Biggs: Breaking down Bears' tight ends
There has been a minor uproar since the hiring of Mike Martz last week and what his arrival will mean for Greg Olsen, the tight end who was supposed to explode with Pro Bowl-level numbers when paired with Jay Cutler.
Martz isn't known for using tight ends much in his offense, other than for pass-blocking. Vernon Davis was selected in 2008 as the first alternate to the Pro Bowl in Martz's scheme, and when the season ended the 49ers tight end had stayed in to pass block on about 250 snaps.
But as Martz has said, he never has had a tight end like Olsen before, and the playbook he uses -- one that traces its roots to "Air Coryell" and the San Diego Chargers -- has made a star out of a tight end before. Kellen Winslow had a Hall of Fame career playing for Don Coryell and was one of the first great pass-catching threats at the position.
"All tight ends, their first responsibility, they have to put their hand down on the line of scrimmage and be a successful blocker, and then they move to receiving," Martz said Tuesday on
"The Mully & Hanley Show" on WSCR-AM 670. "To just skip by that and say, 'OK, he's a terrific receiver,' well, then you may as well just put another wide receiver in there. He can do these things. That is where people really have a difficult time with a tight end that is as well-rounded as he is."
Blocking has been a consistent knock against Olsen, who replaced Desmond Clark -- a better blocker -- in the starting lineup last season. It would be unfair to suggest that was a primary reason why Matt Forte's yards per carry dipped from 3.9 to 3.6, but Olsen didn't handle the role well, according to multiple scouts who watched the Bears regularly. The Bears have hired Mike DeBord as the new tight ends coach and he brings a solid background, from the college ranks, as a tight ends and offensive-line coach. Can he improve Olsen's game in that regard? This much is for certain: You're not going to see the abundance of double-tight-end sets the Bears employed under Ron Turner.
Let's look at the tight ends in the seventh installment of a 12-part Bears' roster analysis:
Tight ends
Roll call: Desmond Clark, Kellen Davis, Greg Olsen.
2009 overview: Olsen was promoted over Clark before the start of training camp, a move that was made without a competition taking place. He struck up an immediate relationship with Cutler, and the idea was that the bond Cutler and Olsen had off the field would translate into an instant connection on the field. It didn't work out that way. Olsen had only 10 catches after the first four games and faced questions about why his production was no different than what he experienced with Kyle Orton as quarterback. He averaged 10.6 yards per catch with Orton in 2008 and the Bears never got Olsen downfield consistently with Cutler, as he averaged 10.2 yards last season.
Olsen's total numbers were fine, but they didn't represent all-star quality. Here's how he stacked up with other tight ends around the league:
*60 receptions (league rank 10th).
*612 yards (league rank 11th).
*10.2 yards per catch (league rank 19th).
*8 touchdowns (league rank T-4th).
The question is whether he's going to grow with the arrival of Martz or morph into one of those square pegs that the Bears try to jam into a round hole. More on Martz's history with tight ends in a little bit.
Clark, a model of durability at one of the most difficult positions in the league for players to remain healthy, finally started to break down last season. After missing only two games in his first six seasons with the Bears, Clark missed two games early in the season with cracked ribs. He was held out of three games later in the year with a neck injury. Clark turns 33 in April and is entering the final season of a two-year extension he signed after the 2008 season. He has vowed to come back strong and remains the best blocker at the position on the roster after catching only 19 passes for 145 yards and two touchdowns.
The light came on for Davis after a disappointing rookie season and he potentially could take a step in the system if he can continue to improve as a blocker. Davis has the frame to be an opposing figure on the offensive line, but needs to be developed. As a receiver, he proved to be solid in play-action for short-yardage situations.
Overall, it was a decent group, but the idea that the Bears had the best combination of tight ends in the league was way off base. You can't be in that conversation if you don't have a Pro Bowl player at the position.
By the numbers: Martz never has featured the tight end in the passing game. It's easy to look at the numbers from his days in St. Louis and make the point that with some terrific wide receivers, there wasn't room for a tight end to really spread his wings. Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt were dominant in their prime with the Rams. But Martz didn't have dominant wide receivers in his work with the Lions and 49ers. And the tight end was still an after-thought in the passing game, even the wildly talented Davis in San Francisco.
Here are the top pass receivers for the 10 seasons Martz has been at the controls of an offense:
1999 St. Louis: Roland Williams 25 receptions-226 yards-9.0 yards per catch-6 TD.
2000 St. Louis: Roland Williams 11-102-9.3-3.
2001 St. Louis: Ernie Conwell 38-431-11.3-4.
2002 St. Louis: Ernie Conwell 34-419-12.3-2.
2003 St. Louis: Cam Cleeland 10-145-14.5-0.
2004 St. Louis: Brandon Manumaleuna 15-174-11.6-1.
2005 St. Louis: Brandon Manumaleuna 13-129-9.9-1.
2006 Detroit: Daniel Campbell 21-308-14.7-4.
2007 Detroit: Sean McHugh 17-252-14.8-0.
2008 San Francisco: Vernon Davis 31-358-11.5-2.
Martz compared Olsen to Conwell, who tops the list with 38 receptions in 2001, but that's a stretch. Conwell was known as a solid blocker first. That's not Olsen's rep. He's known as an athletic target who can run.
Free agency/draft priority: Medium? This all depends on how Martz evaluates the group and if he determines the Bears need a tight end with more polished blocking ability. That could be tricky. The proliferation of spread offenses in the college ranks is making that player harder to find every year.
Player to watch: Olsen, of course. Don't write off the idea that he will not be able to remain a big part of the passing game. He has the quarterback in his camp, and remember that general manager Jerry Angelo said he spoke with Martz about the personnel on the team and how it was adaptable to the offense. This isn't going to be the "Greatest Show on Turf." Martz is going to need to reinvent himself in some ways. That's why the challenge and watching this offense develop is going to be so exciting. We all know what will happen if it doesn't click.
Looking ahead: There is going to be an adjustment period for the tight ends in the new offense and it will be interesting to see if they bring in a new addition with a skill set that would seem to match more closely with what Martz has used tight ends for in the past.
Bottom line: Olsen's role in the offense will be an interesting storyline to follow. Action is going to speak louder than words. Martz has professed his fondness for the group of wide receivers. There certainly figures to be a good role for Olsen, but we'll need to let the process play out.
NEXT: Cornerbacks.
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