Borderline Offensive

Devin "Anytime" Hester scans the crowd

for groupies after taking two kickoffs to the

house against St. Louis on Monday Night Football

Now that the hysteria in Bears Nation over whether we should bench Rex Grossman for the remainder of the season has (rightfully) subsided, the next hand-wringer we're collectively tackling is whether superstar special teamer Devin Hester, with an NFL-record 6 return touchdowns already this year, should be moved from his position as backup cornerback to receiver in order to get the ball in his hands more often. The debate seems pretty one-sided, with the public and media strongly supporting the idea. The coaching staff, however, isn't sold.

Personally, I'm siding with Lovie on this one. Not only do I think he's earned our implicit trust in personnel and game-planning decisions, but I believe that this sounds like a better idea than it truly is. Let's look at each side:

Pros of Devin Hester joining the Offense

1) It adds a deep threat to our passing game and an extra element of explosiveness.

2) It forces defenses to account for him, opening up the run game and getting favorable coverages for our other receivers.

3) It could allow us to be more creative with decoy plays, reverses, screens and swing passes, etc.

Cons of Devin Hester joining the Offense

1) He has absolutely no idea how to play any position, and that takes time.

2) His ball skills are questionable (dropped a sure interception on MNF) and has a propensity to try too hard to make the big play or forget about ball security.

3) We already have a proven deep threat in Bernard Berrian and a receiver who is very comfortable in the slot in Rashied Davis.

4) With our depleted secondary, we may not be able to afford giving up another cornerback.

5) He is extremely small and inexperienced, thus he could only contribute in a very limited amount of situations (reverses, go-routes, screens). He would be ineffective running any type of precision route, making a sight adjustment, understanding audibles, or in the red zone.

I don't consider myself an out-and-out football expert, but I do like to read and understand as much as possible about the technical aspects of the game. One thing I don't believe the public is generally grasping in this debate is how technical the position of wide receiver is in the NFL. In college, the fastest players or most gifted athletes can dominate as receivers because they can simply outrun or outjump defensive backs for the ball.

In the NFL, successful receivers certainly have that ability, but their success is more predicated on superior technique and fundamental skills- route-running, getting out of their breaks at the correct times, body position and control, catching with the hands (as opposed to the body), making sight adjustments and choosing correct routes on multiple-route schemes, breaking off routes when appropriate, a profound understanding of coverages, non-verbal communication with the quarterback, etc, etc.

It seems to me that Devin Hester doesn't have any of those skills...he could take a screen pass or designed swing pass and try to make something happen in space, or he could just take off on a go route (or 9-route, in NFL parlance) and try to beat a corner in one-on-one coverage. But he'd lose almost any jump ball and he has questionable hands. I just don't see it.

Plus, we have a great jump-ball and possession guy (Moose), we have a speed burner (Berrian), and we have a complement of other receivers who can get it done (Des Clark, Rashied Davis, TJ, etc). I just don't know that this is the answer.

I am excited about the prospect of getting more touches for the most electrifying player on the Bears right now, just as anyone would be. But I think we should look at the likely outcome of putting him out there on offense with absolutely no time to prepare and no experience. I think we may be setting ourselves up for disappointment.

Hope the holidays are treating you all well. I'm really fired up to continue the holiday season this weekend with Gate's bash. More soon.