Ask Windy City Gridiron

by ChiFan13 on Dec 3, 2008 1:22 PM EST Comment 19 comments

Greeting Big Cat Country,

I help the head blogger at WCG, and I'm here to answer any questions you have about the Bears. After getting dominated on national television, it's been a rough week. Between injuries and bad play, we've been struggling lately. It looks like this is a must-win for both teams, even if it's just for morale's sake.

Regardless, I'm looking forward to answering any and all questions you have!

- ChiFan13

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So what has happened to Devin Hester?

After he took the opening kickoff back for a touchdown in the Super Bowl and prompting me to put another $500 on Da Bears, seems like he’s gone off the face of the Earth.

"I smoke. If this bothers anyone, I suggest you look around at the world in which we live and shut your mouth."-Bill Hicks

by FSBlueApocalypse on Dec 3, 2008 1:25 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

yeah...

it looks like the bears have just turned him into a average receiver

by jlana24 on Dec 3, 2008 1:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for the welcome!

God save me, I have no idea.

As I wrote for a piece on Monday morning, Hester is running scared. He has admitted that he’s thinking too much, and that’s the biggest understatement of the entire year. I don’t know if you saw the game on Sunday night, but there was a punt that Hester could have run 10 yards north and then see what happens. Instead, he ran east and back and lost some yards on the return. Lovie Smith needs to just put him at WR and leave him there.

I have been advocating (along with some other members of WCG) that Danieal Manning do all the returns. Imagine Hester back in the day, and that’s Manning. Quick, speedy, and agile. But, I’m almost 100% positive at this point that you’ll see Hester on punt returns and Manning on kickoffs.

I'M A MAN! I'M 22!

by ChiFan13 on Dec 3, 2008 1:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

What!?

You really think Manning should do all the returning? No disrespect for Manning, and I haven’t seen Hester that much this year, so I could be off base here, but how could you possibly NOT want the greatest returner to ever play the game returning your kicks? I mean, that’s like the Vikings saying they want Chester Taylor running the ball everytime instead of AD. When I saw that Hester wasn’t returning kickoffs I had to assume that Bears fans were calling for Lovie Smith’s head for not having Hester back there. And now I hear you saying you don’t want him returning anything? I’m absolutely baffled! If you’re not going to use him like you should, let him be a game changer for another team.

by Nebraska Jag on Dec 3, 2008 4:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

lol

I’ve gotten that reaction before.

I’ve watched every Bears game this year, and Hester has been either trying to be cute or running scared. He runs east and west, rather than north. He hasn’t done ANYTHING on returns this year. This is coming from a Hester fan, BTW. Most of us, when we saw Manning back returning, were elated.

I’m not joking when I say that I want Manning returning kicks for the rest of the year. Manning runs without fear, Hester runs with it. Manning gains yards (and has almost broken 3 TD runs), and Hester loses them. Hester hasn’t gotten close to sniffing a TD run. I’m not saying that Manning should be returning all kicks next year, but think about it. We have no WR’s. Hester is our #1, for cryin out loud. Manning doesn’t really have a position. Makes more sense to shut down Hester for the year, let him get his head back in the offseason, and try again next season.

I'M A MAN! I'M 22!

by ChiFan13 on Dec 3, 2008 4:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

He's playing the jags sunday

Chances are high Hester breaks one against who else, Our jags!

by harveyismyboy on Dec 3, 2008 8:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'll put five bucks down...

that Manning does.

Is your ST unit bad?

I'M A MAN! I'M 22!

by ChiFan13 on Dec 3, 2008 8:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Not at all

They haven’t given up anything close to return so I think harvey’s just talking out of depression.

by SoCalStites on Dec 3, 2008 8:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

haha harvey is not my boy, SoCal is! AHA!

But honestly, we have the best ST in the league dude. look at stats.

by harveyismyboy on Dec 3, 2008 9:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Don't doubt ya

But if I had to bet which person could or would break one against you, I’d bet on Manning hands down.

I'M A MAN! I'M 22!

by ChiFan13 on Dec 3, 2008 9:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Greatest returner to ever play the game?

He’s not even the best kick returner in the game right now. Even in his phenomenal rookie year he was a great punt returner, but just a good kickoff returner. When it comes to kickoffs, I’d take Joshua Cribbs. Also, did you forget about Deion Sanders?

by SoCalStites on Dec 3, 2008 4:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

One TD away from breaking the record

So yeah, I would call him that.

I'M A MAN! I'M 22!

by ChiFan13 on Dec 3, 2008 4:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

This is the most flawed arguement

you cannot compare Cribbs with Hester until teams are altering their strategies for Cribbs. Of course Cribbs looks better and has the numbers to back it up, he is being given the opportunity to return three times as many than Hester.

Being Who You Thought We Were Since 2005!

by Adam T on Dec 3, 2008 5:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

Hester doesn’t even get a chance anymore. It’s too bad, I want him to break the record. I can understand your argument for Manning, but I’d still leave Hester back there just on principle. He’ll settle down. Maybe he’s just trying to trick other teams into thinking he’s not a threat anymore so they’ll actually kick it to him.

And no, I didn’t forget about Deion Sanders.

Top 3
1. Devin Hester
2. Billy “White Shoes” Johson
3. Deion Sanders
(I bet you Bears fans see a lot of best kick returner lists)

by Nebraska Jag on Dec 3, 2008 5:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I Disagree

You’re basing the whole idea that he is the best on the one spectacular season he had. That was the single greatest season for a kick returner, yes, but someone getting on a roll doesn’t show that he is the best to ever play the position. Just two years later they’re not even having him field the kickoffs. The best ever could at least hold the spot.

by SoCalStites on Dec 3, 2008 5:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Two seasons

I'M A MAN! I'M 22!

by ChiFan13 on Dec 3, 2008 5:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

No...

It’s based on 2 seasons. And yes, it’ll be a major disappointment if he never has another season like either of those. But you can still be the greatest at something, even if it is only for 2 seasons. And when it comes to kick returners, it’s hard to do it for a long time because it’s a position that the other team can somewhat control. The other team can’t control whether you give the ball to your running back all the time, but the other team can decide whether they’re going to kick it to someone or not. The fact that teams started kicking away from him so quickly is proof of his greatness.

by Nebraska Jag on Dec 3, 2008 6:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs