National Football League

Dane Sanzenbacher impresses Bears

Published Sep. 1, 2011 5:46 a.m. ET

foxsports

Undrafted after an impressive career at Ohio State, receiver Dane Sanzenbacher is making quite an impression with the Chicago Bears.

Is it enough to make the team?

''Not yet,'' he said. ''I think there's still a lot to do this week and obviously with the Browns game. You never stop proving yourself of trying to get a spot, especially when you're in my position. So you can't rest on anything.''

The Bears wrap up the preseason Thursday night against Cleveland with a deadline Saturday to trim the roster to 53 players.

Sanzenbacher is one of several undrafted rookies with a legitimate chance to make the team.

He's tied for second with six receptions for 57 yards through three preseason games and has opened more than a few eyes in the process.

''I just like him,'' receivers coach Darryl Drake said. ''I like him in the room. I like his demeanor, and I like what he does on the football field, his tenacity. He gets after it. All the things that you want in a receiver, I see a lot of those things in him.''

Offensive coordinator Mike Martz mentioned Sanzenbacher's versatility, saying, ''He knows several positions, which is very important. He's got some similar skills probably of Earl (Bennett) in the slot. The matchups for him inside are really good, so we're very pleased with him.''

And coach Lovie Smith praised his consistency.

''Since Day 1, he's made plays,'' he said. ''We feel like we have a pretty good handle on what he is.''

Sanzenbacher was voted team captain and team MVP as a senior at Ohio State when he caught 55 passes for 948 yards and ranked second in the Big Ten with 11 touchdown receptions.

His 1,879 yards receiving rank 10th in school history, and he tied a team record with four TD catches in a game against Eastern Michigan.

He has continued to perform well with the Bears. But well enough to make the team?

Drake figured Sanzenbacher would be a late-round pick and was surprised Sanzenbacher went undrafted.

''Sometimes, those things happen,'' Drake said. ''What you do with it when you get that opportunity says a lot about you. He's taken advantage of his opportunities, I think.''

The rookie had plenty of suitors then, but chose Chicago on a gut decision.

''There were other options out there and we entertained them all,'' Sanzenbacher said.

''I think Chicago was a place that we knew even pre-draft that might be a good destination for me. Then when it came down to be my decision, I wanted to go to a place where not only was it a good situation, but that I really wanted to make that team. Since it was my opportunity and I finally got to pick, I wanted to go to a place like this.''

The Bears went 11-5 last season and won the NFC North on the way to the conference championship game despite their problems on the offensive line.

How the protection will hold up this season remains a big question mark for a team that was one win from the Super Bowl and will go a long way toward determining how far Chicago advances.

Even so, the Bears have one of the most physically gifted quarterbacks in Jay Cutler, and Sanzenbacher quickly hit it off with him.

''Jay's been great this whole time,'' he said. ''He's been one of those guys that's definitely more patient than I would even expect coming in, for a guy to treat a rookie. So it's been great. And when you do get the opportunity to get in there with the first team to know that the quarterback has that confidence in you, it helps out a lot.''

Sanzenbacher has helped himself, too. He's turned more than a few heads and made his presence felt even if his name keeps getting butchered.

He can't help but smile when trainers call him ''Dinger'' or ''Sanzendinger.'' What matters is the Bears know who he is, that he's making a good impression.

He's adapting to a complicated offense and appears to be a quick learner.

''One of our goals is to be where we're supposed to be when we're supposed to be there, and he's been doing that,'' receiver Johnny Knox said. ''In this offense, you're going to mess up sometimes, but when he gets corrected, he doesn't mess up again. He's been working hard.''