Greg Olsen (1 Viewer)

[Aaron Rudnicki]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/footb...,0,322228.story

Chicago Bears find teams scheming against Greg Olsen

Third-year tight end and club need to figure out how to break out

By Dan Pompei

Tribune reporter

October 30, 2009

If Greg Olsen could choose to have a super power, chances are he would not choose to be invisible. He already knows what that feels like.

This was supposed to be the season the third-year tight end broke out, but he is on pace to produce fewer catches and yards than he had a year ago.

Olsen is averaging 3.1 catches and 29.1 yards per game and is the fifth-leading receiver on the Bears. Twenty-two tight ends in the NFL have been more productive than the former first-round pick.

Why hasn't Olsen played like he practiced in training camp?

For the most part, it hasn't been anything Olsen has done or failed to do. Bears offensive coordinator Ron Turner said he is happy with how Olsen has run his routes and played but is frustrated the Bears offense hasn't been able to get more out of him.

In the Bears' loss to the Bengals on Sunday, Olsen was on the field less than usual because the Bears got out of their game plan after their second possession. For most of the game, they used their "Ruby" personnel package with only one tight end, and some of the time the tight end on the field was Dez Clark.

Turner regrets not playing Olsen more.

"That's not going to happen again," he said. "It's on us, and we've addressed it."

When he was on the field, Olsen made no big plays. He thought he had a chance at one, but one of Jay Cutler's passes to him was batted down at the line of scrimmage. On another possibility, Olsen and Cutler didn't read the play the same way, and the result was an interception. Olsen, reacting to the break of a cornerback, settled in one hole and Cutler, anticipating Olsen would settle in another hole, threw it where only a defender could catch it.

But those kinds of plays have not happened frequently.

In some ways, Olsen has been a victim of hype.

As a buzz built around Olsen in the offseason and in training camp, defenses took notice. They subsequently have changed the way they have played him -- and really that has been the biggest difference this season. Some defenses have built their game plans around containing Olsen.

It started in the opener in Green Bay. The Packers treated Olsen like a third wide receiver and played nickel personnel against the Bears' standard personnel with cornerback Charles Woodson lined up over Olsen.

Whenever the Bears played two tight ends, the Falcons used their nickel personnel and covered Olsen with either their nickel back or a cornerback, depending on if he lined up inside or outside.

Olsen also was the focal point of the Bengals' defensive game plan. When the Bears lined up with two backs, the Bengals tilted the safety toward Olsen. The team also used Chris Crocker to match up with Olsen because he is the Bengals' best cover safety.

Olsen also said he has seen defenders jam him more coming off the ball and then trying to disrupt his routes at the second level. This has prevented Olsen from making plays in the seams of zone coverages.

Last year, Olsen wasn't dealing with these issues as often. When the Bears faced man coverage in 2008, they often would shift or motion Olsen so he was matched up against a slower linebacker. This year, they haven't been able to get those matchups because defenses have played more zone, and when they have played man, they have made allowances for Olsen.

Is it any wonder Olsen has had only two catches of more than 20 yards and a career low 9.2 average per catch?

"A lot of people game plan for him because he is such a good player," said one defensive coach who faced the Bears recently. "Usually we try to do something with the best opposing players. We were very conscious of him, made sure we knew where he was going to be. That's part of what's going on with him."

But whatever defenses are doing to Olsen, they also are doing to other top tight ends. Now it's up to Olsen and the Bears to figure out how to overcome it.

 

[Rushmore]

The last sentence of the article is what I was thinking as I was reading through it.

 

[Fullback Fro]

If they are going to use LB's to cover him than he needs to use his speed to create separation. If they are going to use nicklebacks and safeties to cover him he should using his size to block out and leap to the ball. Not sure why the Bears coaching staff hasn't created more plays for him to excel. I was in the camp that though a breakout year was coming.

 

[ScottNorwood]

I think it's more likely that he's just less good than everyone thinks

 

[TheWheel]

I think the problem is that he doesn't have the players around him to keep the defense from keying on him. Hester and Knox just aren't good enough. Also, the fact that Forte hasn't been able to do his job (whether or not that is his fault or someone elses, I don't know) really allows the defense to control the game. The games they've won have pretty much been on Cutler's ability. I'll also say that this may well be the fault of the Bears coaching staff and playcalling. They have never really been any good.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

I think the problem is that he doesn't have the players around him to keep the defense from keying on him. Hester and Knox just aren't good enough. Also, the fact that Forte hasn't been able to do his job (whether or not that is his fault or someone elses, I don't know) really allows the defense to control the game. The games they've won have pretty much been on Cutler's ability. I'll also say that this may well be the fault of the Bears coaching staff and playcalling. They have never really been any good.

Actually I was thinking that the problem for Olsen is Cutler's having a lot more success going to Hester, Knox and Bennett (and his fellow TE by the way) than some ever thought he would.

 

[thatguythere]

I was wondering why he was standing on the sideline last week. Just the fact that he is admitting they needed to correct the situation sounds like they don't know what to do with him in the first place.

Why would he be out of the game in any situation? I don't get the excuse that they were using the "ruby" formation and sometimes the one TE was Dez Clark. Doesn't make sense to me.