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2007 Bears Camp Dates
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August 17, 2007 Bears position preview: Tight ends
Desmond Clark Height: 6-3 Weight: 249 College: Wake Forest Years of Experience: 9 Clark gets the nod at No. 1 tight end for these purposes, but that might not last that long as rookie Greg Olsen is pushing for playing time. That almost doesn't seem fair considering the great season that Clark had in 2006 where he latched onto 45 passes for 626 yards, both among the highest numbers for tight ends in the NFL. Clark was a receiver in college and has receiver-like skills, but Clark never has really taken to the blocking skills required to be an all-around tight end is often removed from games in certain situations. But Clark's days as the primary tight end are likely over.
Greg Olsen Height: 6-5 Weight: 254 College: Miami (Fla.) Years of Experience: Rookie Olsen was the unquestioned best available tight end in the draft this season and at pick 31 it appears in the early going that the Bears were fortunate to grab him. Olsen provides a huge target and he catches the ball well. With his unorthodox speed for a tight end (he ran a 4.5 40-yard dash at the combine) he could also be lined up in the slot occasionally to provide some serious matchup problems. Olsen, to this point, has not however demonstrated an ability to block vigorously and as a pass blocker he still has a long way to go, but Olsen has been working hard to attempt to correct those deficiencies.
Brett Pierce Height: 6-5 Weight: 263 College: Stanford Years of Experience: 4 Pierce has always appeared to have potential as a tight end. But no one really knows what Pierce is actually capable of because he just can't stay healthy. He had an ACL injury in his junior year of college that started the decline into consistent injury watch status. He has floated around the league for three seasons starting with the Baltimore Ravens, then the Dallas Cowboys (he caught two passes for 15 yards in 2005) but was released by the Cowboys after he tore a knee ligament that caused him to miss all of the 2006 campaign.
John Gilmore Height: 6-5 Weight: 257 College: Penn State Years of Experience: 6 Gilmore is asked to be a blocking tight end and he does so dutifully. And given the current status of the position, Gilmore will have a role on this team as long as he is economically viable and not surpassed by a younger tight end that does the same things for a cheaper price. He has also emerged as a valued special teams member. Gilmore isn't much of a pass catcher, having made just eight receptions over the last three years. And won't be asked to do much more than that with both Clark and Olsen ahead of him on the depth chart.
Fontel Mines Height: 6-4 Weight: 244 College: Virginia Years of Experience: Rookie Mines was primarily a wide reciever in college but is now making the conversion to tight end in an attempt to make the pros. Mines was predominately a possession receiver in college, and likely doesn't have the speed to play wideout at the next level. Mines has added bulk since his collegiate days, but information on the conversion is widely unavailable as Mines has been injured for much of camp to date. Oddly, many believe Mines would be best suited to play H-Back, but that's a position the Bears rarely to ever utilize so Mines and the Bears seem to be an odd fit. |
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