How far will Hester's athleticism take him?

[Rush23]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/186224-...ticism-take-him

 

Article I wrote on Devin Hester and his role as a Wide Receiver. What are your thoughts? Do you think with time he can become a solid WR for the Bears? He definitely has shown progress considering he barely played WR in college outside of "reverses" and "gadget plays".

 

Feedback is appreciated

[BigDaddy]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/186224-...ticism-take-him

 

Article I wrote on Devin Hester and his role as a Wide Receiver. What are your thoughts? Do you think with time he can become a solid WR for the Bears? He definitely has shown progress considering he barely played WR in college outside of "reverses" and "gadget plays".

 

Feedback is appreciated

 

Your last line reads...There is a reason why his nickname in college was "Anytime" because he can score anytime he touches the ball.

 

Anytime except all of 2008. Personally, they should have left Hester at returns. He ran with reckless abandon, something EVERY great return man does. Once he got that contract he started putting pressure on himself to become the next Jerry Rice. He started looking for the sidelines on his returns. In preseason as a KR, he was just awful. He's been trying for 2-3 years to learn the position. I'm not sure he will ever be a true #1 but now that Cutler is here and can make the deep throw better than anyone we've had, maybe Hester will get it done. We'll see what happens but if he doesn't do it this year, he probably never will.

[Guest TerraTor]

Your last line reads...There is a reason why his nickname in college was "Anytime" because he can score anytime he touches the ball.

 

Anytime except all of 2008. Personally, they should have left Hester at returns. He ran with reckless abandon, something EVERY great return man does. Once he got that contract he started putting pressure on himself to become the next Jerry Rice. He started looking for the sidelines on his returns. In preseason as a KR, he was just awful. He's been trying for 2-3 years to learn the position. I'm not sure he will ever be a true #1 but now that Cutler is here and can make the deep throw better than anyone we've had, maybe Hester will get it done. We'll see what happens but if he doesn't do it this year, he probably never will.

 

Im thinkin if he can get 80 catches Id be rediculously happy with him. Olsen should lead the team in the passing game in my opinion.

 

I agree Hester was a stud at PR/KR. Think about this too, last year we had 9 wins (how many 4th qaurter last second losses) with no Kick return TDs. Hester won at least 5 games over the course of his career just with his returns and field position. We need a vet who can get us 65-75 catches and actually get open and catch the dam ball on 3rd down (Heres to you rashied davis)...

[nfoligno]

Couple thoughts on this.

 

One, while Hester was incredible as a return man, history shows few have such success long term. Some might try to argue that Hester would prove the exception to the rule, but history was simply not on his side. At some point, return specialists simply lose that difference making ability. So I am not sure it is best to assume Hester would give elite results long term.

 

Two, while it may be true that we have spend a couple years looking to develop Hester as a WR, it isn't like we have spent "that" long. Further, I would argue he has shown development at the WR position, which IMHO offers reason to hope.

 

IMHO, Hester developed as a WR far more this past season than I would have expected, and he did that w/ an average QB and a way below average OL. W/ both QB and OL upgraded, I think it fair to expect another leap in development, especially if we can find a complimentary WR, where as we had the likes of Davis/Booker as his compliment last year. Yuck!

 

I have had this discussion w/ others before, but while I do not believe Hester is "likely" to become a stud #1 WR, I do at the same time believe he has the potential to put up #1 WR numbers.

 

To me, a stud #1 WR is one who excels regardless of what surrounds him. Look at a WR like Andre Johnson, who has not played for good offenses, but has dominated regardless. Look what Calvin Johnson did last year. The true studs dominate, regardless who is throwing, regardless who is protecting, and regardless who is covering. I do not expect this of Hester.

 

At the same time, if the OL is capable of blocking, we have a pro bowl QB and a solid #2 WR, could I see Hester putting up #1 WR numbers? Yes. In such a situation, I do not think it out of the question Hester "could" have a season w/ 80+ catches and 1,300+ yards with double digit TDs. That would put him in the elite category in terms of numbers.

 

So I think Hester can put up #1 WR numbers, even if he is not a true stud #1.

 

Your last line reads...There is a reason why his nickname in college was "Anytime" because he can score anytime he touches the ball.

 

Anytime except all of 2008. Personally, they should have left Hester at returns. He ran with reckless abandon, something EVERY great return man does. Once he got that contract he started putting pressure on himself to become the next Jerry Rice. He started looking for the sidelines on his returns. In preseason as a KR, he was just awful. He's been trying for 2-3 years to learn the position. I'm not sure he will ever be a true #1 but now that Cutler is here and can make the deep throw better than anyone we've had, maybe Hester will get it done. We'll see what happens but if he doesn't do it this year, he probably never will.

[BigDaddy]

Couple thoughts on this.

 

One, while Hester was incredible as a return man, history shows few have such success long term. Some might try to argue that Hester would prove the exception to the rule, but history was simply not on his side. At some point, return specialists simply lose that difference making ability. So I am not sure it is best to assume Hester would give elite results long term.

 

Two, while it may be true that we have spend a couple years looking to develop Hester as a WR, it isn't like we have spent "that" long. Further, I would argue he has shown development at the WR position, which IMHO offers reason to hope.

 

IMHO, Hester developed as a WR far more this past season than I would have expected, and he did that w/ an average QB and a way below average OL. W/ both QB and OL upgraded, I think it fair to expect another leap in development, especially if we can find a complimentary WR, where as we had the likes of Davis/Booker as his compliment last year. Yuck!

 

I have had this discussion w/ others before, but while I do not believe Hester is "likely" to become a stud #1 WR, I do at the same time believe he has the potential to put up #1 WR numbers.

 

To me, a stud #1 WR is one who excels regardless of what surrounds him. Look at a WR like Andre Johnson, who has not played for good offenses, but has dominated regardless. Look what Calvin Johnson did last year. The true studs dominate, regardless who is throwing, regardless who is protecting, and regardless who is covering. I do not expect this of Hester.

 

At the same time, if the OL is capable of blocking, we have a pro bowl QB and a solid #2 WR, could I see Hester putting up #1 WR numbers? Yes. In such a situation, I do not think it out of the question Hester "could" have a season w/ 80+ catches and 1,300+ yards with double digit TDs. That would put him in the elite category in terms of numbers.

 

So I think Hester can put up #1 WR numbers, even if he is not a true stud #1.

 

One other thing about Calvin Johnson, look at who was throwing him the ball. Hell, I can't even tell ya the QBs name. He is definitely a force.

[Mongo3451]

Hester is going to be a nightmare for defenses this year. Cutlers cannon and mobility should drive DC's nuts. When Cutler scrambles, what will Hester do? Come back for the easy 1st down?? Go route??? Fake a come back, then Go??? I know that's just a small part of his game, but I really think we'll see a couple of busted play TD's from Cutler to Hester this year.

[AZ54]

I hope Hester always goes deep when a play breaks down and Cutler scrambles around. at least one WR always needs to have that responsibility. I don't know how defenses will play us early in the year but you have to believe Cutler is going to surprise quite a few DBs in the NFC North this year; they just aren't used to covering Bears WR for longer than 3-4 seconds, and they aren't used to worrying about the deep ball. Even with Rex the deep ball success went away once teams realized all they had to do was blitz. I think we'll see some success on deep routes with Hester early in the year but more importantly once DBs see this on film it will force them to always be thinking deep when plays break down. That is something Green Bay always had with Favre because he could throw the ball so far downfield. the net result is that when a play breaks down the QB has a lot more options to throw to because the defense gets spread out. Not only should we see more deep passes but the effectiveness of dump offs to guys like Forte should improve too.

[defiantgiant]

I have to say, even if Hester doesn't turn into a game-breaker at wideout, he'll be a good deep threat. I doubt very much that Hester-the-receiver in 2009 will be as dangerous as Hester-the-returner in 2006-2007, but here's the thing: he wasn't going to continue to be that kind of threat at returner, had he stayed there.

 

By the end of 2007, teams were kicking away from him whenever he was on the field. Anybody who thought they didn't have to could just take a look at what happened to the Broncos, Rams, Cardinals, etc. The problem with having a generational talent at returner, which I think spurred Hester's move to offense, is that you're not in control of whether he gets the ball. The other team has to choose to give him an opportunity, and with more and more teams choosing not to, the Bears had to find another way to get the ball in his hands, even if he wasn't going to be quite as special a player in that new role.

 

As much as I understand the move to receiver, I do hope that Hester can put up at least three more return TDs in his career: he really does deserve to have the all-time record. Maybe he only gets one a year from here on out, but he should still be able to hit 14 for his career, no problem.

[BearFan2000]

Was Willie Gault ever a fully pollished elite WR? I think not. He had elite speed like Hester does. We never tried to make Gault into something he was not we basically just said beat your man deep and we'll get the ball to you. I see Hester more as the Willie Gault type guy. I don't think he'll ever be the complete polished stud WR but I don't think he has to be. His speed makes things like double moves and the like to be effective because they have to respect the speed. And now with Cutler I think they have to be even more aware. If we get or develop a guy to be a solid WR that also demands respect of the defenses then you are building a nice passing game. Throw in the TE's and the vertical game stretches the defense and opens up lanes for a solid ground game.

 

And as nfo pointed out history is not on his side as far as long term success, at least not at the rate he was doing it. 6 in is rookie year, 7 in his second year. One way or another that rate would dwindle. Teams not giving him a chance to return, teams focusing on their coverage more, a serious injury on a fluke tackle (not that that can't happen elsewhere), getting a big head (which I think was part of the problem last year trying to make each return a home run), over-thinking (returning is mostly instinctive and reactionary when you think too much about it you tend to do stupid things and we saw plenty of stupid last year).

 

At the time durning his rookie and second year I know I was guilty of thinking how can we get Hester the ball more. When you have someone like that you get greedy and try to invent new ways to use him because like me going to gas station to buy lottery tickets seeing dollar signs in my head I saw Hester and saw TD's in my head. Just like with Cutler I have many happy thoughts dancing in my head but I need to reign it in a little with anything there will be ups and downs fortunately with Jay though he has a higher ceiling and a shallower basement than any QB we've had in a long long time. I think this will help Hester in the passing game.

[BigDaddy]

I have to say, even if Hester doesn't turn into a game-breaker at wideout, he'll be a good deep threat. I doubt very much that Hester-the-receiver in 2009 will be as dangerous as Hester-the-returner in 2006-2007, but here's the thing: he wasn't going to continue to be that kind of threat at returner, had he stayed there.

 

By the end of 2007, teams were kicking away from him whenever he was on the field. Anybody who thought they didn't have to could just take a look at what happened to the Broncos, Rams, Cardinals, etc. The problem with having a generational talent at returner, which I think spurred Hester's move to offense, is that you're not in control of whether he gets the ball. The other team has to choose to give him an opportunity, and with more and more teams choosing not to, the Bears had to find another way to get the ball in his hands, even if he wasn't going to be quite as special a player in that new role.

 

As much as I understand the move to receiver, I do hope that Hester can put up at least three more return TDs in his career: he really does deserve to have the all-time record. Maybe he only gets one a year from here on out, but he should still be able to hit 14 for his career, no problem.

 

He only deserves it if he earns it. He'll earn it by doing more of what he did in 2006 and 2007, running up field and less of what he did last year, running to the sideline. He has the talent so whatever he is lacking is in his head.

[Boston Boxer]

Hester is being used wrong...they need to goget some tape ofWes Welkerand use him that way. In the slot, Hester could excell. The problem is we do not have any other real good WR to put out there with him. Hopefully someone emerges this year

[nfoligno]

I don't know about that. Welker uses quickness, which I agree is a trademark of Hester, but at the same time, Welker is also know for (a) quick sep off the LOS, running precise routes and great hands. None of these are considered attributes for Hester. They may one day, but they were not strengths last year, and trying to play him like Welker would not seem to best utilize his strengths.

 

I still feel the player to use him similar to is Steve Smith. No, I am not saying he can be as good as Smith, but I do think that is how we should try to use him.

 

One thing I love about how Carolina uses Smith is how much they move him around. Smith was beginning to have trouble w/ teams jamming him at the LOS, then putting a 2nd man over the top. So Carolina countered by moving him around more, thus making it more difficult to jam him. W/ a free/open release, he is that much harder to contain.

 

Also, while Smith is so well known for his speed and downfield ability, Carolian also uses him in short passes w/ the expectation of solid YAC.

 

IMHO, last year, Hester was limited because he was still learning to play WR. But he did seem to develop considerably. I think this year we should be looking to expand how we use him.

 

Hester is being used wrong...they need to goget some tape ofWes Welkerand use him that way. In the slot, Hester could excell. The problem is we do not have any other real good WR to put out there with him. Hopefully someone emerges this year