EXTRA POINTS
Some Chicken Salad
After one week, rookie running back Tarik Cohen has reached buzzworthy status. And over time, that buzz might affect special teams. Special- teams coordinator
Jeff Rodgers has coached those special type of players. He also has schemed against them, citing former Bears great Devin Hester.
“The team feels it,” Rodgers said. “As you start going and you have a good returner back there, there aren’t too many guys sitting on the bench. You look down there, and when there’s a guy back there who’s a good player, they all want to watch, too.”
Players want to be on the field, too. Rodgers pointed to how Bears defensive starters, including cornerback Charles
Tillman, blocked for Hester. ‘‘ When they feel like you’ve got a chance to score, you’ve got more people trying to get on the field,’’ Rodgers said. ‘‘ When there’s a belief, it certainly helps your production.’’
Cohen might fit that bill. His three punt returns for 45 yards against the Falcons were a good start.
“To say that he’s headed for the Pro Bowl or anything, I don’t think anybody saw that, as a returner anyway,” Rodgers said. “But his positive attributes as a player certainly lend well to the return stuff.”
A special process
As a rookie, wide receiver Tanner Gentry finds himself in a familiar situation: learning how to play special teams after rarely playing them in college.
“It’s something that we face every year with every rookie,” Rodgers said. “You start from ground zero, teach them what we’re looking for. You teach them some of the things that they’re going to see. You just try to give enough reps over the course of the preseason that they can be successful because it does pick up in the regular season.”
Gentry, who went undrafted and was promoted to the active roster this week, was the Bears’ best big- play receiver in camp. He has the talent to surpass Josh Bellamy and
Deonte Thompson on the depth chart, but being active on game day requires that Gentry have an understanding of certain responsibilities on special teams.
But Rodgers said he has to be mindful of rookies’ inexperience with a “simplified” approach.
“You just let their talent take over,” Rodgers said. “Football’s football. You’re blocking and tackling whether you’re on special teams, offense or defense. And that’s what we’re trying to convince them of.’’
More on Cohen
The praise has poured in for Cohen. Teammates have highlighted just about everything about him.
But one compliment from Bellamy immediately after the Bears’ loss to the Falcons still stands out after a week’s worth of high praise.
“He’s the best athlete on the field at all times,” Bellamy said.