Chicago Bears Draft Profile: TE Brian Vogler
By Andrew Poole
With the Chicago Bears coming off one of the team’s strongest drafts in years, Bear Goggles On is evaluating the team’s draft picks and undrafted free agents who have a shot at making the 2015 roster. The team is looking at a series of changes, as it switches from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defense and transitions back to an offense focused on running the football, so there could be significant turnover.
TE Brian Vogler, Alabama
Attributes:
Height/Weight: 6’7”/262
40-time/10-yard-split: 4.85/1.62
Sep 14, 2013; College Station, TX, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide tight end Brian Vogler (84) runs after a catch against the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Bench reps: 17
Vertical/Broad jumps: 29.5″/9’6”
2014 Stats
Rec: 6
Yards: 27
TD: 1
Contract status
Signed with Bears after going undrafted in 2015.
Overview
A blocking tight end who apparently isn’t very good at blocking, at least according to this unflattering analysis of Vogler’s weaknesses from NFL.com:
"“Base gets much too narrow as run blocker. Leans into his block and can be discarded and knocked off-balance. Struggles to generate clear wins in run game. Lacking footwork necessary to pass protect. Leans into his cuts/turns and gives routes away to safeties in coverage. Unable to handle explosive inside moves and needs more core strength.”"
Watching clips of Vogler block, it looks like a lean tight end who is so-so in short yardage situations but is skilled at getting to the second and third level on running plays.
Vogler was scarcely used as a receiver in Alabama’s offense in 2014, even though the team did have a greater emphasis on throwing the ball. In four years with Alabama, Vogler notched only 17 receptions for 125 yards and a pair of touchdowns, according to ESPN. Has good size, particularly height, for a tight end.
Nov 16, 2013; Starkville, MS, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide tight end Brian Vogler (84) dives to the end zone past Mississippi State Bulldogs defensive back Jamerson Love (5) for a touchdown during the second quarter at Davis Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Prospects for 2015
In a word: Poor. With eight tight ends currently on the roster, the Bears have apparently adopted a “more is more” approach to finding tight ends to complement the mercurial Martellus Bennett. That probably won’t matter for Vogler, though. Even if the team keeps three tight ends, they already have one blocking tight end in Bear Pascoe and two other young tight ends in Jacob Maxwell and Chris Pantale. Dante Rosario and the injury prone Zach Miller, both of whom are more pass catching tight ends, are also still on the roster. That’s a lot of competition for an undrafted rookie to fight through. I don’t expect Vogler to make it into the 2015 season on the roster.