Chicago Bears: The Return of Earl Bennett to the Field

On the eve of the 2010 NFL season, Chicago Bears wide receiver Earl Bennett's prospects for success seemed slim.

With the emergence of Johnny Knox and Devin Aromashodu last season, the Bears appeared overloaded at receiver, especially considering the coaching staff's desire to keep starting Devin Hester.

When Aromashodu fell out of favor following his timid route running and his dropped passes against the Detroit Lions, he was sent to the bench until recently. 

Meanwhile, as Hester continued struggling in the return game and his growth at receiver stagnated, offensive coordinator Mike Martz shuffled his receiving lineup. 

Hester, who used to see 90 percent of snaps on offense, would scale back his time at receiver and focus more on his bread and butter: the punt return game. This move gave Bennett an opportunity to reassert himself.

Thus far, he has capitalized on his playing time.

Since returning to the rotation, Bennett has had two solid games. In Seattle, the third-year player caught three passes for 55 yards.

Last week, he managed 76 yards, including a 48-yard catch that nearly produced a game-changing touchdown.

Bennett's precise route running and solid hands make him an ideal slot receiver. According to Martz:

"[Bennett] is so good in the slot. He does a great job in those inside routes ... I thought he was a good player, but he's even better than I thought." 

Despite seeing limited time until recently, he is third on the team in receptions, behind Knox and Matt Forte. Because of his solid production, strong blocks, (ask Jon Ryan, the Seattle Seahawks' punter) and reliable hands, expect Bennett’s role to continue expanding as the season progresses.

What do you guys think? Has Bennett proven himself a capable receiver in the Martz system? Will he continue to improve?