NightLink: Can Brandon Rideau Contribute?

by Dane Noble on Jun 2, 2009 5:00 PM CDT Comment 31 comments

The Chicago Bears picked up wide receiver Brandon Rideau after he was cut in the 2006 preseason by the Cleveland Browns. He has since spent his time on the practice squad. A lot of people have been asking about Rideau, wondering why the Bears have been keeping him around for so long without actually doing anything with him. Larry Meyer addressed Rideau in the May 26 edition of Chalk Talk.

Brandon_rideau_medium

Brandon Rideau is having a very good offseason. He’s made some nice catches in the workouts I’ve watched, including a nifty grab along the sideline in an OTA practice last week. Given his knowledge of the system coupled with the lack of experience at the receiver position, Rideau should have a golden opportunity to earn a spot on the Bears' 53-man roster and possibly contribute on offense. As a receiver, Rideau has excellent hands but lacks top-end speed. One big thing in Rideau's favor is that he's a solid four-phase performer on special teams, something that's a requirement for the fourth and fifth receivers.

Brandon Rideau is listed at 6'3", 198lbs, and was undrafted in 2005 out of Kansas. He has good size, good hands, and 2009 seems like the perfect opportunity for him to start contributing. Last preseason, Rideau ended up with 5 catches for 127 yards and 3 TDs. The Bears are not strong at WR, and having Jay Cutler at the helm might just bring out the best in Rideau. He is also the tallest WR on the Bears roster.

What do you think are the chances of Rideau making the 53-man roster?

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JEEZ! DO SOMETHING WITH THIS GUY ALREADY!

Make him a starter, Cut him, switch him to safety, I DON’T GIVE A RATS ASS! I’m tired of hearing year in, year out how he should be given a shot. He’s still on the practice Squad?!?!?! just friggin….AHHHHHHH!

Think With Your Dipstick Jimmy!

by ifuwannacrownem on Jun 2, 2009 5:06 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

WOOSAH!!!

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.

by windycity72 on Jun 2, 2009 5:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree with you on this

I hope he doesn’t fall into the Mike Hass category. We heard about that guy for a few years that he catches everything in sight, had great hands, works hard, then we never saw him. Now he’s with the Seahawks. Everytime I would see Rashied drop a pass, I’d be wondering what that poor guy had to be thinking. I’m sick of hearing that guys “don’t have top end speed” or “we’re not sue if he can seperate”, if that’s really the case CUT HIM and let him get on with his life, but you can’t tell me either Rideau or Hass would have made less of an impact than Rashied. I’d have more confidence in the “One-armed Man” from the Fugitive making an important catch than Rashied!

by BearFan611 on Jun 2, 2009 6:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

He was thinking

that he was slow.

by mike b on Jun 2, 2009 8:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

If Cutler has any say

my guess is that we’ll see him on the field in the WR rotation fairly regularly – he’s already mentioned him repeatedly in interviews (although the cynical reading of one of Cutler’s name-drops is that he wasn’t "one of the rookies’’). Then again, “Davis is our WR” might become the new “_ is our QB” in ’09.
\finds board to repeatedly hit head with should this become the case

by SouthSidePolack on Jun 2, 2009 5:12 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Umm...

let’s wait to see if he can make the roster, then ultimately see the field.

"I'm not so mean. I wouldn't ever go out to hurt anybody deliberately - unless it was, you know, important, like a league game or something." - Dick Butkus

"Invincibility lies in the defence; the possibility of victory in the attack." - Sun Tzu

by propheteer on Jun 2, 2009 5:42 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Wait to do what?

Be nice. Flag comments that you think are offensive. Use the "reply" button. Drink plenty of water. Compliment others. Rec comments and posts you like. Don't call people names. If you don't like someone's comment, attack the comment and not the commentor. Learn the difference in your/you're, then/than, to/too. Exercise. Relax. Stretch often. Find good in the world.

by Dane Noble on Jun 2, 2009 5:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Meaning...

he can’t make an impact if he doesn’t make the team, or crack the top 3-4 on the depth chart. I didn’t see the last line of your post, but it’s anyone’s guess whether or not he can make an impact.

"I'm not so mean. I wouldn't ever go out to hurt anybody deliberately - unless it was, you know, important, like a league game or something." - Dick Butkus

"Invincibility lies in the defence; the possibility of victory in the attack." - Sun Tzu

by propheteer on Jun 2, 2009 5:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Lol...

The old “I didn’t see the last line in your post” excuse huh?

by Dane Noble on Jun 2, 2009 6:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yep,

I’ve never been accused of reading directions very well. Hopefully Rideau makes the roster cause he’s our only “big” target of a WR.

"I'm not so mean. I wouldn't ever go out to hurt anybody deliberately - unless it was, you know, important, like a league game or something." - Dick Butkus

"Invincibility lies in the defence; the possibility of victory in the attack." - Sun Tzu

by propheteer on Jun 3, 2009 1:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Check yer email.

by Dane Noble on Jun 3, 2009 1:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm going to go out on a limb here...

100%.

Reasons?

1. He’s a multi-year Bear and we know how this team sticks to players, blindly or not.

2. He’s a WR with size, something that no one else on our squad can attempt to give us.

3. He knows more about the system than anyone but maybe the Droppapotomus, and I hope he gets cut anyway.

I’d be extremely happy with a Hester/Bennett/Igleasis with Rideau as the 4 spot coming in on the goal line and such.

by Sklz711 on Jun 2, 2009 6:56 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Hester/Bennett/Iglesias/Rideau 1 2 3 4 for the season is probably the best we have. Anyone else beyond them is pretty much practice squad fodder..

by Pretender85 on Jun 2, 2009 8:16 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

beyond them?

the last guy IS practice squad fodder.

by mike b on Jun 2, 2009 8:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

No love for Knox?

by CHCOWNTHECENTRAL on Jun 2, 2009 8:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

you know what WCG needs?

A countdown timer till Bears Packers. that would be sweet.

Think With Your Dipstick Jimmy!

by ifuwannacrownem on Jun 2, 2009 9:01 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I've been bugging the boss about a countdown timer.

But he says something about work, family, school, world domination, etc… like that is supposed to mean something.

by Dane Noble on Jun 2, 2009 9:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Whaaa?

that sucks. If Bearsbacker has one, then damnit, why the hell can’t we? and theirs sucks. It’s all pixelated and whatnot.

Think With Your Dipstick Jimmy!

by ifuwannacrownem on Jun 2, 2009 9:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

We'll get one eventually.

by Dane Noble on Jun 2, 2009 9:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rideau is my pick for surprise player of 2009

I’m not foolish enough to think he will be a star, but I do think he will become a reliable 40 to 50 catch type receiver for the Bears. And I think he will start doing that this season.

Awww, come on guys, it's so simple maybe you need a refresher course. It's all ball bearings ...

by BLou on Jun 2, 2009 10:17 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't know why

there’s any love at all for Bennett
What has he done? What am I missing?
Because we’re desperate for receivers we’re supposed to now believe that Bennet, who couldn’t see the field last year, is supposed to now be a legit starter?

by smithie love on Jun 2, 2009 10:27 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I think it's called Optimism

We’re going by the intangibles that he had a year to sit back and learn all 3 receiver positions and is being reunited with a QB in college that he thrived with. I don’t think it’s blasphemy that people are expecting him to make an impact this year. Coaches sure do.

by Chitownproduct on Jun 3, 2009 5:21 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

bennett had no grasp of the playbook as a frosh in college...

he and sizzle were out there playing pitch and catch, and he still “managed” 79 catches for 867yds and 9 TDs, ALL SEC, and ALL AMERICAN… not saying he’ll be a legit starter, but, he IS the only WR who has actually been of the receiving end of that arm. optimistic??? absolutely!

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.

by windycity72 on Jun 3, 2009 5:45 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

They still need time to evaluate Iglasius, Knox and Kinder...

It’s probably way too early to speculate on Brandon Rideau getting a roster spot. Yes, he’s tall and he probably has a good grasp of the offense by now, but there’s too many other factors that need to be weighed.

by JimmyMack on Jun 2, 2009 11:29 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Guess what!

This is totally off-topic, and I apologize, but I’m REALLY excited…
GG got me a Forte jersey for my birthday! YAY! I can’t wait for the season to start!!!
The end. :)

"A lot of fans were drawn to me because they knew that whatever the score was, I was going to run as hard as I could on every play. You don't have that now, you have guys waiting for next week or even next year." - Walter Payton

by HoneyBear on Jun 2, 2009 11:36 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

the tangerine one???

don’t know what color it is really… but that’s what i call it.

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.

by windycity72 on Jun 3, 2009 3:32 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Grats Honeybear!!

This is a good investment imo. He will be around longer than Salaam/Enis/Benson/Jones etc etc. I can feel it. Yeah did you get the orange one?

by Chitownproduct on Jun 3, 2009 5:28 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's white

because he had to get a child size so that it wasn’t too big, and they don’t have orange yet. Plus white matches more things… haha. :)

by HoneyBear on Jun 3, 2009 6:58 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

that's awesome!!! wear it with pride!!!

GG is a lucky guy!!! my girl, who i believe i’ve expressed her non-interest in football, made me buy her the F’in “BE-DAZZLED” urlacher jersey… so in the off chance she decides to join me for a game, she can feel involved!

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.

by windycity72 on Jun 3, 2009 9:15 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hahahahaha

I’m not a fan of pink (or bedazzled) jerseys, personally… lol. But, that’s nice that she wants to get involved though, especially because the Bears are really important to you! That’s how I originally got into them – I knew they were a big part of GG’s life. Lol. But trust me, I’ll wear it with pride, I put it on immediately and almost wore it to Olive Garden for dinner! :p

by HoneyBear on Jun 3, 2009 9:42 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs