Chris Conte Still A Bear, Picked By Chicago In Third Round

by Avinash Kunnath on Apr 29, 2011 7:30 PM PDT in Bears in the Pros

The amazing and meteoric rise of Chris Conte continues unabated. A year ago at this time we were wondering if he'd ever see the field as a Cal defensive back. Now he's a third round pick for the Chicago Bears. Pretty incredible if you ponder it awhile. Can he keep his upward trend?

Conte will probably find himself in a situation similar to his first few years at Cal where he's juggled around, but he can eventually carve a place into the rotation if he plays up to his potential. The Bears do have some secondary depth, so there's a possibility that his solid tackling skills could have him either at safety or cornerback. It's anyone's guess what their plans for Conte are, but he's in the league, and he's going to get his shot to produce at another stage. We're all definitely looking forward to see what he does.

For fans dropping by, here are some posts on Conte.

Cal fans, let fellow Bears fans know about Conte at Windy City Gridiron! GO BEARS!

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Egads, those are some angry (and very poorly researched since they keep referring to him as a converted linebacker) Bears fans.

"Let me tell you a story. I was a political prisoner for two years. The instant I was released I ran to McDonald's. I had a Big Mac and a Coke.

It was fantastic."
-Toyama Koichi, US Presidential candidate from Japan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGZqOkeYbB0

by AERose on Apr 29, 2011 7:42 PM PDT reply actions

yeah, they seem pretty pissed.

by j.lee on Apr 29, 2011 7:47 PM PDT up reply actions

WTF

Mike Mayock on NFL Network calls him a converted OLB instead of converted CB therefore it is gospel. Fucking retards didn’t do their homework.

Alright, and after it's all over, you say "Ooh, what a lovely tea party"

by Redonkulous Bear on Apr 29, 2011 7:47 PM PDT up reply actions

That’s a pretty big mistake to make. It colors your entire feeling on Conte if you didn’t know anything about him.

Yes, I am an Old Blue. Now get off my lawn.

by Ohio Bear on Apr 30, 2011 5:26 AM PDT up reply actions

Us Bears fans are poorly researched because this guy came out of nowhere! and quite honestly, we’re a bit pissed because this looks a lot like another on of Jerry Angelo’s reaches. The guy may have a lot of upside, and he may turn out to be a nice safety. But, it seems like Angelo and the Bears could have gotten him in later rounds. Just not good value.

by LonghornDan on Apr 29, 2011 10:13 PM PDT up reply actions

after his pro day multiple teams told him he would be going in rounds 2-5 just FYI

http://www.youtube.com/user/HANDSOMElifeOFswing - Cal Football Highlights+ More Bay area sports

by 4Ever Golden on Apr 30, 2011 12:43 AM PDT up reply actions

That’s a fair assessment. I was surprised he was taken in the 3rd round; my initial reaction was that it was about a round early. In Conte’s defense, he is good sized safety with cover skills. That’s a valuable commodity in the NFL.

Yes, I am an Old Blue. Now get off my lawn.

by Ohio Bear on Apr 30, 2011 5:22 AM PDT up reply actions

But, it seems like Angelo and the Bears could have gotten him in later rounds. Just not good value.

I’m always wary of these kinds of statements. The “it seems” part comes from what draft pundits are saying. It’s questionable how much that actually matches up with reality.

by Missing Barry on Apr 30, 2011 8:42 AM PDT up reply actions

Not Good Value?

Are you guys getting your panties up in a bunch because Conte is white and has a funky haircut? You guys sound like the typical fans that comment unknowingly about something as if you are all experts.

Since you didn’t do the research, I’ll shed some light on Conte’s situation. Clancy Pendergast is the current Cal defensive coordinator. He is also the former defensive coordinator for the Arizona Cardinals from 2004-2008 of which in 2008, they were the runner-up Super Bowl XLIII. The guy knows a few things about football and in the coaching world, especially the NFL, it’s almost like a fraternity and the coaches constantly talk amongst each other. Conte had very little exposure because he played in the Pac10 at a school not named USC.

Pendergast was instrumental in swinging Conte’s career upwards and moved him to where Conte naturally fitted best on the field. Conte has proven that he can play in an NFL caliber system, is fearless, has great range, is assuredly your tallest and longest Safety on the roster, had good speed (top 3 time in the 40 at the combine amongst safeties), and plays his ass off from snap to whistle. He’ll fit fine into a Cover 2 which is what I believe the Bears play.

by Cali49a on Apr 30, 2011 9:30 AM PDT up reply actions

If people are upset over white people with bad haircuts, I now have another reason why I’d never make it in the NFL! Goddamn it!

The internet's most successful troll!
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com

by TwistNHook on Apr 30, 2011 9:33 AM PDT up reply actions

But I thought you were balding?

Old Toothwrangler

by Kodiak on Apr 30, 2011 9:37 AM PDT up reply actions

at least I don't look white.

Go Bears Go

by Rocksanddirt on Apr 30, 2011 8:18 PM PDT up reply actions

Conte vs Rodgers

Nice!

In other words, Go Bears!

by royrules22 on Apr 29, 2011 7:44 PM PDT reply actions

and i hate this wait one day wait before you can post thing.

by j.lee on Apr 29, 2011 7:49 PM PDT reply actions

The Bears have been desperate to find help at both safety positions for a few years now. Conte should be able to compete for a starting job right away.

In the Conte vs. Rodgers battles to come, I’ll be rooting for Conte and DA BEARS!

by Monica's Dad on Apr 29, 2011 8:34 PM PDT reply actions

Here's the Chicago Bears' initial release on Conte...

http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?story_id=7816

by Monica's Dad on Apr 29, 2011 8:54 PM PDT reply actions

Yo! Marunong ikaw ng tagalog?

Alright, and after it's all over, you say "Ooh, what a lovely tea party"

by Redonkulous Bear on Apr 29, 2011 9:11 PM PDT up reply actions

BTW Cal fans!

Chris Conte with a punt block and return 0:42 secs in: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeqnA0E2QLU

Alright, and after it's all over, you say "Ooh, what a lovely tea party"

by Redonkulous Bear on Apr 29, 2011 9:17 PM PDT reply actions

Loved that play

Conte with the trifecta: the block, the recovery, and the TD

LOL at D.J. Campbell flattening the punter.

Yes, I am an Old Blue. Now get off my lawn.

by Ohio Bear on Apr 30, 2011 5:35 AM PDT up reply actions

Go Bears ! !

by JustBear on Apr 29, 2011 9:32 PM PDT reply actions

Damnit I do wish we had transitioned him a year earlier

no bear, no care

by EchoOfSilence on Apr 30, 2011 12:44 AM PDT via mobile reply actions

Wouldn’t have saved the 2009 defense. Just weren’t enough functioning pieces to work a two gap zone defense that year. Something about the whole being less than the sum of its parts.

"Let me tell you a story. I was a political prisoner for two years. The instant I was released I ran to McDonald's. I had a Big Mac and a Coke.

It was fantastic."
-Toyama Koichi, US Presidential candidate from Japan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGZqOkeYbB0

by AERose on Apr 30, 2011 1:41 AM PDT up reply actions

It’s an interesting “what if” to be sure. BG’s better defenses all had competent safety play. (McClesky, DeCoud, Gutierres/Giordano) The inexperienced LBs and the issues at CB (besides Syd) still probably make it a rough year.

Old Toothwrangler

by Kodiak on Apr 30, 2011 4:48 AM PDT up reply actions

Conte is and will be a Safety in the NFL

by Cali49a on Apr 30, 2011 9:32 AM PDT reply actions

Conte gives props to Cal

From JO, compiling quotes from Conte’s press conference call with the Bay Area media last night.

On how much moving to safety improved his draft stock:
"100 percent. I think I would have not been drafted if I hadn’t moved to safety."

On why safety is better suited for him:
"It just fits me and my style of football better. I can be a lot more aggressive. I can use my skills covering slot receivers and tight ends and just diversify the amount of things I can do and become more of an all-around football player instead of just being on an island the whole time."

On how much playing corner and safety helped his draft stock:
"Having that ability to play corner, not a lot of people have that. Being a Pac-10 corner showed that I can cover and have the athleticism to do that. … Bringing that to the safety position helps a lot."

On when it hit him he was a draft prospect:
"I learned how much of a prospect I was from Coach Pendergast. He believed in me a lot and really told me how good of a player I could be. He’s seen guys go into the NFL and develop and he believed in me. That really built my confidence and it just kind of developed from there. Every week, I was more and more confident. By the end of the season, I pretty much felt like I was getting drafted. From there on out, it seemed like my stock grew higher and higher. It was a great experience, the best experience I’ve ever had."

On whether he feels choosing Cal was right for him:
"I think ultimately I made the right decision. It made me who I am. Things worked out pretty good. I don’t think I could ask for a better situation. I wouldn’t want to change anything, The people and the experiences I had at Cal shape me and really made me into a better person."

Yes, I am an Old Blue. Now get off my lawn.

by Ohio Bear on Apr 30, 2011 4:55 PM PDT reply actions

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