Thread: Cutler Show: Jay wants Hester to stay

I'll say it again, I see a role for a guy like Hester, not as a 1 or a 2 or 3, but in the 4th-6th area. Early in the year he made a tough TD grab, that many would not beleive he could have made, same w/that 3rd down catch he got for a 1st down. It was the Bennett/Jeffery inj's, and lack of depth that forced him to move up that put him out of favor w/most fans this year.
I would love to see an OC come in that saw the same thing many here have seen, put him in the flat, facing the catch and allow him to move in space; or have him there as an option when everything breaks down like he did when he got that 30 yards(called back b/c Cutler was over the LoS). Is he a 60-70 catch guy, no that's too many, but a 45-50 catch guy hell ya(about 3-4 catches a game), ecspecially when teams cannot afford to cover him b/c he's not intercal to the gameplan and other WR's are out there that NEED covered(Marshal/Bennett/Jeffery).

But he cannot be allowed to be moved inot the 2-3 area, there has to be other WR options that can step in for Jeffery/Bennett b/c he cannot do it.

Well, what did you expect him to say? "No, I don't want him back. He is holding outle offense down." Players don't throw their teammates under the bus when they are on the record. They might shove them on television, but they never throw them (by name) under the bus.

Originally Posted by GermansbombedPH

his returns sucked and it doesn't matter if he is explosiv with the ball in his hands... he won't get to ball in his hands. He can't catch them. He will drop them.
Seems like the same comments Cutler made before Lovie was fired. Hester isn't worth the money anymore and will be gone. Cutler knows this and wants to look like the good teammate.

You know what I want him to say? The truth about the OLine. I hope he calls them out and says that Emery has to upgrade the line because coaching and the players themself couldn't lift them to a better level

I hope you're right, German. I really hope that Bears management and staff aren't seduced by the Hester fallacy yet again. I'm sick of hearing that crap every year...how finally this season Hester will "shine" yada yada yada.

Move On.

Originally Posted by MPBears68

I hope you're right, German. I really hope that Bears management and staff aren't seduced by the Hester fallacy yet again. I'm sick of hearing that crap every year...how finally this season Hester will "shine" yada yada yada.

Move On.

It's easy to fall for the hype. He DOES look really good in training camp. I've seen it. But something happens to him during the season and he doesn't put the effort out there.

Originally Posted by JustAnotherBearsFan99

Maybe Hester can be used better. To be honest I don't know. I do know that at training camp each year he looks great as a receiver. But he doesn't show that during the regular season.

I posted a thread here a few months ago regarding how Hester ranked as far as dropping passes. Over the past 3 seasons (2009-2011) he had a drop rate of 10.29%. He had dropped 14 of 136 "catchable" passes. That put him as having the 15th worst hands in the NFL over those three seasons.

That same stat source (profootballfocus.com), had Earl Bennett with the BEST hands over that same time period. Bennett had a drop rate of 3.15% - the best in the NFL, and just ahead of Larry Fitzgerald.

There were some good WR's who had high drop rates too. B.Marsh drops a lot of balls. But the author made the point that you also need to judge a receiver by his route running and other attributes. The problem regarding Hester, is that he also is a poor route runner. Obviously B.Marsh makes up for drops by making great plays all season long. Hester does not.

Here's the LINK to the stats in case you're interested.

You mentioned dropped balls and bad routes. With Hester, I believe it's the OTHER attributes that are even worse....

Hester doesn't continue to engage his defender when the play goes elsewhere.
Hester doesn't go after balls past his fingertips.
Hester doesn't come back to help out the QB.
Hester doesn't turn into a defender after an INT.


I will never forget a play a couple years ago, when the ball went to Forte, and he ran 50 yards down the left sideline. He was stopped at the 5 yard line by the guy covering Hester way over on the other sideline. He broke for the play, Hester didn't. Sure touchdown negated by Hester cuz he didn't block his guy.

I don't know, is he afraid to get hit? He sure seems to play that way.