| 31 July 2010
The battle for deepest and most productive unit on the team in 2010 will likely exist between the linebackers and the wide receivers. Yes the wide receivers, a position that has come under much scrutiny throughout the off-season by every talking head from ESPN and the NFL Network. From Brandon Marshall trade rumors to every WR rumor in between up to and including Terrell Owens, the Bears have been a part of the conversation in the media.
Thing is Jerry Angelo and probably more importantly Mike Martz have consistently expressed a high level of confidence in the receivers, and with good reason.
Devin Hester only gets better from year to year, as a wide receiver and his production level backs that up. Hester had six games in which he had at a minimum 75 yards receiving or more. On the season he was on pace for over 1,000-yards receiving and should easily eclipse that total in 2010.
Hester is on a mission, and it’s been probably the quietest story of the off-season in Bears media circles. Hester has spent time working out with former Pro Bowl receiver Isaac Bruce on a daily basis working to hone his skills and working to understand the intricacies of the Mike Martz offense. A lot of fans talked about signing Torry Holt another Martz pupil who enjoyed major success in the greatest show on turf offense to be a coach on the field with the receivers.
What they didn’t expect was for Devin Hester to go out and be proactive on his own in his desire to be a better wide receiver, which is exactly what Hester did. Hester sought out Bruce and has put in a high level of work with him and kept Bears fans informed through his twitter account.
Yes the social media craze has even helped keep us up to date with probably the most accurate reporting available and Hester has been one of the hardest working players this off-season. Hester’s “tweets” have usually come over at around six to seven in the morning and they are usually in reference to the journey to his workout with Bruce.
Bruce has served as a coach to Hester this off-season teaching Hester in a way that perhaps no one else can. This also isn’t the first time that Bruce has mentored a player he did the same tutoring with Holt in St. Louis to great success.
Without question I think it’s a fair assessment to state that Bruce is polishing up his resume to be a coach in this league some day.
So what does this all mean? Well for one Hester’s production should increase exponentially within this offense, because this offense is designed for receivers to succeed regardless of their size.
This has been the biggest question mark regarding the Bears’ receivers, just about everyone is overly critical about the lack of size on this roster. However they overlook the fact that when the Rams were at their peak under Martz’s guidance, they too didn’t have the 6-foot-2 or above receivers out there snatching jump balls.
Here’s what the Rams had, receivers who were extremely gifted route runners, (something Hester has improved upon each year he’s been a receiver) and players with solid hands who would run routes anywhere on the field.
Example of Hester being willing to run routes other than just a fly route down the field, look no further than the Seattle game in which Hester caught the game winning touchdown. Hester’s catch came between two defenders, a play in which he fought for the ball and then trotted into the end-zone untouched. The skinny post route worked to perfection and the Bears won a much needed momentum boosting game early in the season.
Not only is route running key in the Martz offense but so is speed in the open field, not so much being able to run like Gale Sayers, in as much as being able to get separation and attack the open spots in the zone. Hester’s ability is completely on par with the top two former Rams receivers, the only thing lacking is the knowledge and experience as a receiver. Hester may be best suited to work out of the slot in this offense, that’s a fair point but he has already proven he can be productive in a Ron Turner offense.
No one has a lot of faith in Hester, but after watching his 2009 season closely you can count me as one who thinks of him as a number one receiver. No he’s not on level with the true number ones, the elite class of receivers in the NFL, but I think he can be as productive as the receivers in Green Bay, or Wes Welker in New England three capable and productive receivers who fall at the 6-foot tall or shorter mark.
This is the type of player Hester is the type of ability he flashes and he should be capable of meeting that level of expectations in 2010. His willingness to work as hard as he has this off-season is a welcome sign and a sure sign that he serious about proving the doubters wrong. That in and of itself should gain the respect of the Windy City faithful.
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