I know this off season hasn't been as dismal as others in the past, but forgive me if I'm not doing cartwheels about Chicago baseball. Hockey season is still on (if you're a Wolves fan) and the Bulls are playing some surprising basketball, but this is a Bears town, son, so yeah, I was glad Tank got out in 60 days. Yes, I'm nervous about how long he'll get suspended. There's other sports and then there's the Bears.
So there's this news that the Bears have already signed a draft pick, and the recent headline that the Bears are moving Hester to offense that need to be explored. So let's make like Christopher Walken and explore the space.
Give the Bears a lot of credit. They're focused on getting guys in and signed, and this is evidence of a disciplined front office. They're all focused and pulling in the same direction, which is getting back to that big game again. It's little things that win championships, and when an organization has this kind of focus from the top down, it carries through to the players.
On the Hester move… I don't know. I think you let the guy play defense if he wants to. Will he take less of a beating as a receiver? Maybe, but then again maybe not. I don't know that there's a long, rich history of successful moves from one side of the ball to the other. Nothing jumps out at me as being a shining example of how these moves pay off. But I'm going to trust the pros on this one and sit back and enjoy it (or criticize it, if my misgivings are validated).
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You said it, this is a Bears town, end of story. The other sports are temporary distractions until July, when training camp rolls around (July 27th this year, I believe) and the 6 month Super Bowl quest begins.
I agree with your points on th front office, which is why I was thrilled they gave Depaul a new contract. They still haven't finalized anything with Gabriel, so there's still some work to be done on that front.
I'm not too concerned about Tank. The way I see it, he will get somewhere between 4-8 games, which seems like alot. But he'll be back, and with plenty of time to round into form, before the playoffs. The fact is, he's probably not in great shape right now, so some extra time to get there can't hurt. With Harris, Dusty, Adams, and Idonije healthy, they should hold their own until Tank's return.
As far as moving Hester to offense, I'm all for it, and have been hoping for it since the day they draft him. First and foremost, Devin is our #1 kick & punt return specialist, so that should always be his top focus. You have a valid point regarding the historical success (or lack thereof) of players switching to the other side of the ball. But in this case, is it really applicable?
I see what you mean, if you're talking about Dustin Lyman, who was a decent college LB that they somehow thought would make a great TE. But then there's Rashied Davis, who exceeded expectations after moving from DB to WR. While Davis is the exception rather than the rule, he proves you have to look at it on a case by case basis. And in Devin's case, there are 3 key factors you have to consider:
1. He is a return man first and foremost, regardless of roster position.
2. When he has the ball in his hands, he is the most dangerous player in the NFL, with the exception of LT. That's a big statement to make.
3. If you watched him play last year, and I know you did, you could tell pretty quickly that he was a piss poor DB. He didn't play a ton of DB in his 1 NFL season with the Bears, and he didn't play much DB in his 3 seasons at 'The M' (he bounced back & forth).
So basically you have an incredible talent, who does great things with the ball in his hands, is undeveloped at any position, and has little in the way of coverage instincts. Where would you put him?
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