Bears training camp capsules: Wide receivers

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Bears receivers have rare high expectations to meet
The realistic expectations outside of their meeting rooms have been generally pedestrian for much of the past decade. The hope was that this receiver or that would emerge and become a top-tier pass catcher.
It never happened.
But the annual dance of mediocrity is expected to end in 2012, beginning in training camp.
The Bears finished 26th in passing yards per game, not entirely surprising given that they were without their starting quarterback after game No. 10. They had no wide receiver with more than 37 catches (Johnny Knox, Roy Williams) and only those two with more than 30 catches.
Also not surprisingly, GM Phil Emery made wide receiver the No. 1 off-season priority, with his bold trade of two third-round draft choices to the Miami Dolphins for Brandon Marshall. That was followed by the Bears investing their second-round draft choice on a receiver, Alshon Jeffery from South Carolina.
The Bears best season since Marty Bookers 100 catches in 2001 and 92 in 2002 was Bernard Berrians 71 receptions in 2007.
Marshalls worst season in the five since his rookie year was last year: 81. He has netted 1,000 receiving yards in five straight seasons; the Bears have never had more than two consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and only once by the same player (Booker).
Simply put, training camp 2012 will be an advance look at a passing game expected to be like nothing the Bears have ever had.
2011 in review
The Bears went through two wideout years. They were averaging a pedestrian 216 passing yards per game with Jay Cutler but had three games of sub-90 yards in the six he missed.
Significant problems began in training camp when Mike Martz effectively handed Johnny Knoxs starting job to Roy Williams. Martz saw the Williams that caught 82 passes for 1,310 yards in 2006 for Martz in Detroit, and was not a fan of Knox.
Williams, however, did not report even in training-camp shape, a further irritant within the receiver group, and did not establish a comfort level with Jay Cutler. Williams went on to commit too many drops during the season and Knox had regained a starting job before his season-ending back injury against Seattle.
A chest injury to Earl Bennett at New Orleans in game two was a major blow to a passing offense that could not afford one. Devin Hester was bothered by nagging injuries as the season went on. He finished with 26 receptions but caught passes in just two of the final eight games.
Dane Sanzenbacher proved to be a positive surprise, making the roster as an undrafted free agent out of Ohio State and finishing with 27 catches and three TDs, tops among wide receivers.
2012 Training CampWhat to Watch
Depth chart
1. Brandon Marshall2 .Earl Bennett3. Devin Hester4. Alshon Jeffery5. Eric Weems6. Devin Thomas7. Dane Sanzenbacher
Notable free agents: Joseph Anderson, Brittan Golden
Perhaps the strongest indicator of the state of the Bears wide-receiver group is that Sanzenbacher goes from third in receptions to roster long shot.
The Marshall addition followed by the Jeffery draft selection vaulted the Bears into factor status among NFC North passing offenses. Both top 6-3 and are rated as having top-tier hands.
Mike Martz talked about getting Hester more involved in the offense, once declaring, Devin Hester could be just stupid-good. What we could do with him inside, the match-ups we could get with him on third corners or safeties and linebackers would be absolutely remarkable."
That never came to pass. So it was reasonable to be skeptical when Mike Tice began talking about a Hester package, until Hester himself and others began talking privately about what was being put together already. Camp will be the chance to see where Hester is positioned and aimed.
Weems was arguably the surprise during minicamps and OTAs, a returner who repeatedly flashed as a receiver, something he has rarely done through his career (24 catches through five NFL seasons, all with Atlanta).

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