Hester, One To Watch

by Adam T on Jul 29, 2008 10:01 AM CDT Comment 15 comments

Not that this is a surprise or anything new, but over here at USA Today, they are listing Hester as one of 5 receivers to watch this year.

2. Devin Hester, Chicago Bears: The team has given him a $40 million contract because he is among the greatest kick returners in league history. But they would like to put some of that breakaway talent on display when they have the ball on offense. He caught only 20 passes last year and that number has to be higher. Then there are those who believe that getting knocked around on offense will limit his return talent. The Bears have to make the right decision here.

For the record Devin Hester is the greatest kick returner in league history not among them.

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I really don't know how

Devin Hester is going to handle the more physical nature of lining up as a #1 or #2 WR.

Here’s the average gameday for a #1 WR in the NFL: You line up before the snap… directly across from you is a large angry man who has every intention of shoving his hand at your atom’s apple to knock you off course before you even begin to run your route.

Then, if you’re good enough to juke your way, or physically fight your way out of a jam, you have to run your route crisply and make up any lost time to get to the spot that your QB expects you to be in.

All that occurs before you even get the ball.

Simply, opposing DBs are going to try to beat the crap out of Hester. I strongly feel that lining him up outside against the #1 CB is a bad move. If you want to get the most out of him on offense… line him up in the slot or just put him in motion as often as possible and create the best match-up you can for him.

I'm not going to even bother trying to update this sig everyday anymore... that's what the standings column on ESPN is for.
Updated on May 25, 2008

by SackMan on Jul 29, 2008 11:49 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Hester and the QB Spot.

Something that has gone largely unsaid from what I can tell: this signing and investment in him gives Grossman the edge in the QB battle. He possess the arm strength to take advantage of Hester’s speed.

I also think hte best WR season one could ever expect from him would be the one Stokley came up with a few years ago on the Colts. Hester seems best suited for the slot, which certainly isn’t a #1 production area.

Besides the obvious - Go Irish.

Z. He doesn't need an exclamation point. He is one.

by PopeFlick on Jul 29, 2008 1:17 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

new orleans ga,me

He possess the arm strength to take advantage of Hester’s speed.

orton to hester.

by mike b on Jul 29, 2008 2:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Just because...

...Orton has completed passes to Hester does not mean he suddenly has a stronger arm than Rex.

Besides the obvious - Go Irish.

Z. He doesn't need an exclamation point. He is one.

by PopeFlick on Jul 29, 2008 7:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

oh no shit?

show me the video of them standing on the same yard line and throwing the ball as far as they can with orton coming up short.

by mike b on Jul 29, 2008 8:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I have Tiger repellant.

Would you like to buy some? I’m sitting here and there’s no Tigers so it must work!

Besides the obvious - Go Irish.

Z. He doesn't need an exclamation point. He is one.

by PopeFlick on Jul 30, 2008 12:02 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

uh huh

the same scouting reports talk about orton’s weaker arm talk about grossman’s high accuracy, three years grossman overthrowing everyone seemd to have shot that one down.

by mike b on Jul 30, 2008 10:07 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

So...

No accuracy = weak arm?

Why are we suddenly talking about accuracy? Grossman’s is higher than Orton’s, but that’s not really the point now is it?

Besides the obvious - Go Irish.

Z. He doesn't need an exclamation point. He is one.

by PopeFlick on Jul 30, 2008 10:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

no

scouting reports that say orton has weaker arm=souting reports that grossman is accurate. both worthless. and with a complete lack of any emperical evidence that “orton can’t make the deep throws” comments about it are worthless..

by mike b on Jul 30, 2008 10:58 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Then you don't know...

...much about the Bears if you think that Orton’s demonstrated arm strength at the same level Rex has. He has not.

It’ll take more than your saying so – without any evidence to back up what I have seen, which AFAIC is empirical evidence.

Go create an argument elsewhere. You sound ignorant, even when you aren’t attempting to change what we’re talking about which you’ve been busted on already.

Besides the obvious - Go Irish.

Z. He doesn't need an exclamation point. He is one.

by PopeFlick on Jul 30, 2008 1:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

so you've got nothing

cool. i’ve heard the same orton has no arm strength since they drafted him. not sure i trust it anymore.

if you can’t follow the sttement that scouting reports about both of them aren’t worth a shit then oh well.

by mike b on Jul 30, 2008 1:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh well?

LMAO. So you dismiss out of hand what you know exists: reports that Orton’s strength lacks compares to Rex. You choose not to believe them but offer nothing to back that up.

You’re talking out of your ass, and the best you have is attempting to change the subject and act like you have a big secret no one else knows about.

Your logic goes right to my Tiger Repellant: there are no tigers in my office, ergo this stuff works!

Want to buy some? Because I’m not buying what you’re selling.

Besides the obvious - Go Irish.

Z. He doesn't need an exclamation point. He is one.

by PopeFlick on Jul 30, 2008 1:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

not changing any subject

your point was that hester as a long term wr solution gives an edge to grossman because of his long reported edge in arm strength over orton.

did orton attempt a single deep ball in 05? I remember one being picked off in the cincy game and other than that I remember the one to hester this year, if there are more failures, like dozens, then i somehow missed them and will admit that orton can’t throw the deep ball. I’m not arguing that he is better than grossman i’m arguing with the label that he “can’t throw the deep ball.” He’s done it at least once, and its not even like he’s attempted it that much. I wouldn’t argue against grossman having a stronger arm than orton, i just don’t know that its a considerable difference. enough that hester now gives grossman a big edge.

by mike b on Jul 30, 2008 3:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think things may be reversed...

I do not think him lining up as a receiver is going to hinder his return game; unless he ends up injured from the action. However abused and/or tired he gets on offense, he will have time to recoup while the defense is on the field, even if it is a 3-and-out. He is an athlete in the prime of his career, if his conditioning is so bad that he cannot recover to handle his return duties, something is wrong. Also to consider, they wont be sending him long on every play he is on offense; a fair amount of plays will take little effort on his part.
I would worry more about the returns hindering his ability to fill his spot as a receiver. Now, I am in no way, shape or form suggesting they take him off returns; that would be rediculously stupid. But if one is to affect the other, him coming directly from a potential long return into the offensive huddle might slow him for a play or 2.

by Marsh#31 on Jul 29, 2008 3:34 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

out in space

The key to Hester’s success this year is Turner’s ability to get him open on short crossing patterns. Get him out in space and give him a chance to make people miss. Opposing defenses will be playing off him more times than not, so it’s something Rex Orton will have to exploit.

by propheteer on Jul 29, 2008 10:42 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs