BEARS HAVE BIG DATE WITH NATE
They’re They’re coachingcoach Pitt QB PetermanPeterman on North team
MBears general eral managerm Ryan Pace’s approachapproa to the Senior Bowl includes a vow:
“We are nev never going to be in this position again,”ag Pace said this month of coachingc one of the teams. “But we better take advantage tage of of it it while while we’re here.”
Members Members of of the Bears’ front office office and and the the coaching,c scouting and and training training st staffs arrived Sunday night. night. More More tea team employees were there by Monday.by Mond
With all han hands on deck, here are five factors to k keep in mind during Senior Bowl week:w
Meet Nate Peterman
He’s He’s the the bestbes quarterback at the Senior Senior Bowl, Bowl, a and the Bears are coaching coaching him him on the North team. Draft Draft pund pundits have pegged Peterman, Peterman, a a two-t year starter at Pittsburgh,Pittsburgh, asa a mid- round pick. ScoutsScouts view view hish physical skills and intangibles favorablyfa even though he might might be behindb Deshaun Watson son ( Clemso Clemson), Mitch Trubisky ( North North Carolina),Caro DeShone Kizer ( NotreNotr Dame) and others. In his lastlas college season, Peterman terman completedcom 60.5 percent of his passes for 2,855 yards with 27 touchdown passes and seven intercept interceptions. Peterman’s crowning achievement was throwing for for 308 yardsy and five touchdowns downs ( no interceptions) in a 43- 42 victory against Clemson, the eventual national champion.
Recently, ESPN analyst Louis Riddick, a former candidate for the 49ers’ general- manager opening, praised Peterman on Twitter, saying there are many things to like about him, specifically mentioning his “great character/ makeup.”
Senior Bowl executive director Phil Savage, a former general manager for the Browns and a former executive for the Ravens and Eagles, said Peterman is in the best position to impress.
“He’s got timing in his feet and his arm,” Savage said Monday. “He’s got a good head on his shoulders in terms of anticipation and timing. He was one of the senior quarterbacks out there that probably had the most buzz even though it was sort of under the radar.”
Finding that QB
Watson’s decision to pass on the Senior Bowl is intriguing because it came after the Browns, who would’ve coached him on the South team, talked to him. The Browns have the No. 1 pick.
The South quarterbacks are Josh Dobbs ( Tennessee), Davis Webb ( California) and Antonio Pipkin ( Division II Tiffin). The Bears will coach Peterman, Sefo Liufau ( Colorado) and C. J. Beathard ( Iowa).
Teams that coach in the Senior Bowl have more access to players. Coaching staffs and players typically swap teams Friday for meetings.
It all helps with evaluations. The Senior Bowl has produced several starting quarterbacks recently.
Last year, the Cowboys coached the North team and drafted Dak