[CBFF] DH: If nothing else, Bears’ TE depth gets a big boost

[Victor Waldron]

If nothing else, Bears' TE depth gets a big boost

By Bob LeGere
Daily Herald Sports Writer
Posted Monday, May 08, 2006

	
If not quality, the Bears at least have quantity at tight end this off-season.

Undrafted free agents Cooper Wallace and Tim Day have been added to
the mix along with incumbent starter Desmond Clark and returning
backups John Gilmore and Gabe Reid.

Minnesota basketball player Zach Puchtel, who played one season of
football at Harvard four years ago, also is hoping to work his way
into the equation after participating in the weekend rookie minicamp
that concluded Sunday.

"It seems like people around here really like talking about our tight
ends these days," Bears coach Lovie Smith said after seeing the
attention the three newcomers attracted.

The Bears' No. 31 passing game could get a much-needed boost from the
presence of a receiving threat at tight end, since that position
accounted for just 28 receptions for 250 yards last season.

Wallace (Auburn) and Day (Oregon) were each good enough to start for
three years in quality Division-I programs. But neither was deemed
good enough to be drafted — a sore subject for both.

"Obviously, for many years I've been thinking about getting drafted
and having people talk about me and all that," said the 6-foot-4,
265-pound Wallace. "It's a pretty humbling experience. (But) it's
probably better for me because I got to end up here."

Day, the same height and weight as Wallace, also appreciates the
opportunity, considering the Bears' desire to upgrade at the position.

"It didn't work out for me being drafted," Day said, "but being
undrafted and coming here is great. I think it's the best place for me
to come in and get some time and show my talents to the team."

Day's draft status dipped as a senior when he was underutilized in
Gary Crowton's spread-option offense, catching just 25 passes for 215
yards (8.6-yard average) and 1 TD. He also wasn't asked to do much as
an in-line blocker. And he had surgery in February 2005 to relieve
chronic tightness in his calves, which also didn't help his draft
status.

"I think that's what really got me to drop," Day said of the surgery.
"I'm just going to try to show everybody I can play without the
injuries. I'm healthy right now. I ran faster and squatted more (after
the surgery). It helped me a lot."

Day's strength is catching passes. He caught 35 passes for 457 yards
(13.1-yard average) and 8 touchdowns as a junior.

He does have a reputation for being a little soft and lacking the
toughness to be effective as a blocker, which the Bears require from
their tight ends.

Day doesn't agree with his critics.

"I think I'm a better blocker than people give me credit for," he
said. "I think if you go back and look at my film, you can see that we
were successful running the ball because they can get around the edge
because I can block. It's just another thing I have to go out and
show, and (then) people might believe me."

Day isn't the consummate tight end all teams crave, but he has a
better opportunity than most undrafted rookies of making the team.

"We think we were lucky to get two players like that who weren't
drafted," Smith said. "We thought going in, especially Tim would get
drafted. Of course he should have a heck of a shot of making our
ballclub here, so it could end up being good for both of us."

Wallace's blocking isn't outstanding either, but as a junior he helped
clear the way for running backs Cadillac Williams and Ronnie Brown to
become top-five picks.

"The running backs were pretty good," Wallace said, "but we had a good
O-line and I was anchoring the end of it. We prided ourselves on the
run game, so I think that was a big reason we were good.

"I think blocking is more of a strength for me. I have to go a little
more aggressively to the whistle, but I think it's something I could
be good at."