Bears take chance on Temple TE Rodriguez
Undersized yet athletic, Evan Rodriguez may now be the best pass-catching tight end on the Bears — but the Temple product does come with character concerns.
Rodriguez, whom the Bears selected with their fourth-round pick Saturday, is a 6-foot-1½, 244-pounder who runs a 4.56-second 40-yard dash and caught 35 passes last season for 479 yards (13.7 average).
The native of North Bergen, N.J., is clearly a different style of tight end from incumbents Kellen Davis and Matt Spaeth. The two veterans shared the job last season and were used mostly as in-line blockers, although 5 of Davis' catches went for touchdowns. Davis (267 pounds) and Speath (260) are both 6-feet-7 and have the size to match up with defensive linemen.
Rodriguez is a natural pass catcher with good body control and smooth movement skills to adjust to the ball in the air. But he is not a factor as an in-line blocker and is more of a finesse, H-back type or a move tight end who can hit a moving target as a blocker.
“We see Evan as a combination of a fullback and an ‘F' tight end (lining up in the slot as a receiver),” Bears general manager Phil Emery said. “We really felt that we had a defined need with system changes that (offensive coordinator Mike) Tice will bring in terms of having a vertical tight end, somebody that can challenge the inside of the defensive structure of our opponent.”
But Rodriguez has had off-the-field issues. Before transferring to Temple, he had a felony assault charge at West Virginia reduced to misdemeanor disturbance and trespassing charges after an alleged physical altercation with a female residence hall adviser. After transferring, he was arrested on charges of disorderly conduct in April 2009.
“That is precisely why we brought him in (to Halas Hall for a pre-draft visit),” Emery said. “Everybody in this building has spent quality time on him. I happen to have a personal relationship with the athletic trainer there, and I spent a lot of time with him on Evan when I went in there for a visit.
“Our area scout Rex Hogan has extensive contacts at Temple. He has had two taskmasters as head coaches, Coach (Steve) Addazio this past year and Coach (Al) Golden. We spent time with them. They both sign off on this guy's character. He's a very tough, physical football player that we are very excited to have.”
Emery says the key to managing Rodriguez is tough coaching, and he believes the player has matured.
“Some players you have to put your thumb on a little bit harder,” Emery said. “I think Evan responds to really good, hard, old-fashioned coaching, and he's had that, especially with coach Addazio. He is an old East Coaster who gets after your butt. He's responded very favorably.”
Rodriguez says he won't disappoint the Bears for having faith in him.
“As my Dad says, ‘We all make mistakes,'” Rodriguez said. “It's growing pains. You learn from your mistakes and don't let them happen again and mature, which I have done. They believed in me, and I'm happy they gave me this opportunity. I'm not going to let them down.” By Bob LeGere
blegere@dailyherald.com
Undersized yet athletic, Evan Rodriguez may now be the best pass-catching tight end on the Bears — but the Temple product does come with character concerns.
Rodriguez, whom the Bears selected with their fourth-round pick Saturday, is a 6-foot-1½, 244-pounder who runs a 4.56-second 40-yard dash and caught 35 passes last season for 479 yards (13.7 average).
The native of North Bergen, N.J., is clearly a different style of tight end from incumbents Kellen Davis and Matt Spaeth. The two veterans shared the job last season and were used mostly as in-line blockers, although 5 of Davis' catches went for touchdowns. Davis (267 pounds) and Speath (260) are both 6-feet-7 and have the size to match up with defensive linemen.
Rodriguez is a natural pass catcher with good body control and smooth movement skills to adjust to the ball in the air. But he is not a factor as an in-line blocker and is more of a finesse, H-back type or a move tight end who can hit a moving target as a blocker.
“We see Evan as a combination of a fullback and an ‘F' tight end (lining up in the slot as a receiver),” Bears general manager Phil Emery said. “We really felt that we had a defined need with system changes that (offensive coordinator Mike) Tice will bring in terms of having a vertical tight end, somebody that can challenge the inside of the defensive structure of our opponent.”
But Rodriguez has had off-the-field issues. Before transferring to Temple, he had a felony assault charge at West Virginia reduced to misdemeanor disturbance and trespassing charges after an alleged physical altercation with a female residence hall adviser. After transferring, he was arrested on charges of disorderly conduct in April 2009.
“That is precisely why we brought him in (to Halas Hall for a pre-draft visit),” Emery said. “Everybody in this building has spent quality time on him. I happen to have a personal relationship with the athletic trainer there, and I spent a lot of time with him on Evan when I went in there for a visit.
“Our area scout Rex Hogan has extensive contacts at Temple. He has had two taskmasters as head coaches, Coach (Steve) Addazio this past year and Coach (Al) Golden. We spent time with them. They both sign off on this guy's character. He's a very tough, physical football player that we are very excited to have.”
Emery says the key to managing Rodriguez is tough coaching, and he believes the player has matured.
“Some players you have to put your thumb on a little bit harder,” Emery said. “I think Evan responds to really good, hard, old-fashioned coaching, and he's had that, especially with coach Addazio. He is an old East Coaster who gets after your butt. He's responded very favorably.”
Rodriguez says he won't disappoint the Bears for having faith in him.
“As my Dad says, ‘We all make mistakes,'” Rodriguez said. “It's growing pains. You learn from your mistakes and don't let them happen again and mature, which I have done. They believed in me, and I'm happy they gave me this opportunity. I'm not going to let them down.”