Envisions wide receiver moving to the slot, a la Az-Zahir Hakim Brad Biggs
You have to imagine that Lovie Smith might need to sign off on Mike Martz’s plan to make Devin Hester into a slot receiver.
After all, the Bears head coach has said from Day 1 that Hester could be a No. 1 wide receiver, a forecast that hasn’t panned out. In fact, it hasn’t even come close. But that’s not Hester’s fault. He didn’t make the bold proclamation. He didn’t put himself into a role where he didn’t fit.
It sounds like Martz has the right thing in mind for Hester, though, putting him in a place where he can maximize his talents. Martz compared him favorably to Az-Zahir Hakim, the slot receiver he had in St. Louis with the Greatest Show on Turf. The stat you want to keep in mind right now? Hakim made 10 starts in four seasons with the Rams.
“Devin Hester in that role could just be stupid good, if that makes sense to you,” Martz said this morning on the Mully & Hanley Show on WSCR-670 AM. “What we can do with him inside, the matchups we can get with him on third corners, safeties and linebackers would be absolutely remarkable.”
Martz realizes that Hester remains a central part of what the Bears do on special teams even though he has not scored on a return touchdown since the season finale in 2007. Obviously, playing Hester in the slot would mean less work than he was getting on the outside as a starter.
“I think it would be very difficult for him take every snap as a wide receiver and play at a high level on special teams so we have to look at that,” Martz said. “I think the rule I have in mind for him would allow him to do both and do it at a high level.”
Sounds like Martz and Smith need to have a talk. Sounds like a plan that is best for the Bears, and Martz said he believes the group of wide receivers, including Johnny Knox, Devin Aromashodu and Earl Bennett can be a “diamond.”
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Agreed, they have talent in terms of potential. A possession type in Bennet, Hester with great* ability to turn short catches into long gains, and Knox* has all kinds of speed. Their other Devin is a work in progress, perhaps to the point he has the most raw physical upside of the group.
The scary smart thing about the Martz plan is he sees ways to get each of them to the point they produce to high levels.
No, sorry, but the closest thing Chicago has to a WR is Aromashodu, and even he is suspect at this point.
Hester MIGHT be able to perform 'short' like Wesley Welker or Austin Collie, but we also know Hester is VERY injury-prone: he simply won't last.
Knox isn't a WR, he's not quite a Willie Gault type - fast - but get him one-on-one and he doesn't get any separation at all. Neither does Hester as a WR.
Chicago doesn't have a serious WR right now, what they have is a bunch of specialty team/kick returners masquerading as WR, and that simply doesn't work. See: the Dolphins and the Rams, to name two.
Cutler needs serious targets to throw to, he isn't the type of QB to seek out a receiver 'trying to get open', he is a spot passer - you need to be in a spot and be able to get 2 yards of separation, right now they don't have that.
And Greg Olsen is as inconsistent on route running as anyone I have ever seen.
Maybe in 2012 they will show improvement.
Hey Fred, are you a Bears fan? I don't know how much you've watched this group, but all you are doing is spouting opinions. And, like all opinions, they're not based on much.
Did you listen to the interview? Martz himself doesn't come in with any preconceived notions. He sees a lot of speed and potential. He's not going to define these WRs, he's going to let them do that. It depends on how willing they are to learn and be the best. And if they get good, he'll demand more.
That's a coach talking. And, unlike you, he can back it up because he's done it before.
So don't tell me, or any real Bears fan, what to expect from this group. We'll find out in short order. But I know one thing - we've got a real teacher as an OC.
I'm a Packer supporter myself and I think we have the best receivers in the division - as a unit
but....
Like the Vikings with Rice, Harvin and Berrean, the Bears have really good talent there that just needs to be directed and Martz will do that.
Aramashodu really came on in the latter stages of the season, Bennett is talented and Knox can flat out fly. Along with Hester and Greg Olsen, Martz will make these guys much better. Cutler can deliver the ball anywhere but he just has to be on the same page with his catchers.
If Martz can't do it who can?
I'm a Packer supporter myself and I think we have the best receivers in the division - as a unit
but....
Like the Vikings with Rice, Harvin and Berrean, the Bears have really good talent there that just needs to be directed and Martz will do that.
Aramashodu really came on in the latter stages of the season, Bennett is talented and Knox can flat out fly. Along with Hester and Greg Olsen, Martz will make these guys much better. Cutler can deliver the ball anywhere but he just has to be on the same page with his catchers.
If Martz can't do it who can?
My question is how long will Cutler last behind that OL and Martz's 5 man pass patterns?
Warner and Bulger took some hellacious shots behind what was considered a good OL, what is going to happen to Cutler behind the Bears train wreck of an OL?
Hi Karl,
Listen to the interview, if you haven't. There is a misconception about Martz, that's he's dogmatic and predetermined in his approach. He has already stated that he's never had a QB as mobile and athletic as Cutler. Let's face it, Warner was not really good outside the pocket. Expect some things to change.
Another misconception: Martz doesn't use the TE. He said he's never had a TE like Olson. He expects his first and foremost to play with his hand on the ground, inline. That may be a challenge for Greg. Getting him in one on one mismatchs with safeties and backers won't be. The guy can run and catch.
If anyone didn't know what to do with the Cutler/Olson combo it was Ron Turner.
Martz will play to the unit's strengths and out of that he will demand more. He says he likes what he sees. I don't think that's PR or coachspeak. I am a believer.
Re Aromashadu, I know he made a believer out the Vikings. He kept them from securing homefield. If the Vikes win that game, who knows, maybe that parade today is in Minnie.
Romo is a clown. If Shanahan is doing this for any reason besides helping the guy out with an interview, it's a colossal mistake.
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Feb 09, 2010
12:51 PM
Agreed, they have talent in terms of potential. A possession type in Bennet,Hester with greatr ability to turn short catches into long gains, and Know has all kinds of speed. Their other Devin is a work in progress, perhaps to the point he has the most raw physical upside of the group.
The scary smart thing about the Martz plan is he sees ways to get each of them to the point they produce to high levels.