WitP: Ulbrich, Bess

Cam Inman of the Oakland Tribune profiles Jeff Ulbrich.

BILL WALSH HAD it right with linebacker Jeff Ulbrich.

That goes for drafting him onto the 49ers in the third round in 2000, and especially for what he said to Ulbrich a few years later during a break at practice.

"He came up to me on the sideline and let me know he was proud of the way I'd become a pro," Ulbrich said Friday while sitting in the 49ers' trophy-laden lobby. "I grew up around here and understood his legacy, so that's one of the highest compliments I've ever gotten in football."

Ulbrich confirmed this week that his 10-year career is over, his final season robbed by a concussion two months ago. He certainly was a pro, embodying the spirit of an overachieving grunt and lasting far longer than his initial goal of three seasons.

Brian Biggane of the Palm Beach Post profiles Davone Bess.

"He's playing with much more confidence," Camarillo said. "His patience and his knowledge of the offense have grown. He knows what he's doing, he knows the ins and outs, he knows the details, and that's what's allowing him to play at such a high level."

Bess has been a revelation almost since he signed with Miami as an undrafted free agent out of Hawaii in May 2008. His 54 catches last season was just two behind Ginn, the former first-round pick, for the team lead.

Offensive coordinator Dan Henning said playing in coach June Jones' pass-happy system at Hawaii prepared the 5-foot-10, 190-pound Bess for the NFL.

"I guarantee you that he's caught more balls than any 23-year-old on the planet," Henning said. "If you go to June's practices, with the run and shoot, that's all they do."

Via the Advertiser, Jeff Darlington has an article featuring Bess.

"Anytime we're in a situation when it's third down, I want the target on me," Bess said. "I want to be the guy to make that play."

Whether Bess or Polite, both players have been crucial to Miami's ability to sustain drives better than most other NFL teams. This duo is an underrated combination of running and receiving when the Dolphins need them most.

Bess and Polite are the biggest reasons Miami is the second best team on third downs. It has converted 48.6 percent of 185 attempts.

And from a few days ago, another Bess article from Darlington.

Speaking of which, consider Miami's current situation: A former University of Michigan quarterback showed the first major signs of a comfortable connection with an overachieving slot receiver who was overlooked in his draft class.

Sounds a little bit like the connection between Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and Welker, doesn't it? Brady and Welker are one of best quarterback-receiver combinations of the decade.

``Every time I am on the sidelines I am watching Welker,'' Bess said. ``I want to take my game to the next level, see what I can learn from these players and put it to my game and see where it can go.''

Bess is a gritty, aggressive receiver who didn't seem to have the size to make it in the NFL. But now, he's proving he has all of the proper skill sets to be a productive pass catcher, even causing the Patriots to often double team him Sunday.