Thread: Toub and Hester Key Bears Special Teams...........

Toub and Hester give Bears huge plus on special teams

And with Gould and Podlesh, entire cast should be top-notch again

Devin Hester swings his spikes as he does an interview following minicamp practice. (Phil Velasquez/Tribune Photo / July 22, 2012)

By Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune reporter 9:20 p.m. CDT, July 22, 2012



13th in a 14-part series leading up to the start of Bears training camp.

None of Dave Toub's NFL peers were about to take any pity on the Bears special teams coordinator last season.

But you can make a case it was the most challenging year Toub has been through since he became an original member of coach Lovie Smith's staff in 2004. Injuries forced his depth chart to take on a different look almost weekly and he had so much turnover from the year before he was working with a consistent group of undrafted rookies, guys he didn't have much time to work with because of the lockout.

Long snapper Pat Mannelly was lost for the season with a torn ACL in November. That same month linebacker Brian Iwuh, who was leading the unit in tackles, suffered a hamstring pull that sent him to injured reserve and he was waived. Ten players were placed on IR before the season ended and even when non-special teamers are lost, the trickle-down effect quickly reaches Toub's meeting room.

Then there was wide receiver Sam Hurd, signed to help on special teams, who was busted on federal charges of attempting to mastermind a drug distribution network.

But when you have the luxury of the NFL's all-time leader in return touchdowns in Devin Hester and a kicker with a track record for accuracy like Robbie Gould, not to mention a system that produces year-in and year-out, it makes a lot of small problems go away.

The biggest offseason expenditure entering 2011 was on Adam Podlesh, who became the first punter in franchise history to finish with a net average above 40 yards.

Toub kept plugging new parts in across the board and the Bears wound up finishing third in comprehensive special teams rankings. In 13 of the 22 categories, they were in the top six. They finished first (or tied for first) in six categories: Punt return, opponent gross punt, extra-point percentage, giveaways, points allowed and kick security. They placed second in punt coverage and tied for second in points scored. Football Outsiders, using its ranking system, had the Bears No. 1 in the league for the third time in the last five years.

Recognition came at the end of the season. Cover man Corey Graham received a trip to the Pro Bowl after being snubbed the year before. Later, he cashed in with free agency, getting a two-year contract from the Ravens that maxes out at $4 million.

Toub got some recognition around the NFL as the Dolphins interviewed him for their head-coaching position that eventually went to former Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin.

It's a difficult hurdle for special teams coaches to clear to get into the mix for top jobs but Toub has done it now. The Bears rewarded him with a contract extension that makes him one of the highest-paid special teams coordinators in the NFL and if he continues to find success, perhaps his name will surface in future coaching searches.

A peek ahead: The Bears lost Graham in free agency but replaced him with more signings geared to Toub's unit than in the past. Perhaps it's a reflection of the emphasis new general manager Phil Emery wants to place on the area.

Toub identified linebacker Blake Costanzo and wide receiver Eric Weems as the best free agents available at their respective positions and landed both.

Wide receiver Devin Thomas, if he makes the club, should contribute and Toub already is talking up the possibility of using safety Brandon Hardin, the third-round draft pick from Oregon State.

So, in theory the rich should get richer here as Costanzo will likely remind people of former linebackers Tim Shaw and Brendon Ayanbadejo.

Gould is entering his eighth season and is coming off one of his finest. Smith never used to send him out to attempt field goals of 50 yards or more. That isn't the case anymore. Gould connected on 6-of-6 field goals from 50 yards and beyond, and he's 11-of-13 from that range since 2009. He took full advantage of the new kickoff rules from the 35-yard line and hit touchbacks on 43 of his 81 kickoffs (53.1 percent), ninth in the NFL.

It's hard to set a bar to measure Hester's performance because he's capable of doing almost anything. He scored three touchdowns on returns in 2011 (two punts, one kickoff) and probably would have been a threat to have more if an ankle injury didn't hobble him for the majority of the second half of the season. He will remain the punt returner and be involved on kickoff returns along with Weems. Make no mistake about it though, Hester is the top returner.

Mannelly was cleared to return from his injury in the spring and will be back for a 15th season, passing Hall of Famer Bill George and Doug Buffone for most in franchise history. Fullback Tyler Clutts remains an emergency option.

Linebacker Dom DeCicco made 17 tackles as a rookie, second-most on the team, and he projects to be a major contributor again. Safety Craig Steltz will be a core performer and Toub will look to get production from young defensive backs like cornerbacks Isaiah Frey and Greg McCoy.

Podlesh should be effective once again as a directional specialist with a strong leg.

The Bears remain one of the best in the NFL at blocking kicks.

Julius Peppers had two last season giving him 11 for his career, the second-most in the NFL since it became an official statistic in 1992. He trails Shaun Rogers, who has 14. Israel Idonije also had one block and he now has eight in his career.

The Bears have 22 since Toub took over in 2004, the most in the NFL in that period with three teams trailing far behind with 17.

Glass half-full: How about if Hester scores four touchdowns on returns and either Costanzo or Weems is a Pro Bowl special teamer while Gould remains one of the most accurate kickers in the NFL?

There is no reason to expect the Bears will not have a top-five special teams unit.

Glass half-empty: A down year for this team probably would be acceptable for most teams. But you never know how coverage teams will come together when there is a high rate of turnover and that is the case every season in this realm.

Bottom line: The Bears will use special teams to their advantage again to give them an edge in field position on a weekly basis.

Coming Tuesday: Tom Thayer Q&A.

bmbiggs@tribune.com

Twitter @BradBiggs