Devin Hester's Effectiveness as a Returner Being Hurt................

More Devin Hester plays offense, less effective he is as returner

BY MARK POTASH mpotash@suntimes.com October 27, 2012 1:30AM

http://www.suntimes.com/csp/cms/site...YPE=image/jpeg Bears punt returner Devin Hester stiff arms Panthers kicker Olindo Mare in the Bears 34-29 win over the Carolina Panthers Sunday October 2, 2011, at Soldier Field. | Tom Cruze~Sun-Times

Updated: October 27, 2012 3:54PM

They called Richard Dent ‘‘Colonel’’ because, like Col. Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken fame, he did one thing right.

As it turned out, Dent could stop the run, too. But that’s not why he got paid the big bucks. And Dent is in the Hall of Fame. So there shouldn’t be any shame in acknowledging that, above all else, Devin Hester does one thing right — or one thing best: He returns kicks.

Unlike Dent, though, Hester is getting paid the big bucks to be a wide receiver. And therein lies the problem as the Bears and Hester try to snap out of a kick-return drought: The harder the Bears try to make Hester a receiver, the more trouble Hester has doing what he does best.

Coach Lovie Smith doesn’t buy that. Special-teams coordinator Dave Toub doesn’t buy that. And Hester doesn’t buy that. But their resistance flies in the face of numbers that indicate Hester is a more productive kick returner when he’s less focused on offense.

Hester returned six kicks for touchdowns in each of his first two seasons in the NFL (2006 and 2007). He didn’t play wide receiver as a rookie and was eased into the position midway through the 2007 season.

It wasn’t until Hester held out of training camp and forced the Bears to pay him the wage of a No. 1 receiver that he began struggling on kick returns. He didn’t return a kick for a touchdown in 2008 or 2009, which were his most productive seasons as a wide receiver.

And since Hester rediscovered the kick-return magic in 2010, his success has followed an interesting pattern: The fewer plays he gets on offense, the more productive he is on special teams.

Based on play-participation numbers from profootballfocus.com, here’s how it shakes out:

† When Hester participated in 40 or more plays on offense in 2009 and 2010, he averaged 10.2 yards per punt return (33 returns, 337 yards) with one touchdown. When he participated in fewer than 40 plays on offense, he averaged 22 yards per punt return (33 returns, 727 yards) with four touchdowns.

† When Hester participated in 40 or more plays on offense in 2009 and 2010, he averaged 18.9 yards per kickoff return (22 returns, 416 yards) with no touchdowns. When he participated in fewer than 40 plays on offense, he averaged 30.6 yards per kickoff return (25 returns, 764 yards) with one touchdown.

Toub said the Bears have looked at the numbers to see whether there’s a correlation between Hester’s production on offense and special teams. And it’s true that Hester has been unproductive this season, no matter his number of offensive plays.

‘‘We look at that all the time,’’ Toub said. ‘‘That’s not an issue. He’s going to come out of this. It’s just a matter of time.’’

But the fact that Hester’s problem this season has evolved from a matter of ‘‘a block here or a block there’’ to a decision-making issue seems to indicate it’s a matter of focus and concentration. It sure seems like the less Hester has on his mind, the better off he’ll be.

I know this is a rehash of a thread I just posted but I believe it should be in the spotlight.

It seems either Mark Potash is reading my mind or my posts, or I'm channeling him.

But the fact that Hester’s problem this season has evolved from a matter of ‘‘a block here or a block there’’ to a decision-making issue seems to indicate it’s a matter of focus and concentration. It sure seems like the less Hester has on his mind, the better off he’ll be.

Isn't this exactly what I've been saying is affecting Hester's return game?

This is the other thing that bothers me.

Coach Lovie Smith doesn’t buy that. Special-teams coordinator Dave Toub doesn’t buy that. And Hester doesn’t buy that. But their resistance flies in the face of numbers that indicate Hester is a more productive kick returner when he’s less focused on offense.

I have no doubt that Hester is gonna refute this idea. Any player with his kind of pride and ego would but for Lovie and Toub to simply ignore these facts is another thing. If managing a team is based on studying stats and tendencies then how in the hell can you ignore these? Do they have to be printed in bold faced in red? Facts are facts.

One thing that truly disturbs me at times is this game of "ostrich" that the Bears coaching staff often plays. What is said and what is done is often quite different and examples like this are just one more thing that makes the difference between very good teams and great teams.

So as Lovie would probably say if your pressed him on this issue; "Devin Hester is my #2 WR so we'll just go from there". :4_13_13[1]:

I'm surprised this is still an issue. The history of the thing proves the more on his plate, the less he's going to do well at each thing. I still think he shouldn't be the one to replace Jeffrey while he's injured, and maybe our other WRs need more of a chance to shine (sanz, bennett, etc.) but if we keep him as the number 2 guy until then, I'm willing to accept his lack of return numbers.

Hester admits fair catch call a mistake

By Vaughn McClure, Chicago Tribune reporter 10:02 p.m. CDT, October 26, 2012

Devin Hester sometimes takes criticism to heart. This time, he took it in stride.

The kick returner understood what Dave Toub meant when special teams coordinator pointed out Hester's lack of aggressiveness during the Bears' 13-7 victory against the Lions on Monday night.

"He's right,'' Hester said Friday. "I have to be more aggressive to the ball. I'm going to man up and confess that I haven't been as aggressive as I normally should be.

"The good thing is I know what mistakes I've made and I know how to fix them. That's the best part about being the type of player I am now."

Toub was critical particularly of Hester's decision to call a fair catch on a punt he fielded at the Lions 47-yard line.

"If he decides to return that last one instead of fair-catching it, it's a touchdown,'' Toub said. "Everybody knows it. He looked right over at the sideline. He knows.''

Again, Hester agreed.

"I did look at (Toub) because I just couldn't say anything,'' Hester said. "I knew he was right. There was a lot going in my head. I'm not going to make excuses. I just should have made the play.''

Hester hasn't had a return touchdown since Nov. 13 of last season, when he took back a punt 82 yards against the Lions. He stands 15th in the league in kickoff-return average at 26.9 yards and 17th in punt-return average at 7.6 yards. His longest kickoff return is 38 yards and longest punt return 23 yards.

The seven-year veteran holds the NFL record with 17-career kick-return touchdowns. And Hester has one return score against their Sunday opponent, the Panthers. He returned a punt 69 yards against them in last year's 34-29 victory.

Hester refused to blame his slump on his increased responsibilities on offense. Offensive coordinator Mike Tice has promised to increase Hester's packages at receiver with Alshon Jeffery out with a fractured right hand. (Danger, danger Will Robinson. This does not compute)

Hester played 59 snaps against the Lions, which was 82 percent of the offensive plays.

"That really wasn't hindering my return game," Hester said. "I just have to be more aggressive. … We look forward to this week.''

Toub says he remains confident in Hester despite inserting Eric Weems and Earl Bennett for returns Monday night.

"I've been through this before with (Hester) and, all of a sudden, he'll just come out of it and get three in a row,'' Toub said. "We're not hitting the panic button yet.''

vxmcclure@tribune.com

Quote:

Originally Posted by soulman

Hester admits fair catch call a mistake

By Vaughn McClure, Chicago Tribune reporter 10:02 p.m. CDT, October 26, 2012

Devin Hester sometimes takes criticism to heart. This time, he took it in stride.

The kick returner understood what Dave Toub meant when special teams coordinator pointed out Hester's lack of aggressiveness during the Bears' 13-7 victory against the Lions on Monday night.

"He's right,'' Hester said Friday. "I have to be more aggressive to the ball. I'm going to man up and confess that I haven't been as aggressive as I normally should be.

"The good thing is I know what mistakes I've made and I know how to fix them. That's the best part about being the type of player I am now."

Toub was critical particularly of Hester's decision to call a fair catch on a punt he fielded at the Lions 47-yard line.

"If he decides to return that last one instead of fair-catching it, it's a touchdown,'' Toub said. "Everybody knows it. He looked right over at the sideline. He knows.''

Again, Hester agreed.

"I did look at (Toub) because I just couldn't say anything,'' Hester said. "I knew he was right. There was a lot going in my head. I'm not going to make excuses. I just should have made the play.''

Hester hasn't had a return touchdown since Nov. 13 of last season, when he took back a punt 82 yards against the Lions. He stands 15th in the league in kickoff-return average at 26.9 yards and 17th in punt-return average at 7.6 yards. His longest kickoff return is 38 yards and longest punt return 23 yards.

The seven-year veteran holds the NFL record with 17-career kick-return touchdowns. And Hester has one return score against their Sunday opponent, the Panthers. He returned a punt 69 yards against them in last year's 34-29 victory.

Hester refused to blame his slump on his increased responsibilities on offense. Offensive coordinator Mike Tice has promised to increase Hester's packages at receiver with Alshon Jeffery out with a fractured right hand. (Danger, danger Will Robinson. This does not compute)

Hester played 59 snaps against the Lions, which was 82 percent of the offensive plays.

"That really wasn't hindering my return game," Hester said. "I just have to be more aggressive. … We look forward to this week.''

Toub says he remains confident in Hester despite inserting Eric Weems and Earl Bennett for returns Monday night.

"I've been through this before with (Hester) and, all of a sudden, he'll just come out of it and get three in a row,'' Toub said. "We're not hitting the panic button yet.''

vxmcclure@tribune.com

Yeah I know I'm quoting myself but I can't help it!

Man they are all stubborn and STOOPID when it comes to analyzing this little problem. I'm not hearing one thing here that makes me believe any of this will change even one iota.

Hester himself admits that he has too much going on in his head yet he won't give up the thought that it isn't affecting his return game. Jeez Devin look at your stats when you play less WR vs when you do. It doesn't take an MIT grad with a degree in math and statistics to figure out just how wrong you are.

And then Tice says he plans on increasing his workload at WR even more!!! STOOPID!

Well given this mindset on the part of all involved I'd take Hester off my Fantasy Team as a return guy now. He won't do jack shit as long as they keep wanting to play him as many snaps at WR as they are.

How long is it gonna take before the Bears finally stop misusing some of of their best players. :badmood:

As long as DH runs north and south fine. It's mostly the east west runs that F him put. BUT before that he has to catch the punt/ kickoff ( mostly punt on my mind) The more Off DH gets the more LIMELIGHT he gets. Hold out the Off and make DH get his LIMELIGHT on returns, where he's the best.

I have to totally absolutely agree that Hester on Offense is immensely hurting him in the return game. In MY opinion...it's all in his head. When he was strictly a returner, you could see clearly that his physical movements were so fluid & loose, he ran with such carelessness & didn't think about all the blocks that were planned...he didn't "act"...he "reacted" on instinct. Now as a WR, he sees everything differently. He thinks about where he 'should' be or where he 'should' go, he thinks about everyone's blocking assignments, he tries to think too much!!! Where before he didn't think, he simply reacted. He reacted & his natural talent, ability, & instinct made him such a weapon of mass destruction. You can't even argue that "now ST coaches have figured him out & game planned against him" because the exact same crap was said many many TD returns ago yet he continued to defy all odds.

Problem is...they're stuck with this situation. I for one would LOVE them to put him back strictly on returns, but we all know that can't happen. It would make everyone look bad & Hester worth less which God forbid that sacrifice be made for the betterment of the collective future.

All I know is...in 2006...there's NO WAY Hester is subbed out on returns like we've seen this year...NEVER EVER EVER. Case Closed.

Hester is a game-changer on ST. Any time he is diminished for dink and dunk routes it hurts the team. You put FEAR into opposing ST they spend inordinate amount of TIME trying to defend against him. It destroys morale. And destroying morale on an opposing team is far greater than whatever also-ran stats he could garner at WR.

He can still do things at WR, don't get me wrong but I think it would be more prudent to involve Bennett and Sanz and help Jay in his progressions.

Quote:

Originally Posted by short faced bear

Hester is a game-changer on ST. Any time he is diminished for dink and dunk routes it hurts the team. You put FEAR into opposing ST they spend inordinate amount of TIME trying to defend against him. It destroys morale. And destroying morale on an opposing team is far greater than whatever also-ran stats he could garner at WR.

He can still do things at WR, don't get me wrong but I think it would be more prudent to involve Bennett and Sanz and help Jay in his progressions.

I agree with you shorty. It's not about taking Hester out of the offense it's about using him at his strength and stop using him at his weakness. He's not an every down #2 WR and Tice should know that by now.

We all know what Bennett is capable of and we saw that last year before he got hurt. Move him into the #2 spot and alternate him with Sanz. When you go with three wideouts move Bennett into the slot and use Hester and Sanz outside depending on what you have dialed up for a play.

Sanz deserves some shot at seeing what he can do right now. I may be completely wrong but I think the kid is a bottle of short yardage dynamite and we need to get him uncapped and into the games. Let him annoy the crap out of teams the way that NE uses those midgets Welker and Woodhead they have to move the ball through the air.

Sanz is a perfect target for Culter to get into a rhythm with early in the game. Short low risk passes coupled with some runs and we force team out of that 8 in the box mold or we keep killing them with those short passes into the spots the LB or Safety would cover if they weren't playing run first. Sanz is the guy to use against that not Hester.