Guest TerraTor Posted March 1, 2010 Report Share Posted March 1, 2010 http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?story_id=6582 Smith lauds depth, young talent at wide receiver position By: Larry Mayer | Last Updated: 2/26/2010 6:18 PM INDIANAPOLIS – Coach Lovie Smith is excited about the continued development of the Bears’ young wide receivers and believes that they’ll thrive in new coordinator Mike Martz’s system. While some considered the position a weak link prior to the 2009 season, Devin Hester, Earl Bennett, Johnny Knox, Devin Aromashodu and Rashied Davis combined to catch 185 passes for 2,334 yards. It was the highest output by Bears receivers since they had 192 receptions in 2002 and 2,363 yards in 2001. Devin Hester led all Bears wide receivers with 57 receptions and 757 yards this past season. “I know they’re all excited,” Smith said Friday at the NFL Scouting Combine. “How could you not be excited if you are a wide receiver with the type of offense that we’re going to run? That’s been the case with all of the guys. They can’t wait to get started and we can’t wait to work with them. “Even though we’re young, I really feel like that may be the deepest position on our ballclub and they’ll just take off. Even a guy like Juaquin Iglesias who didn’t get a chance to play this past year. I saw a lot of good things that he did during practice going against our [starting] defense.” Martz has said that he envisions Devin Hester primarily filling the slot role that Az-Zahir Hakim excelled in when Martz coached the St. Louis Rams. In 2009, Hester established career highs with 57 receptions for 757 yards despite missing three games late in the season. “Mike is very excited about what Devin can possibly be in our offense as a receiver,” Smith said. “He’s seen a lot of good receivers. He knows exactly what it takes at the position. He has watched a lot of video on Devin. "Devin is excited about it also. You just look at the skill level that Devin Hester has. In this offense, we’re pretty excited about what it can possibly be and what Devin can be.” It doesn’t appear that the Bears will add a veteran receiver to the mix. There was some speculation that they might sign Torry Holt, who starred for Martz with the Rams and was recently released by the Jacksonville Jaguars. But Angelo believes that bringing in a veteran would hinder the development of the Bears’ promising young receivers. “When you bring a veteran receiver in—and we learned this a couple years ago when we brought in Brandon Lloyd and Marty Booker—he’s going to take reps,” Angelo said. “Whose reps is he going to take? He’s going to take the young guys’ reps. “Obviously the veteran’s the incumbent and you’re always going to have that security with him. [but] sometimes in that case it was at the expense of some of our young receivers, in particular Earl Bennett. I felt like about halfway through the [2008] season, Earl was ready to go and I think our coaches agreed. “But we set our course with the veterans. I’m not minimizing their abilities, but they take reps at the expense of [the young players]. You can’t have the best of both worlds. You can’t bring in that veteran and have him show the way and then expect to continue your development of the young receivers.” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nfoligno Posted March 1, 2010 Report Share Posted March 1, 2010 I failt to see what is insulting or how this article is of incompetence. Simply states we have a group of young WRs who, though less experienced than many, still put up better numbers than any WR unit (Bears) has for years. It further states we are not interested in a washed up WR and would rather continue the development of our promising young group, you know, like how many other NFL teams do it. How exactly is this insulting? http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?story_id=6582 Smith lauds depth, young talent at wide receiver position By: Larry Mayer | Last Updated: 2/26/2010 6:18 PM INDIANAPOLIS – Coach Lovie Smith is excited about the continued development of the Bears’ young wide receivers and believes that they’ll thrive in new coordinator Mike Martz’s system. While some considered the position a weak link prior to the 2009 season, Devin Hester, Earl Bennett, Johnny Knox, Devin Aromashodu and Rashied Davis combined to catch 185 passes for 2,334 yards. It was the highest output by Bears receivers since they had 192 receptions in 2002 and 2,363 yards in 2001. Devin Hester led all Bears wide receivers with 57 receptions and 757 yards this past season. “I know they’re all excited,” Smith said Friday at the NFL Scouting Combine. “How could you not be excited if you are a wide receiver with the type of offense that we’re going to run? That’s been the case with all of the guys. They can’t wait to get started and we can’t wait to work with them. “Even though we’re young, I really feel like that may be the deepest position on our ballclub and they’ll just take off. Even a guy like Juaquin Iglesias who didn’t get a chance to play this past year. I saw a lot of good things that he did during practice going against our [starting] defense.” Martz has said that he envisions Devin Hester primarily filling the slot role that Az-Zahir Hakim excelled in when Martz coached the St. Louis Rams. In 2009, Hester established career highs with 57 receptions for 757 yards despite missing three games late in the season. “Mike is very excited about what Devin can possibly be in our offense as a receiver,” Smith said. “He’s seen a lot of good receivers. He knows exactly what it takes at the position. He has watched a lot of video on Devin. "Devin is excited about it also. You just look at the skill level that Devin Hester has. In this offense, we’re pretty excited about what it can possibly be and what Devin can be.” It doesn’t appear that the Bears will add a veteran receiver to the mix. There was some speculation that they might sign Torry Holt, who starred for Martz with the Rams and was recently released by the Jacksonville Jaguars. But Angelo believes that bringing in a veteran would hinder the development of the Bears’ promising young receivers. “When you bring a veteran receiver in—and we learned this a couple years ago when we brought in Brandon Lloyd and Marty Booker—he’s going to take reps,” Angelo said. “Whose reps is he going to take? He’s going to take the young guys’ reps. “Obviously the veteran’s the incumbent and you’re always going to have that security with him. [but] sometimes in that case it was at the expense of some of our young receivers, in particular Earl Bennett. I felt like about halfway through the [2008] season, Earl was ready to go and I think our coaches agreed. “But we set our course with the veterans. I’m not minimizing their abilities, but they take reps at the expense of [the young players]. You can’t have the best of both worlds. You can’t bring in that veteran and have him show the way and then expect to continue your development of the young receivers.” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madlithuanian Posted March 1, 2010 Report Share Posted March 1, 2010 Actually, I see it. Anytime Smith speaks, I am personally insulted... I failt to see what is insulting or how this article is of incompetence. Simply states we have a group of young WRs who, though less experienced than many, still put up better numbers than any WR unit (Bears) has for years. It further states we are not interested in a washed up WR and would rather continue the development of our promising young group, you know, like how many other NFL teams do it. How exactly is this insulting? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest TerraTor Posted March 1, 2010 Report Share Posted March 1, 2010 Actually, I see it. Anytime Smith speaks, I am personally insulted... 185 catches between 5 guys? And comparing that to bears WR Corps. over the years isnt saying much The insult is from Lovie Smith, hes so excited with the 1999 Rams offense Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chitownman Posted March 3, 2010 Report Share Posted March 3, 2010 At this point anything out of Halas Hall from the coaching staff to management is insulting to each and everyone of us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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