Displace 200+ targets w/ loss of Berrian and Muhammad (1 Viewer)

[Maven]

2006

------

Berrian - 101T, 6td

Muhammad - 117T, 5td

Total Targets = 218, 11td

2007

------

Berrian - 127T, 5td

Muhammad - 81T, 3td

Total Targets = 208, 8td

---------------------------

Avg Looks/TD = 213, 9.5TD

------------------------------

Projected Bears Starting WRs

----------------------------------

M. Booker

M. Bradley

Hester - 38T (07)

TEs

---

D. Clark - 66T (07)

G. Olsen - 66T (07)

RB

-----

A. Peterson - 65T (07)

------------------------------------

How do you guys see these targets and tds being distributed now that Berrian and Moose are gone? Plus with the addition of Forte...Peterson will probably see his looks go down meaning more touches for someone listed above...

I KNOW the Bears offense is probably the worse in the league, but I dont think they'll be abysmal. Clark and Olsen are probably the best receivers on the team. With Booker aging, Bradley unproven and Peterson's load decreasing with the presence of Forte, I can see those two really benefiting on those extra looks.

I can see...

* Clark and Olsens Targets jumping up to around 80 or 90. Olsens 2nd year, he may end up with more looks than Clark...

* Peterson's decreasing to around 40 due to Forte. He's proved hes just a backup...

* Hesters jumping up to about 60 or 70, he can easily get 5-6 tds WR. The opportunity is there.

More looks means more chances to gain yards and score... We'll see.. just my thoughts ... share yours if you'd like.

******** one last point... The Bears suck, but someones gonna have a breakout season statically on this team. Who will it be?

 

[King of the Jungle]

Good topic. There has to be value found somewhere on the roster. I would be looking at Olsen or rookie Earl Bennett.

 

[The Man With No Name]

I wouldn't count on Bradley being healthy all season. His knee may not be good enough to start training camp, so I wouldn't even count on him being a starter at the beginning of the season. Rashied Davis has been the best wr during offseason workouts and he will see more action for sure. Hester is hard to figure for me. Wouldn't surprise me if Bennett ended up being the top rookie wr in the league because of his situation.

 

[Anthony Borbely]

It's hard to say, but with the Bears still not having a QB, the entire offense is a train-wreck.

I'm staying away.

 

[Couch Potato]

The FF world is asleep when it comes to Devin Hester. Completely asleep.

A real shame too that FBG staff rankings are no better. A chance to demonstrate some vision, but instead, except for a couple guys ranking him in the 40s, they are pretty much all asleep too.

Hester is the guy you want folks.

 

[Tenacious D]

Allocating Berrian and Moose's numbers:

Booker - 50 receptions

Bennett - 30 receptions

Olsen - 20 more receptions

opponents - 20 more

ground - 80 more

 

[offdee]

The FF world is asleep when it comes to Devin Hester. Completely asleep. A real shame too that FBG staff rankings are no better. A chance to demonstrate some vision, but instead, except for a couple guys ranking him in the 40s, they are pretty much all asleep too.Hester is the guy you want folks.

I completely agree with this.I just have this gut feeling that Hester is going to break out in a big way this year. The "it" factor that he has is going to be undeniable once given the opportunity.

 

[Scooby1974]

Allocating Berrian and Moose's numbers:

Booker - 50 receptions

Bennett - 30 receptions

Olsen - 20 more receptions

opponents - 20 more

ground - 80 more

 

[foxco]

I think Earl Bennett is going to pay dividends for the Bears starting this year. Maybe not a great fantasy WR yet but IMO he's going to be the best WR on the team within a year or two.

 

[buck naked]

First off, Maven, the Bears will definitely be abysmal. Take it from a Bears homer. But this is a good topic because I wrote off any Bears for fantasy purposes, but you are causing me to think twice.

Olsen ought to be a great value because his targets should improve tremendously. Somebody has to catch the ball, and at 6'4" he will be the best receiver on the team. Hester is still learning to catch the ball and run routes. Whether he can take dramatic leaps forward remains to be seen. He has tremendous athletic ability, but he is not the brightest bulb in his interviews.

 

[Couch Potato]

The FF world is asleep when it comes to Devin Hester. Completely asleep.

A real shame too that FBG staff rankings are no better. A chance to demonstrate some vision, but instead, except for a couple guys ranking him in the 40s, they are pretty much all asleep too.

Hester is the guy you want folks.

I completely agree with this.I just have this gut feeling that Hester is going to break out in a big way this year. The "it" factor that he has is going to be undeniable once given the opportunity.

Exactly. And the Bears' coaches have already said that opportunity is here. They have stated their intent to triple his snaps on offense this year, and they have stated on several occasions their intent that he become the team's WR1 in time. I believe that time will come sooner rather than later.To those who continue to avoid all Bears offensive players because of questionable QB talent, you need to also avoid all Chiefs (Bowe), Vikings (Berrian, Rice), Falcons (R White, L Robinson), Jets (Coles, Cotchery), Ravens (Mason, Clayton, D Williams), Bills (Evans), Dolphins (Ginn), Raiders (Walker, Curry), and 49ers (Bruce, B Johnson).

The point I'm making here is that you don't run from uncertain situations. You figure out where the value lies and you grab it. If you limit yourself only to top level QBs all you do is limit your own opportunity for success. Didn't Berrian do OK last year with those same Bears QBs by the way?

 

[sholditch]

It all depends on who wins the starting QB job, and I beleive that will ultimately depend not on the play of either QB, who will be mediocre at best and downright awful at worst, but the line and the running game. If the Bears coaching staff believe that they can win with their o-line, running game, and defense, it's likely Orton will be picked to start (assuming a wide gulf doesn't establish itself between the two, which should have happened by now if it's ever going to). If Orton starts, Olsen and Bennett are going to be the value plays, though I wouldn't consider either more than a backup unless in a large league. Olsen and Bennett will excel more in the short game than anyone else the Bears have. If Grossman starts, then I think the good plays are probably Davis and Hester. Davis is familiar with Rex and vice versa, and Hester is the only receiver with the speed to catch Grossman's deep ball. The wildcard here is Monk. If he comes on really strong in camp and preseason, and the running game isn't that great, I could see him becoming a red-zone target for Grossman, and a possible deep threat.

Basically the only player you can count on with any confidence is Olsen, and even then I wouldn't expect much. I bet Clark will be a good value TE2 in deep leagues as well.

ETA: About Hester, count me as a lifelong Bears fan that just doesn't buy him ever becoming a WR1 in this league. This will only be his second year playing the position, he can't block, he isn't physical enough to get off the blocks, he's too short to outjump anyone, and he simply isn't a very good route runner. He would be a very good situational receiver, but I doubt he ever excels in a full-time role. People love to compare him to Steve Smith because of his size and speed, but the reason Smith is so good is that he is one of the best underneath and short-route receivers in the league. Hester is a long, long way off from that.

 

[gianmarco]

The FF world is asleep when it comes to Devin Hester. Completely asleep.

A real shame too that FBG staff rankings are no better. A chance to demonstrate some vision, but instead, except for a couple guys ranking him in the 40s, they are pretty much all asleep too.

Hester is the guy you want folks.

I completely agree with this.I just have this gut feeling that Hester is going to break out in a big way this year. The "it" factor that he has is going to be undeniable once given the opportunity.

Exactly. And the Bears' coaches have already said that opportunity is here. They have stated their intent to triple his snaps on offense this year, and they have stated on several occasions their intent that he become the team's WR1 in time. I believe that time will come sooner rather than later.To those who continue to avoid all Bears offensive players because of questionable QB talent, you need to also avoid all Chiefs (Bowe), Vikings (Berrian, Rice), Falcons (R White, L Robinson), Jets (Coles, Cotchery), Ravens (Mason, Clayton, D Williams), Bills (Evans), Dolphins (Ginn), Raiders (Walker, Curry), and 49ers (Bruce, B Johnson).

The point I'm making here is that you don't run from uncertain situations. You figure out where the value lies and you grab it. If you limit yourself only to top level QBs all you do is limit your own opportunity for success. Didn't Berrian do OK last year with those same Bears QBs by the way?

 

[Nathan R. Jessep]

Assuming Booker hasn't lost a step, I think he will surprise with him being back in familiar territory, though with a questionable QB situation (and that's putting it nicely).

 

[valhallan]

To those who continue to avoid all Bears offensive players because of questionable QB talent, you need to also avoid all Chiefs (Bowe), Vikings (Berrian, Rice), Falcons (R White, L Robinson), Jets (Coles, Cotchery), Ravens (Mason, Clayton, D Williams), Bills (Evans), Dolphins (Ginn), Raiders (Walker, Curry), and 49ers (Bruce, B Johnson).

My receiving corps last year + Roy Williams. It wasn't a pretty season.

As for the topic, I hesitate on Hester because I have no idea if he can get off the jam at the line of scrimmage. I think Booker is a solid play and Bradley has shown flashes but his injury history is troublesome. I would bet either Hester or Bennett enjoy a 50+ catch season opposite of Booker and I'm leaning toward Bennett due to his slightly larger frame and experience going up against SEC corners.

 

[ookook]

Count me as a doubter of Hester as a WR1 in terms of what coverage he gets, but he may get a few TDs that is for sure.

I just took Booker in the 15th round and didn't look back.

 

[ookook]

I also took Olsen at the end of the 16th.

 

[Rounders]

The FF world is asleep when it comes to Devin Hester. Completely asleep. A real shame too that FBG staff rankings are no better. A chance to demonstrate some vision, but instead, except for a couple guys ranking him in the 40s, they are pretty much all asleep too.Hester is the guy you want folks.

Very I'm targetting Hester as a late round draft pick for my squad.

 

[Couch Potato]

Hester appears to be a very polarizing player this year. Folks either believe or they don't. It will be interesting to see how it unfolds.

 

[-X-]

LOL at the Hester doubters... He'll step it up in large fashion this season. 60-70 catches seems reasonable, which is around 4 catches per game on average.

I like Monk, but from the highlights I reviewed, he didn't appear to be physical enough, just like Berrian when he first arrived; a project. I see Bennett as our future Booker.

Oh, and don't forget about Rashied Davis...

Really looking forward to camp to see how things shake out.

 

[cphk96]

I think Clark and Olsen will see a lot of targets.

Our QB's need safety valves when the pressure is on them.

Hester is an unknown in the WR position. He is gifted in the running dept, but he needs to

hone his WR skills, ie: route running, getting off the line efficiently. He can be a good target for

Grossman for the deep ball, but outside of that...

I hope I am wrong, I am a Bears fan

 

[sholditch]

For the Hester camp, other than his speed, what qualities does he possess that make you think he can be a no. 1 wr?

 

[AnonymousBob]

LOL at the Hester doubters... He'll step it up in large fashion this season. 60-70 catches seems reasonable, which is around 4 catches per game on average.I like Monk, but from the highlights I reviewed, he didn't appear to be physical enough, just like Berrian when he first arrived; a project. I see Bennett as our future Booker.Oh, and don't forget about Rashied Davis...Really looking forward to camp to see how things shake out.

So Monk isn't physical enough but Hester is???

 

[AnonymousBob]

For the Hester camp, other than his speed, what qualities does he possess that make you think he can be a no. 1 wr?

I've yet to snag a seat on the Hester bandwagon but my guess would be his incredible ability to make anyone and everyone miss. Get him the ball and a few yards of open space!

 

[-X-]

So Monk isn't physical enough but Hester is???

On one play I reviewed, Monk shied away from (i.e., did not go up for the ball against) two defenders downfield at the goal line, yet was lucky enough to catch the ball when it caromed off one of them. From what I've seen, Hester is not afraid to go up after balls with defenders in his grill.

 

[the turnip]

Lose your top two wideouts and starting RB, but keep your awful QB?

Who benefits? That would be the rest of the NFC North.

Seriously, have the Bears secretly hired Matt Millen?

 

[sholditch]

So Monk isn't physical enough but Hester is???

On one play I reviewed, Monk shied away from (i.e., did not go up for the ball against) two defenders downfield at the goal line, yet was lucky enough to catch the ball when it caromed off one of them. From what I've seen, Hester is not afraid to go up after balls with defenders in his grill.

I watched Monk his entire career in the SEC and he was known for his toughness, vertical leap, and his ability to come down with the ball in a crowd. Also, I think he's got about 6-7 inches of height on Hester.Again for the Hester crowd, if speed and the ability to make people miss are the only attributes needed to make a good NFL WR, why wasn't Dante Hall (considered the top return man in the league by a wide margin for years) more of a success at WR?

 

[offdee]

For the Hester camp, other than his speed, what qualities does he possess that make you think he can be a no. 1 wr?

Hester is just a pure athlete...plain and simple. He's always had the speed and hands, but unfortunately his main hurdle will be gaining the time to grasp the playbook and nuiances of the position as it's been mentioned already that he's not the brightest bulb. Once he gets that and comfort/confidence that he knows what he is doing, than the athleticism can just take over and sky is the limit from there. Because teams have been so eager to get this weapon on the field, coaches have never devoted enough time for him to ever learn one position....and unfortunately Hester's learning curve is a bit longer than others. That's why he's so dangerous as a Kick/Punt returner. "Devin, just catch the ball and run your ### off to the other endzone"....not much thinking involved in that. His confidence is there to do that and he dominates.In college he was Kick/Punt returner, Defensive Back, Wide Reciever and Running Back all in 3 years time. By the time the coaches realized his forte would be on the offensive side of the ball and started devotely working with him there, he declared for the NFL. That leads us to where we are presently....the learning curve is starting to shorten at the WR position and I believe we'll gradually start to see those dividends over the next few years.

 

[sholditch]

For the Hester camp, other than his speed, what qualities does he possess that make you think he can be a no. 1 wr?

Hester is just a pure athlete...plain and simple. He's always had the speed and hands, but unfortunately his main hurdle will be gaining the time to grasp the playbook and nuiances of the position as it's been mentioned already that he's not the brightest bulb. Once he gets that and comfort/confidence that he knows what he is doing, than the athleticism can just take over and sky is the limit from there. Because teams have been so eager to get this weapon on the field, coaches have never devoted enough time for him to ever learn one position....and unfortunately Hester's learning curve is a bit longer than others. That's why he's so dangerous as a Kick/Punt returner. "Devin, just catch the ball and run your ### off to the other endzone"....not much thinking involved in that. His confidence is there to do that and he dominates.

In college he was Kick/Punt returner, Defensive Back, Wide Reciever and Running Back all in 3 years time. By the time the coaches realized his forte would be on the offensive side of the ball and started devotely working with him there, he declared for the NFL.

That leads us to where we are presently....the learning curve is starting to shorten at the WR position and I believe we'll gradually start to see those dividends over the next few years.

Have you been watching the right Devin Hester? Dude has hands of stone. He's dropped more punts and kickoffs than, IIRC, any other kick/punt returner in the NFL. Dude has terrible, terrible hands. Ask any real Bears fan.

 

[LHUCKS]

Hint: I've selected Booker in the late rounds in 2 of my 4 drafts this year.

 

[AnonymousBob]

Hint: I've selected Booker in the late rounds in 2 of my 4 drafts this year.

Hester it is!

 

[offdee]

Have you been watching the right Devin Hester? Dude has hands of stone. He's dropped more punts and kickoffs than, IIRC, any other kick/punt returner in the NFL. Dude has terrible, terrible hands. Ask any real Bears fan.

Catching a pass from a QB and fielding a punt/kickoff are two extremely different animals and skill sets. Different trajectory, different speeds, different ball spins, etc. How many passes from QB did he drop from his targets last year?

 

[BuckeyeArt]

For the Hester camp, other than his speed, what qualities does he possess that make you think he can be a no. 1 wr?

Hester is just a pure athlete...plain and simple. He's always had the speed and hands, but unfortunately his main hurdle will be gaining the time to grasp the playbook and nuiances of the position as it's been mentioned already that he's not the brightest bulb. Once he gets that and comfort/confidence that he knows what he is doing, than the athleticism can just take over and sky is the limit from there. Because teams have been so eager to get this weapon on the field, coaches have never devoted enough time for him to ever learn one position....and unfortunately Hester's learning curve is a bit longer than others. That's why he's so dangerous as a Kick/Punt returner. "Devin, just catch the ball and run your ### off to the other endzone"....not much thinking involved in that. His confidence is there to do that and he dominates.

In college he was Kick/Punt returner, Defensive Back, Wide Reciever and Running Back all in 3 years time. By the time the coaches realized his forte would be on the offensive side of the ball and started devotely working with him there, he declared for the NFL.

That leads us to where we are presently....the learning curve is starting to shorten at the WR position and I believe we'll gradually start to see those dividends over the next few years.

NFLDraftScout wrote that up a little differently:

Hamstring problems and subpar play saw Hester bounce from cornerback to wide receiver to tailback in 2005, as the coaching staff struggled to find him a home. He only made 11 solo tackles with an interception on defense, adding 94 yards on 15 carries and 55 yards on five receptions on offense.

and

Lacks route awareness, as he fails to uncover...Struggles to escape press coverage due to a lack of strength and marginal hand usage...Has marginal courage going for the pass in traffic (plays small), generally losing focus on the ball when he "hears the feet" of defenders closing on him...Poor route-runner who rounds his cuts and gathers at times...Has not really learned how to use his quickness to pop out of cuts to get separation...When not involved in the play, he is quick to throttle down...Shows little desire to face up as a blocker in pass protection (just hangs on and gets rejected too often)...Good leaper, but appears hesitant in attempts to combat for the ball...

While few in college could match Hester's speed and equal his return skills, that is his only asset at the moment. He seems to rely too much on his speed to make things happen. He has no knowledge of route-running, nor does he show a desire to learn. Thus, he has bounced from position to position in attempts to find his niche on the field.

Put me in the non-believer camp.

 

[-X-]

Sure, bring up a scouting report from over two years ago, when Hester was juggling several different positions. The guy has improved since then, period. Check the Eagles game last year when Hester made a key overhead pluck to set up the game-winning TD to Muhammad. That was clutch. There was another game when he made at least four catches on one drive near the end of the game (exactly which one escapes me right now).

Suggesting that a player never improves over time is quite ridiculous.

Someone with archived footage should make a video of all Hester's 2007 WR targets (38 from OP) and post it.

 

[-X-]

Dude has terrible, terrible hands.

Oh, FFS, stop exaggerating already. I suppose he fumbled all those TDs he ran back too.

 

[BuckeyeArt]

Sure, bring up a scouting report from over two years ago, when Hester was juggling several different positions.

The suggestion was made that he juggled several positions in college. DraftScout described what happened in college. It was poor play that caused him to move around. Why would a newer source be better at describing what happened in college?

Suggesting that a player never improves over time is quite ridiculous.

I'm not at all suggesting he can't improve. He just has a lot more work to do just to catch up to those who played WR in college. I don't see that happening in just one year.

 

[TitusIII]

For the Hester camp, other than his speed, what qualities does he possess that make you think he can be a no. 1 wr?

Hester is just a pure athlete...plain and simple. He's always had the speed and hands, but unfortunately his main hurdle will be gaining the time to grasp the playbook and nuiances of the position as it's been mentioned already that he's not the brightest bulb. Once he gets that and comfort/confidence that he knows what he is doing, than the athleticism can just take over and sky is the limit from there. Because teams have been so eager to get this weapon on the field, coaches have never devoted enough time for him to ever learn one position....and unfortunately Hester's learning curve is a bit longer than others. That's why he's so dangerous as a Kick/Punt returner. "Devin, just catch the ball and run your ### off to the other endzone"....not much thinking involved in that. His confidence is there to do that and he dominates.

In college he was Kick/Punt returner, Defensive Back, Wide Reciever and Running Back all in 3 years time. By the time the coaches realized his forte would be on the offensive side of the ball and started devotely working with him there, he declared for the NFL.

That leads us to where we are presently....the learning curve is starting to shorten at the WR position and I believe we'll gradually start to see those dividends over the next few years.

Have you been watching the right Devin Hester? Dude has hands of stone. He's dropped more punts and kickoffs than, IIRC, any other kick/punt returner in the NFL. Dude has terrible, terrible hands. Ask any real Bears fan.

I believe his hands are average, nothing special, but good enough to warrant consideration as a possible #1/#2 WR down the line due to his other-wordly athletic ability. Towards the end of the season, I thought he showing significant improvement as a WR. 20 receptions for 300 yards and 2 TD's isn't something to write home about and he certainly has issues when he tries to do too much, but that usually comes with the package when you're dealing with an athlete of Hester's calibre. It's far from a lock to expect Hester to reach his ceiling as a WR, but I'm buying low in dynasty leagues on the outside chance he does. Regarding Olsen...I believe he is one of the best values in FF2008, and a safe bet for a top 5-7 finish at his position. Watching the debacle known as the Bears offense over the past three years has made it fairly obvious that Grossman(and Ron Turner) utilize the TE position at fairly high level. Grossman has his shortcomings, but seems to be more than capable of finding an open TE. Whether this is mostly Grossman or Turner, I can't say, but it appears to be one of the saving graces of Grossman's NFL career. Check Dez Clark's solid performances(66 targets in 2007) over the past two years, and Greg Olsen's 40 receptions(also had 66 targets) last year for some proof of this ability.

Considering Clark's age(31), the selection of TE Kellen Davis, and Olsen's knee injury that limited his playing time(missed two games) and athletic ability over the course of the 2007 season, I'm thinking Olsen should receive significantly more targets in 2008. Taking Ron Turner's ability to set up his TE's for TD's into consideration, I'd be shocked if Olsen did not explode in 2008.

 

[teamroc]

LOL at the Hester doubters... He'll step it up in large fashion this season. 60-70 catches seems reasonable, which is around 4 catches per game on average.I like Monk, but from the highlights I reviewed, he didn't appear to be physical enough, just like Berrian when he first arrived; a project. I see Bennett as our future Booker.Oh, and don't forget about Rashied Davis...Really looking forward to camp to see how things shake out.

60-70 catches for his career? Or this year? You gotta be kidding me. He runs one route. Otherwise it's a screen/handoff. 40 catches would be a huge success for him this year IMHO.

 

[southeastjerome]

I love Hester's potential, but he has several obstacles to overcome; his hands, his route running, and the guy throwing him the ball. I really think the Bears got a steal in Monk. Not that he'll be huge this year, but I think in the next few years he'll be a player.

 

[pizzatyme]

So, from what I've seen in this thread thus far:

Hester is a better WR than Berrian

Hester will succeed as a WR if given a few yards of open space

Hester will be good because the coaches want him to be a #1 WR

Hester has the "IT" factor and is an athlete, so he'll be a good WR1

I'm reminded of another great return man who never panned out at WR. His name? Dante Hall. Hall played with a better QB on a better team and also had the "IT" factor. How many WR1s are out there with a few yards of open space? Is Hester even close to any of their talent level?

There is a reason Hester wasn't a top WR coming into the league.

But for those on the bandwagon, please continue on! I'll use his ADP to secure real talent once he is gone.

 

[gianmarco]

So, from what I've seen in this thread thus far:Hester is a better WR than BerrianHester will succeed as a WR if given a few yards of open spaceHester will be good because the coaches want him to be a #1 WRHester has the "IT" factor and is an athlete, so he'll be a good WR1I'm reminded of another great return man who never panned out at WR. His name? Dante Hall. Hall played with a better QB on a better team and also had the "IT" factor. How many WR1s are out there with a few yards of open space? Is Hester even close to any of their talent level?There is a reason Hester wasn't a top WR coming into the league. But for those on the bandwagon, please continue on! I'll use his ADP to secure real talent once he is gone.

Big difference is that Dante Hall was never a starting WR. He was mostly used in 3+ WR sets and gadget plays. There is a real chance that Hester is a starting WR (#1 or #2). I'm reminded of another great return man who DID pan out at WR. His name is Steve Smith. And while Smith is an elite talented WR today, one of the "routes" he runs best is catching an immediate screen pass and letting him do the work. No reason it can't work for Hester either.Not saying Hester = Smith by any stretch and the chances of that happening or considerably lower than him busting. But to write him off before he's had the opportunity is a bit premature in my book. I doubt many people predicted what Smith would be able to do after starting in the league primarily as a PR/KR.

 

[Jeff Tefertiller]

Booker and Bennett are the ones I am targeting. Do I think Hester will make some big plays? sure. Do I think there will be any predictability? No way. I do not think he will get the targets to be reliable for fantasy owners.

 

[Duckboy]

Booker and Bennett are the ones I am targeting. Do I think Hester will make some big plays? sure. Do I think there will be any predictability? No way. I do not think he will get the targets to be reliable for fantasy owners.

Booker should get most of Moose's looks. Bennett should get significant targets, with an increase to Olsen and slightly to Dez. They will try to get Hester involved as he is a playmaker, but he will be very hit or miss in my opinion.I still think, if he can overcome the injuries, that Bradley has the best shot as a WR1, but he definitely needs to get on track this year or his window will be closing.

 

[Max Power]

Hester will make a very average WR in the NFL. He has average hands, very poor blocking, runs very poor routes. Still needs to learn the playbook.

Returning kicks and playing WR two totally different things. Hester couldn't even make his college team as a WR and yet some want to call him the next Steve Smith.

Lets also not forget the quality of players he will be up against on a starting D. Not quite the same as the punt coverage team, if you get what I am saying.

 

[Beaumont]

Soooo ... what distinguishes Devin Hester's situation from 2004-2005 Dante Hall (other than 2 inches and 2 or so pounds)?

 

[Beaumont]

So, from what I've seen in this thread thus far:Hester is a better WR than BerrianHester will succeed as a WR if given a few yards of open spaceHester will be good because the coaches want him to be a #1 WRHester has the "IT" factor and is an athlete, so he'll be a good WR1I'm reminded of another great return man who never panned out at WR. His name? Dante Hall. Hall played with a better QB on a better team and also had the "IT" factor. How many WR1s are out there with a few yards of open space? Is Hester even close to any of their talent level?There is a reason Hester wasn't a top WR coming into the league. But for those on the bandwagon, please continue on! I'll use his ADP to secure real talent once he is gone.

Big difference is that Dante Hall was never a starting WR. He was mostly used in 3+ WR sets and gadget plays. There is a real chance that Hester is a starting WR (#1 or #2). I'm reminded of another great return man who DID pan out at WR. His name is Steve Smith. And while Smith is an elite talented WR today, one of the "routes" he runs best is catching an immediate screen pass and letting him do the work. No reason it can't work for Hester either.Not saying Hester = Smith by any stretch and the chances of that happening or considerably lower than him busting. But to write him off before he's had the opportunity is a bit premature in my book. I doubt many people predicted what Smith would be able to do after starting in the league primarily as a PR/KR.

Hester will not be a full time WR either. He is too involved in the return game and he cant block worth a crap. Hall actually did start 6/16 games as a WR for KC in 2004.

 

[gianmarco]

So, from what I've seen in this thread thus far:

Hester is a better WR than Berrian

Hester will succeed as a WR if given a few yards of open space

Hester will be good because the coaches want him to be a #1 WR

Hester has the "IT" factor and is an athlete, so he'll be a good WR1

I'm reminded of another great return man who never panned out at WR. His name? Dante Hall. Hall played with a better QB on a better team and also had the "IT" factor. How many WR1s are out there with a few yards of open space? Is Hester even close to any of their talent level?

There is a reason Hester wasn't a top WR coming into the league.

But for those on the bandwagon, please continue on! I'll use his ADP to secure real talent once he is gone.

Big difference is that Dante Hall was never a starting WR. He was mostly used in 3+ WR sets and gadget plays. There is a real chance that Hester is a starting WR (#1 or #2). I'm reminded of another great return man who DID pan out at WR. His name is Steve Smith. And while Smith is an elite talented WR today, one of the "routes" he runs best is catching an immediate screen pass and letting him do the work. No reason it can't work for Hester either.

Not saying Hester = Smith by any stretch and the chances of that happening or considerably lower than him busting. But to write him off before he's had the opportunity is a bit premature in my book. I doubt many people predicted what Smith would be able to do after starting in the league primarily as a PR/KR.

Hester will not be a full time WR either. He is too involved in the return game and he cant block worth a crap. Hall actually did start 6/16 games as a WR for KC in 2004.

Says who? You? The Bear's coaching staff? So far from what I've read, it seems he WILL be a full-time WR. The question of whether or not he will continue PR/KR duties has already come up. That doesn't sound like something a part-time WR does. For those saying he can't block and can't run routes, have you guys been at Bear's practices? Or are you speaking from the past before he spent considerably more time working at being a WR? Is it not possible for him to improve on some of these things? Again, we've seen a good # of PR/KR guys try their hand at WR and fail and that's fresh on most people's minds. But, for the most part, those guys remain as PR/KR and add in some WR. From all accounts that I've read, Hester is not just going to try it out like last year but is actually slated to be a starting WR unless 2 of these guys pass him up. And, apparently, he's worked a considerable amount on how to be a WR and reports are that he's done very well. Yes, yes, I know, it's May/June, it's early, yada yada, but by the same token it's too early to dismiss the fact that he could indeed have improved and may be the Bear's starting WR on day 1.

What I don't get is that there seems to be 2 camps of people. Those who think it's POSSIBLE that he can do something and those that think it's NOT POSSIBLE. Just because myself and others are saying he COULD do it doesn't mean I think he WILL do it. I think the chances of him being a legit fantasy producer aren't very good, but I think it's POSSIBLE. Some of you others have completely written off that possibility as non-existent before the guy has ever even had a chance at the starting role. Not a big deal as in the end we'll probably be talking about a bye-week fill-in at best, but I just find it interesting how some people see a guy like Dante Hall and immediately compare Hester to him while ignoring a similar situation in Steve Smith and say it's not possible.

 

[Almas_4th_Child]

For the Hester camp, other than his speed, what qualities does he possess that make you think he can be a no. 1 wr?

How about his Curl routes in which he was wide open b/c CB's didn't want to get beat deep last season.AndHis dig routes vs the Eagles....in which the same thing occured.

 

[Almas_4th_Child]

Lose your top two wideouts and starting RB, but keep your awful QB?Who benefits? That would be the rest of the NFC North.Seriously, have the Bears secretly hired Matt Millen?

Top two wideouts.....like either of them have ever.....ever had 1,000 yard receiving for the bears.Starting RB....that never had 1000 yards rushing and was a bust.And lost Griese...who hasn't done anything since denver.Sounds like a team that knows when to cut dead weight to me.

 

[treat88]

I don't think the question is whether it is POSSIBLE Hester will produce significant numbers from the WR spot, the question is whether it is LIKELY.

One's judgment on that likelihood will drive where you pick the guy. For me, it sounds like he will be long gone before he falls to a spot where I would select him. However, he is exactly the kind of player I would be filling my roster with in the end rounds if available; high upside, low risk.

There is definitely value to be had out of the Bears WR corps, but that value is more probable to be as a FF WR 4/5 than a WR 1/2. Draft/bid accordingly and you might have a valuable bye-week fill-in. Expect more and you'll probably be disappointed.

Additionally, I'm not sure why any argument supporting the thought that Hester will be a viable NFL WR, would not also apply to Josh Cribbs. He is just as dynamic a return man as Hester (numbers don't lie) and seems to have an equivalent shot at PT with JJ going down. Anyone clamoring for Hester should be targeting Cribbs as well.