In the span of less than a calendar year, the Chicago Bears have managed to turn Devin Hester from potentially the greatest return man in the history of the NFL to a below-average wide receiver that occasionally returns kicks.
My question is why?
Why fix something that isn't broken? Why take someone out of his element who is doing his job beyond anyone's wildest expectations? Why give up starting field position at your own 40-yard line?
The answer from the Bears' front office was (and I paraphrase): "To get Devin more involved with the offense."
Don't get me wrong, I love the idea of Hester as a decoy on a reverse, or even lined up in the Wildcat formation behind center. But trying to turn him into a No. 1 WR is just plain dumb.
Hester is a great athlete, but he is not a great receiver. He just hasn't had enough practice to be polished in running routes and reading coverage. By having him in on offense for the majority of the snaps, he gets too tired to make the cuts that made him untouchable in the return game.
Let's run through some numbers:
In 2006, Hester made no catches on offense and played sparingly on defense. He totaled 67 combined returns for five combined TDs (not including the missed 108-yard FG return or kickoff return TD in the Super Bowl).
In 2007, Hester had 20 catches over 10 games (only four games with more than one catch). He had 85 combined returns for six combined TDs. This was especially impressive considering how often teams kicked away from him.
This year, through only 10 games (of which Hester has played nine), he already has more catches and yards than last year (26 for 318). Meanwhile, he has only 45 combined returns for no touchdowns. In addition, he has already lost more fumbles (two) than he did all of last season.
Obviously, Hester's lack of production isn't just a function of his being more involved in the offense.
Two things stick out.
First, Devin is trying too hard to make the big play. It is clear that the fans expect him to take the ball to the house every time he touches it, which is unrealistic. But if you look at the numbers above, in 2006 and 2007, he did it once every 14 times he touched the ball in the return game during the regular season.
Second, his ego has taken a hit now that teams kick to him without fear. Hester used to be the man in Chicago and could electrify the crowd just by walking onto the field to return a punt. Out of respect, teams would squib kick or punt out of bounds to avoid a return. Now they kick it deep every time and Devin struggles to get it to the 20.
These factors, combined with his increased workload on offense, have effectively neutralized him in the return game. This, in turn, has eliminated the field-position advantage for the Bears, causing the defense to be on the field more, and well, you get the idea.
So here is my message to Lovie Smith, Jerry Angelo, and whoever else is listening: DEVIN HESTER IS NOT A STARTING WIDE RECEIVER IN THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE.
Let him return kicks, and every once in a while put him on the field on offense as a distraction. Let him do what he does best; don't try to force him into something he isn't.
17 comments Last one added 7 months ago — Leave a Comment
Brandon Rader 7 months ago
I agree, however, I think is Devin Hester who "wants to be more involved with the offense".
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Jacob Nitzberg 7 months ago
That is definitely a part of it which I should have brought up. However, I think it is the coaching staffs' responsibility to find a middle ground where he can be involved in the offense and still star in the return game.
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T.W. Krems 7 months ago
I think the coaches put that idea in his head.
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Henry Gula 7 months ago
Judging of what he did to my Broncos last season, Chicago's front office/Lovie have to be crazy to try to make him anything else than a return man/situational receiver. He is one of the fastest men in the NFL, but definitely not material to go up and get passes, etc. Good article.
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Jacob Nitzberg 7 months ago
Thanks for the comment. I was at that game and really let Sauerbrun have it for running his mouth about Hester.
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Dylan Sharek 7 months ago
Hi there.
I just wanted to pop in and say that I appreciate your article.
I AM NOT A FOOTBALL FAN, but I love watching Devin Hester play. I would watch Bears games last year simply to see him return kicks. He made me tune in and made me a serviceable football fan.
I have not caught a single football game this year and now I know why. No Hester excitement. It's unfortunate that they took his amazing talent away from him.
Hester is one of those truly electrifying talents that will drag people to the TV to watch games.
Dylan
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Jacob Nitzberg 7 months ago
He was pretty much the only bright spot in a miserable season last year, so I understand where you're coming from. The last 2 years us Bears fans were almost expecting him to run one back, now we're just hoping he gets it to the 20 without fumbling. It's amazing how much things have changed.
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Max Kienzler 7 months ago
I agree and disagree. I wish for the Devin of yesteryear but I think he adds a dimension to this offense that defenses have to respect.
I also think that the Bears special teams is not playing as well as it did last year. The loss of Brendan Ayanbadejo hurts. I don't care what people say about how one guy does not make a difference. We miss him.
Devin needs to stop thinking about it to so much. When Danieal Manning returned kicks at the end of the game last week, he did well because he ran straight ahead. Devin jogs looking for openings. He needs to get back to running fast and running straight ahead. If he does, eventually he will break one.
I will say however, with time and practice, Devin could be a very good receiver in this league.
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Jacob Nitzberg 7 months ago
I agree that we miss Ayanbadejo. The blocking this year isn't what it was last year at all.
Hester is special because he can cut without slowing down, and you're absolutely right, right now he is slowing down and waiting for something to develop.
The one thing I will disagree on is that I'm not sure he has what it takes to be a great receiver. I'd love to see him blossom as one but I'd much prefer, as stated above, that he focus on the return game.
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Jake Perper 7 months ago
Jacob nice article but there is one big problem "they paid him like a #1 WR!" They let Berrian go because he wanted too much money and thought Hester could take over as the #1 playmaker and also let Mark Bradley go to KC a guy who Lovie Smith neveer liked but was a playmaker. They should have put the franchise tag on Bernard Berrian before letting him go but whtvr. Hester is too stupid to learn both WR and be able to do what he did as a kick returner.
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Jacob Nitzberg 7 months ago
Stupid was a word I tried to avoid but is something on everyone's minds. Can Hester learn enough plays to truly be a serviceable WR? I heard a rumor that last year he only knew 4 plays, which I'd like to believe isn't true but you never know.
Franchise tag on Berrian was an obvious move that our front office failed to make as usual. I think Hester deserved higher pay, but definitely not #1 WR money. Maybe part of his problem is that he already has his guaranteed contract.
Thanks for the feedback.
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Jacob Nitzberg 7 months ago
Stupid was a word I tried to avoid but is something on everyone's minds. Can Hester learn enough plays to truly be a serviceable WR? I heard a rumor that last year he only knew 4 plays, which I'd like to believe isn't true but you never know.
Franchise tag on Berrian was an obvious move that our front office failed to make as usual. I think Hester deserved higher pay, but definitely not #1 WR money. Maybe part of his problem is that he already has his guaranteed contract.
Thanks for the feedback.
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Patrick Michael 7 months ago
I agree with Max, in the idea he needs to return the ball, and not think about how to return the ball.
Also, The lack of success in the return game might have something to do with other teams' game plans and how to contain Hester's returns.
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Steven Resnick 7 months ago
I think the reason why he hasn't been returning kicks a lot this year is because he had been injured. So the Bears would much rather have him as a speed threat at receiver than to be tackled hard and be out for a long period of time from returning kicks.
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Spenser T. Harrison 7 months ago
I said at the beginning of the year this would happen. He's not big enough to touch the ball that much. Thus he gets injured and nicked up all year, which hurts his speed, explosion, and big play ability. It's ok to use him every once in a while on offense but the idea that he could be a full-time receiver was a bad one to say the least. Especially for a guy who was originally a cornerback.
They need to bring back the Hester of old, who has basically cemented himself as the best return man ever in just two years.
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Max Kienzler 7 months ago
For the record, while Devin could be paid $40 million, $15 million guaranteed and a $5 million signing bonus, the remaining half is all performance based. He will not make the entire amount and he is only paid as a number 1 receiver if he PLAYS like a number one receiver. So while the contract on its face looked huge, the money is only going into Dev's pocket if Dev is taking it to the house more often.
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John Lorge 7 months ago
There is no reason Hester shouldnt be back for every kick and punt, thats his bread and butter, getting him the ball more on O is good, but special teams is 1/3 of the game.
THat being said I think you are being too hard on Hesters WR potential. No, he is not a #1, but he is a legit 2nd option (def 3rd) in the passing game. If Hester only plays spot time on O then the D will key him too much on streaks and screens. If he is a regular part of the offense, then the D will have to treat him as another WR, giving the Bears more opps to get hester the ball in space or 1 on 1 down field.
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