[CBFF] [Fwd: Bears were not only team interested in QB Hanie]

[Tom Shannon]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	Bears were not only team interested in QB Hanie
Date: 	Fri, 02 May 2008 03:50:05 GMT
From: 	<Brad Biggs>



Tracked down a quarterbacks coach in the league to pick his brain about 
*Caleb Hanie*, the Colorado State quarterback who was signed to a 
contract as an undrafted free agent to compete with Southern Illinois’ 
Nick Hill. The coach spoke on the condition he not be identified.

``He did throw quite a few interceptions but we thought that he was on a 
bad football team trying to make plays more than really making poor 
decisions. He didn’t have a great team around him and it looked like he 
was just a competitor, trying to make plays and give his team a chance 
to win more than having a chronic problem making bad decisions. He’s got 
pretty good size (6-2, 236 pounds), really good arm strength. He was 
active enough in the pocket where he could make some plays. I liked him.’’

The coach also discussed USC’s* John David Booty*, who the Bears passed 
on in the fourth round to draft LSU safety *Craig Steltz*, and 
Michigan’s *Chad Henne*, who the Bears could have nabbed in the second 
round.

``We kind of liked [Booty] too. We felt he was going to be maybe the 
most initially ready to play quarterback in the draft. We didn’t know 
how much upside he had, but he’s polished and he played in a really 
good, pro-style system at SC. All the concepts the NFL runs are very 
similar to what they were doing. He’s pretty polished. Very accurate on 
intermediate stuff to low. As it got deep down the field, it didn’t 
always happen for him, but thought that he was polished and certainly 
could be a No. 2 for a long time and maybe could be a No. 1 but we 
didn’t really project him that high."

And Henne?

``I was real high on Henne. I know some people were knocking him that he 
wasn’t always accurate. But he was hurt quite a bit of his senior year. 
But when he was healthy I thought he threw the ball as well as anybody. 
You can’t underestimate a four-year starter at Michigan. There is a lot 
of experience there. He seemed like a bright guy who had the right 
demeanor and all that stuff. I look for him to play for a long time.’’



-- 
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