Devin Hester hasn’t looked good this year. He hasn’t looked good returning kicks, punts and his transformation from full-time special teams player to wide receiver has been slow to say the least.
That said – give the guy a break.
There’s a swelling of local writers in Chicago that are breaking their necks leaping off the Devin Hester bandwagon. One writer from the Chicago Tribune recently wrote that the Bears look awfully smart for not handing Hester a huge contract this offseason and for the most part, he’s right.
Obviously Hester doesn’t look anywhere close to being a No. 1 receiver. But maybe that’s because he was a freaking cornerback when he was drafted and had no concept on how to run proper routes or how to read coverages.
Hester is still learning how to become a good wideout and it’s not surprising that his return skills have taken a back seat as he tries to focus on becoming a receiver (something the Bears wanted him to become don’t forget). If the Bears weren’t so cheap and actually went out and got some real receivers in the offseason, maybe Hester could focus more on his return skills and less on becoming the team’s deep threat. But Jerry Angelo and the rest of Chicago’s front office never wants to pony up so in turn they (as well as the media) need to relax while Hester learns the nuances of the position.
Also, is it so far-fetched to think that the rest of the league has finally wised up to how to defend Hester on kick returns? The NFL is a copycat league and if one team has success defending him, than others catch on and implement similar tactics. It’s not rocket science.
He was the entire Bears offense for two full seasons. But because he’s struggled for eight games this year people are ready to call him ordinary. Anyone who watched the Falcons game knows that he has the talent to become a decent wideout. Give him a chance.
