jason

There were several glimpses this year when he showed his burst. Look at his one receiving TD this year, for instance. You don't get that kind of separation from a pro DB unless you possess serious speed or great route running ability. And we all know he doesn't possess the latter. Watch his return from the Tennessee game. Undoubtedly the same Hester from years past. He just needed someone to step up and make one more block. A breakdown... He makes a drastic cut at the 50 and gets between two Titans who are about two yards apart. Absolutely flies by the second level of players who thought they had an angle/chance. Makes a jab-step cut at the 30 that leaves the Titans punter nearly falling down at 8-yards away. And if #37 Anthony Walters (who?) had looked to make a block instead of watching the play, Hester has a return TD again.

Dude, there is no if to it. Lovie was, without a doubt, highly instrumental in the selection process for the players. The link for this thread is exactly why both guys were fired. Both share the blame.

So you think Lovie is at fault for choosing the wrong OCs, but you don't think he's also at fault for choosing the wrong players? I'm just saying it's convenient if you blame Lovie for selecting the wrong OCs if he also had a big hand in selecting the players that directly led to those OCs doing so poorly.

Exactly And I'm still angry about it because it was ignored AGAIN. Preach.

Dub

For certain? I don't know. I haven't seen him run a straight-line 40 and timed it. But when I see him in the game, he still looks lightning fast with crazy misdirection ability. The eye test, for me anyway, says he still possesses very rare speed.

Maybe not, but he was instrumental in the players' selections, as well as how they were used. So, he got the fifth highest dollar value to play with, and produced a horrible offense. Similar to what Parcells(?) once said, Lovie was allowed to help shop for the groceries AND cook, but dinner was disgusting.

Read between the lines please. He is "slower" because he lost confidence and has eroded decision making. This is directly connected to Lovie and staff wanting him to be a WR rather than the best Return man in history. He's still got elite physical speed; in my opinion, he just doesn't know how to use it. A good coach would be able to accentuate his speed with techniques and philosophy on special teams, followed by harsh discipline when not followed. First time he runs backwards or sideways? Benched.

I believe so...but assume the Bears will get one.

And if that's the case, then the Bears need to make sure they go ahead and get him in the 6th round, just to make sure he isn't taken before their 7th round pick. That would be a huge BPA situation, with his talent level being far beyond 99% of all the other guys at that point. And while we're taking flyers on late-round players with upside, I'd love to see the Bears take Marcus Lattimore in the 7th if he's available.

Very cool website. Great find. Although, this is the Bears on offense and defense. Look at where all the little circles are at.

That's a matter of choice, not speed. He has the capability to still run fast...he just doesn't do so. Sounds like coaching to me.

What's funny is, I remember the same thing, on whichever board I was posting on, and 100% wanted him on the Bears.

BTW - Hester is getting killed in the comments to his Facebook page. He asked about Derek Rose coming back from injury, and about a fourth of the replies are asking about him leaving Chicago, or crying, or falling off the last few years.

C'mon man. That dude still has ELITE speed. He just has subpar vision (now) and decision-making abilities.

No, you agree. "pretty darn close to average" = "below average" It's just a matter of degrees. The latter part of your post is something I've said for far too long. It's the reason why the Bears OL, while sometimes solid for stretches, was worse than many other similar OLs because they'd split time sucking. They were literally worse than the sum of the parts.

Good point. There doesn't appear to be great OG talent out there in FA. WHICH IS WHY IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED THIS PAST PRESEASON WHEN IT WAS POSSIBLE. Not only were Grubbs and Nicks FAs (regardless of the price tag), but the Bears passed on David DeCastro and Kevin Zeitler in the draft! I freaking hate Lovie Smith and Jerry Angelo.

Agreed completely. I've long said the Bears need help in multiple positions. And with the injury concerns you mention, it's even more pressing. There is not a single person on the OL who doesn't need an immediate replacement or a replacement in the next couple years.

Well, now you're just being silly. Even though he was not average - he was below average - a guy who sucks in the NFL is still a pretty big compliment in terms of his athletic ability. I've played flag football against some high level college guys and guys who barely missed the cut in the NFL, and it's baffling to me they didn't make the NFL. They are leaps and bounds better than everything everyone else does. But, unfortunately for Webb, the Bears' OL is not measured against how well you or I could do in the NFL.

Two quickies on this: 1) I don't believe he was the strongest link. That's one of the major contentions I have with the OL stats being used. 2) I don't want the Bears to get rid of him. I think he's a valuable sub or swing-lineman. As for the sack comment, it's not about two plays in one game and two in another. Staley isn't perfect, but I'm quite sure he had a better overall game against Matthews than Webb did. Also, I can't recall the games exactly, but I'm pretty damn sure Matthews had multiple sacks against the Bears in each of the last two games they played. Whether or not they were against Webb I can't say for sure. I mean, if you're going to compare both Staley and Webb against Matthews that is.

It's definitely a good deal if he can play like last year and improve (with current salary), but like stinger said, it's still low pay for low performance.

Exactly. He improved. But he just went from horrible to not horrible.

No.he.was.not. Stop. He was below average at best. The only reason this sudden Webb love is gaining any traction are the OL ratings where he is supposed to be the best of the bad. Like the tallest midget. We as Bears fans are just so used to seeing horrible that below average is now turning subpar into good enough. This is the same kind of revisionist history BS that has gotten the Bears in the situation they face this year. I swear, this happens every damn year.

Dude...he was BELOW AVERAGE this year! Even by the stats you keep fellating. That, for the last three years is, horrible, atrocious, then below average. Average that out and it's really bad. And there is no way in hell he would have looked like a pro bowler in any system. I don't give a damn if they ran a Middle East or Midwest system. You gotta be related to the dude to believe that.

I'm anti Ray Lewis, anti Kapernick. I hate the bird raven, and I don't like the city of San Francisco with their stupid winding and steep streets. I'm definitely anti Vernon Davis's crying ass. I'm only rooting for Jim Harbaugh because of Bear connections.