Brian Griese and Desmond Clark had a favorable history together in Denver. Now both are hoping they will have a bright future in Chicago.
Clark, the Bears’ rarely deployed tight end, caught his first NFL touchdown pass from Griese in 2000 when they played for the Broncos. Griese, who has outplayed Bears starter Rex Grossman this exhibition season, says he would like to see Clark and the other tight ends used more efficiently.
“It’s very important, and Desmond Clark is a heck of a tight end,” said Griese, who directed the second team to three touchdowns in four possessions against the 49ers and Chargers. “There are ways we can incorporate him more in the offense.
“It has to be a mind-set. He came into camp in great shape and had a great camp. Not only is he running good routes, but he’s beating man coverage, which is the first thing a quarterback looks for with a tight end. [Clark] is going to have a heck of a year. I just think there has to be a little bit more of a focus to get the ball to him.”
Many fans clamored for the Bears to draft a tight end in April. But Clark, who had career highs of 51 catches and six touchdowns for Denver in 2001, insists he’s the right man for the job, if only the offensive strategy would make him more of a priority.
“They’re going to try to get the ball to me–I have no doubt about that,” Clark said. “There are just some defenses where Rex kind of forced the ball in there. But they’re definitely going to get the ball to me. I have no questions or qualms.”
Now a 6-foot-3-inch, 254-pounder, Clark was a wide receiver at Wake Forest before being selected in the sixth round by Denver.
Clark and Griese agree it is imperative the quarterback recognize the defense immediately to get the ball to the tight end.
“Usually that’s how it works for the tight end because we’re working in such tight spaces,” said Clark, who caught 24 passes for 229 yards and two touchdowns last season. “But [Friday night] it just wasn’t there for the tight ends.
“The first-team offense is struggling right now, so we have to get on track. We have the offensive line intact. As long as we have the offensive line intact, we should be able to move the ball.”
Word on the street
Bears wide receiver/kickoff returner Rashied Davis says he has a strong sense of responsibility in representing his California buddies, as well as his former teammates with the Arena Football League’s San Jose SaberCats.
“It means a lot,” said Davis, who returned a kickoff for 100 yards Friday night. “It was tough growing up. This just means that if you work hard enough and do things the right way, you can be successful in life and make something out of yourself.”
Davis began playing football at West Los Angeles Community College before finishing at San Jose State.
“I try to take every day as it comes,” said Davis, 26, one of eight siblings. “I don’t look too far in the past, and I don’t look too far in the future. I have a lot of friends back home. They’re rooting for me. They call me when they see me in a game.”
Ever the perfectionist, Davis says he is not satisfied to have a team-best six catches and two touchdowns in the first two exhibitions.
“I had a nice kick return, but I left three plays on the field,” he said. “I dropped three passes. That’s not something I’m used to doing. It’s uncharacteristic. [Perfection] is the only thing to shoot for.”
The Bears signed the 5-9, 180-pound Davis in 2005 as a reserve cornerback and special-teams contributor. He has been added to the mix at wide receiver this year.
Local attractions
Forest Grove Athletic Club Palatine will host its fourth annual Forest Grove Athletic Club Fitness 5K Run and Family Fitness Walk at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 30. Proceeds will benefit Bears Care. Several former Bears are scheduled to attend. You can register online at www.signmeup.com/53683 or contact Robyn Kove at 847-991-4646 or robyn.kove@tcaclubs.com. . . . The 2006 Orchard Village Golf Classic will be Aug. 28 at Ivanhoe Country Club. Former Bulls Norm Van Lier and Bill Wennington will be celebrity guests, and Tom Shaer will serve as emcee. Proceeds benefit Orchard Village, a Chicago area non-profit organization providing housing and other support to more than 300 men, women and children with developmental disabilities. Contact Erika Vavrik at 847-967-1800.
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fmitchell@tribune.com
