice. “We’re going to play four tight ends. We don’t have a FB on the roster. We anointed him that guy.”

Rodriguez is quick to remind that he was a very accomplished blocker at Temple, where he had a hand in Bernard Pierce leading the Mid-American Conference in rushing for 2009 and 2011 and finishing eighth in 2010.

Rodriguez did his job so well that Pierce was picked 84th overall and is now with the Baltimore Ravens.

Rodriguez wouldn’t mind a chance to show what he can do with the ball in his hands, although a handoff a’la William Perry is a serious longshot.

“I don’t know. We’ll see,” Rodriguez said. “If there’s the opportunity down the road, that’d be fun. Not counting on it, though.”

heir_jordan22 wrote:The fact that Rodriguez is starting is really exciting. 4th round pick and he will be our #1FB/#2TE. I like it mostly because that means I don't have to watch Spaeth lol. Let's see how he plays against a fairly week Colts front 7.