The swagger is back. Same goes for the right leg.
“It’s back, and it ain’t going nowhere,” Bears punter Todd Sauerbrun said. “I need that for me to be me.”
Two years ago, that swagger and cockiness–and especially the right leg–got the quirky second-round draft pick abused by some offensive linemen–his own offensive linemen, mind you–and his season died ugly.
Last year he rebounded, averaging 44.8 yards a punt and raising his net average by nearly 3 yards.
This year, swagger. And volume. And a leg to back it up. Hey, a 70-yard punt against Buffalo will do that for a guy.
“I’m the Frank Thomas of punting,” Sauerbrun said. “I’m the `Big Hurt.’ That’s the way I go in thinking.”
Does this mean the Bears have to trade half their pitching staff?
But wait, there’s more
Bears coach Dave Wannstedt will take 70-yard punts; he just hopes there’s not much need for them. But here’s what Wannstedt is thrilled about: Sauerbrun’s new-found ability to pop coffin-corner kicks.
Last year, the Bears just wanted him to kick down the field. That’s how big a mess he was going into camp and the season.
“But now we’re confident about what he can do,” Wannstedt said, “and so we’re taking the next step.”
And Sauerbrun rewarded Wannstedt’s faith with a couple of angled punts and some great hang time. One kick was downed at the Bills’ 2-yard line, another was fair-caught at the Bills’ 14, and all his punts reached the Buffalo 20 or deeper.
Good stuff there. Now, if only someone other than the punter was the Bears’ best player so far.
A ring to it
Sauerbrun has added a third piercing to his left ear.
“My third year, my third earring,” Sauerbrun said of the new diamond post that sits above two hoops.
But at this rate, what if he ends up becoming a 15-year veteran? Are we talking 15 earrings?
“We might have to start piercing nipples by then,” Sauerbrun said.
On the line
While Bears assistant head coach Tony Wise is losing his voice coaching the offensive line, he seems to be a perfect guy to size up the large humans on the other side of the ball.
And the guy who has made Wise’s guys most miserable this year is second-year defensive tackle Paul Grasmanis.
“I don’t care if he gets any sacks,” Wise said. “He is physical, strong and as difficult to block as anyone we’ve faced in a while–run or pass.”
And he’s talking opposing teams, too.
Just asking
If backup quarterback Erik Kramer is likely to get some plays with the first unit, how about rookie tailback Darnell Autry and his 6.6 yards per carry?
“I would like to see (Rashaan Salaam and Raymont Harris) get as much playing time with the first group as they can,” offensive coordinator Matt Cavanaugh said, “and Darnell will have to pick it up where he can.”
So far he’s picked up 73 yards, or more than twice as many as the starters combined. And even if you want to do this silly thing where you throw out his 46-yarder against Pittsburgh, Autry is still less than a first down behind the two of them.
Quotable
Dave Wannstedt, a Pitt alum, on the athletic department there demanding the school be called Pittsburgh, not the shorter version: “If you’re not born and raised in Pittsburgh, you’ll never be able to spell it.”
