Noots’ Notes: 2010 Preseason (WR)
Noots’ Notes: 2010 Preseason (WR)
By Michael Nudo
The Bears head into preseason with some perplexing positional battles to consider. Instead of focusing on the battles themselves, I’m a bit curious as to the reasoning behind the current depth chart. What? Yeah, let’s dig in and see who is crazy from the summer heat. Is it me? Or is it them? What follows is a series of key positions that have clear question marks at the top of the depth chart.
How is this guy not starting? (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
OFFENSE
Wide Receiver:
They’re telling us the starters today are Devin Hester and Johnny Knox. Knox has amazing receiving skills and blazing speed. Hester can turn any missed tackle into six points. Mike Martz’s system is dependent upon receivers being where they need to be and at the right time. Quarterback and receiver need to make the same reads when seeing the same alignments and adjustments. This is a relationship built on trust. If you were going to ask me who fits that mold best for the Bears, I’d say your starting receivers would be Earl Bennett and Devin Aromashodu.
Earl Bennett was the Bears’ most consistent wide receiver last year. He doesn’t have great speed. He just runs excellent routes and catches just about everything. Further, he has a great knack for making the first guy miss after he makes a catch. Also in his favor is the relationship with Cutler from their days in college. Aromashodu was the Bears’ best receiver during the final month of the season. This came after Cutler’s campaigning for him to see the field ever since training camp. Yeah, I’m pretty sure Jay trusts Aromashodu. Am I making too much of this? Martz’s offense should have enough 3 and 4 wide sets to keep everyone involved. DA and Bennett should see plenty of action, and perhaps there will even be a time for Joaquin Iglesias to see some action.
I don’t have so much of a problem with Knox being anointed as one of the starters. The point here is simple. Although Devin Hester has great speed and decent hands, there hasn’t always been a great level of confidence in his ability to make quick decisions at a position that’s still pretty new to him. He’ll be learning a new offense, and that might come easier to guys who have learned several offenses before. How many times has Hester needed to learn an offense from the ground up, going all the way back to college?
July 28th, 2010 at 1:14 pm
agree about Bennett. As for Aromashodu I’m still not convinced while he had a good end to the season I’d like to see him have more than a couple good games
July 29th, 2010 at 1:52 am
In the end, I have to wonder if being anointed a starter really matters in a Mike Martz offense. Won’t there likely be wide distribution of throws to at least 4 WRs? Maybe the starter label is good for contract incentives or something, but I’m wondering if we’ll see Aromashodu end up as #3 or maybe even displace Hester or Knox…as neither of them are really built to be sturdy & reliable for all 16 games.
August 2nd, 2010 at 12:14 am
I said when we were first moving Hester to WR…that I feared we were giving up the greatest return man in the history of the NFL, for a decent #3 reciever. I think the last few years have, unfortunately, proven that to be prophetic.
That having been said. Martz has talked a lot about Hester being a slot guy and focusing more on returns this year. And yeah, I think all should see plenty of action.
August 3rd, 2010 at 7:55 pm
Noots, I completely agree with you that DA’s potential and Bennett’s consistency is the most attractive pairing at the onset of this season. However, the initial pairing of Hester and Knox is predicated on the Martz offense wanting speed at receiver position. Given that, DA will get plenty of looks in this offense. Sadly, I think Bennett is going to get buried in the depth charts. Surely, Martz will be less inclined to run four receiver sets with the receiving talent we have at TE and RB. Right?