Chicago Bears wide receiver/returner Devin Hester is, to put it mildly, dangerous.
The sixth-year pro is second in NFL history with 18 total return touchdowns, including 12 punt returns, 5 kickoff returns and one missed field goal return.
Champ Bailey is plenty familiar with the way Hester can change a game, as Hester returned a punt and kickoff for touchdowns en route to a 37-34 Bears victory in Denver the last time the two teams faced off.
“We know what type of player he is,” Bailey said, adding that he wouldn’t kick to Hester “in a million years.” “You don’t take any chances with the guy. He’s the best in the game, the best ever in my book.”
When asked whether he would kick to Hester, Brian Dawkins seemed to have a different view.
“Oh yeah,” he said, pausing. “Out of bounds. Straight out of bounds.”
After drawing a laugh from the media, the veteran safety elaborated.
“He’s a huge, tremendous weapon,” he said. “This cat is gifted to do things that, obviously, no one’s been able to do the way he’s done it in a short period of time. You can have coaches that beat their chests, ‘We’re going to kick it to him; we’re going have coverage behind, though.’ If you ask me, if I’m the coach, I’m kicking it straight out of bounds — right toward him — but out of bounds, so if he does catch it, he’s going to be tiptoeing the sideline as he falls out of bounds.”
Head Coach John Fox said on Wednesday that he doesn’t want to give away the team’s plans regarding Hester, only that “we are aware of him and he’s a great player.”
Britton Colquitt, the punter potentially tasked with avoiding the league’s most dangerous returner, said there are a variety of ways to accomplish that task.
“I’d love to say I could do what [Oakland P Shane] Lechler did and kick it over his head 80 yards, but it’s not easy,” he said. “It just depends on where we are on the field. He’s a great returner, but we have a great coverage unit. Sometimes, when you try to go out of bounds, you don’t have as good of a hit, and sometimes you just hit a good 35- or 40-yard fair catch ball. He’ll still try to fair catch it, too, if you hit it high enough.”
In the end, Colquitt said he’ll look to do his job the way he has done it the previous 12 games. He currently ranks third in the league in net punting average with 41.6 yards per kick. At his current pace, he would set a new franchise record.
He doesn’t want to adjust his style too much just because of the returner he’s facing.
“He’s waiting for that,” Colquitt said. “He wants guys to be like, ‘I’m going to kick away from you.’”
“You’ve just got to be on your game all the time.”
Below are photos from Thursday’s practice.
-Gray Caldwell
Tags: Brian Dawkins, Britton Colquitt, Champ Bailey, Chicago Bears, Devin Hester, Week 14
*one lack there… A double lack would mean we didn’t lack.. LOL
Actually, the info might be right about Clady out for this game, this is what Legwold just said in the middle of one of his articles, and Legowld is as trustworthy as any:
And, unfortunately, Clady will be sitting as the Bears’ Julius Peppers comes to town.
I hope I’m wrong, but take a look at our OL reserves…
Bay, I don’t know where BFE lives in TN, but if he doesn’t live in downtown Nashville, Memphis or Chatt., then he basically lives in Deliverance country. I have some family that live outside of Chatt. and believe me, it is Deliverance area for sure. Right down to the little creek running through the mountains.
Definitely need to play well down this stretch for many reasons. Obviously we’re fighting for the division and post season appearance. Also I still don’t think Elway and Fox have seen what they want to see from Tebow. While he has improved they are still unsure of him. If we just slip up and have a terrible December they’ll still not have any more insight to what Tebow has. They’ve seen what he can do these last 7 weeks but Tebow still needs to become a better passer and more mechanically sound in order to do so.
C’mon guys lets lay off of CarnageBronc he’s entitled to his opinion and it seem like everyone is getting that “black or white” mentality. I honestly enjoy reading his comments because he’s the only one providing an opposite view. Besides so what if he doesn’t like Tebow, doesn’t make him any less of a fan of the Broncos. I don’t like cantelope, doesn’t make me any less of a fan of the melons…..hahahahahah…melons! LOL!
We are very thin on the OL, I believe everybody knows that and for those who don’t unfortunately they might just find out Sunday if Clady is indeed out.
It would be a huge disadvantage to go into this game without clady.
The only bright side of it would be that since tt is a lefty, at least he isn’t our blindside tackle.
But we really need clady. He is one of our best players.
Oh Wow – just read that bay!
Yeah it’s obvious they do read our blogs here on the Bronco website!
Clady is one of our best lineman but lately it seems like he’s been getting penalized a lot more.
weatherman, I know, you’re right, I drove through Tennessee before, from Nasville through the Smokies.
I know this may sound a bit selfish, but I do hope they sider on precaution on using McGahee this week. We will need him health for the Pats game for sure.
LMAO @ MELONS!
Beautiful country. I wish I lived in those mountains in TN. Love going there. I really like that mountain stream water. Some of the best drinking water I ever had.
Who would be next man up for Clady…. is it Clark?
Or as TRB says… great minds think alike….lol!
Any info on whether it was the same spot as his basketball injury? Sure hope not. That would probably be a bad sign.
I love me some melons!!
One thing I know is we don’t have sizable depth at many positions at all, and McGahhe is an issue, Miller is an issue, Clady is an issue, Royal is an issue, we are definitely going to find out how a team thin at talent on its roster can finish up a season in December, I still think 2-2 would be respectable considering.
yep, Chris Clark is the next man up
Lol, Schneider … I said I would fight to the death for his right to say em lol. Its just that sometimes he lups any one that gives Tebow credit as only liking tebow and not the team … and then he gives the team credit except tebow and that supposedly proves he is more behind the team. Like OC said yesterday, “last time i checked, Tebow was part of the team” lol. Many “Tebownites” can’t get enough of vondoom, Champ, Decker the model, McGahee, etc … but he only sees the Tebow praises lol. TRB
Well luckily Clady isn’t his blindside lol. We definitely need OL depth. I will guess Clark will start in his stead … Im not sure what the depth chart looks like but i believe so.
looks like OT verified lol. TRB
Yes – we are very thin…. a big concern.
My biggest fear all season has been injuries, because this team has terrible depth. at most positions as has been mentioned.
Well, I went into this season know that we were one more draft away.. This year has already exceeded my expectations, but then again, all we need is a ticket to the tournament, and anything can happen!! But we do need to have another prudent draft to address a lot of these issues..
Julius Pepper is about to salivate, LOL.
Funny that he may end up hurting Fox’ team.
Not really funny, but you get my meaning.
Peppers is gonna show off for sure.
Can you imagine Orton if Clady was out…….
Everyone has a right to speak. But day after day after day it`s the same noise like a broken record already. When someone keeps spinning round and round I usually move on.
This game is not the cake walk that some of us have been predicting… Hopefully we can get a few turnovers and take control early, then step on the neck..
Well according to this article Clady was back at practice.
http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_19497864
Two more days and we`ll find out about Clady playing, until then no need to sweat bullets.
I won’t believe Clady is sitting until his name is on the inactive list… has to be one of the toughest players in the league, and if he can stand I think he will play…
Here’s to hoping…
How is everyone this morning?
Well if clady can’t go we shouldn’t force him … but clark should be fine … I think Peppers may not rush as much … maybe just contain cuz of Tebows running abilities … or is it th eother way around … either way … should be a good one …. solution if no clady? RUN RUN RUN lol
Bummer that Clady got hurt the second to the last play of the game. That sucks!
So… My brother-in-law is a huge Bears fan, and he’s coming to town next week…. Let’s go, I need this one fellas!!!
Thx OT.
Tim Tebow has made First Take on ESPN the best morning Sports Show in the US… Skip and Stephen A are hilarious!!!
)
Can’t wait for sunday. The suspense is killing me. haha
a buddy of mine is a Bears fan and can`t stand Cutler. Good friend. LOL
Looking forward also Alex.
I did see Decker on NFLN network yesterday afternoon, and that’s pretty much what he said TRB… run run run.
Nothing out of the ordinary from Decker except that he shaved…lol!
Good for him, I think those guys staches and sideburns frankly look worse than the porn mustaches of the 70s, LOL.
@ bay LMAO !!!
I’m “working” from home toady… Just saw Herm Edwards say on ESPN that the Colts should draft Luck, Trade Manning to Denver, and Tebow goes to Jacksonville… Is this man on crack???
I read a number of comments today from big-name players that may be just about the dumbest, most childish crap I can remember! Jarrad Allen is “embarrassed” to loose to a non-throwing QB. Does that mean he doesn’t mind losing to a throwing QB? Well, I guess that explains their 2-10 record. Loosing is loosing, Dipstick, no matter who beats you! If you don’t like loosing to a non-throwing QB, play better. Apparently, you don’t mind loosing except when you don’t want to.
Lance Briggs will be “pissed” if they loose to Denver. So, I guess its OK to loose to anybody else. Huh? When did the NFL start making a loss to Denver worth any more than a loss to anyone else? If your over-inflated ego can’t handle loosing to one team over another, maybe you have a few issues you need to look at. Seems to me any loss is bad, particularly right now and lets face it, you have enough problems without singling out more!
The teams in the NFL seem to have taken only a holy quest to stop Denver from succeeding by any means necessary. Statements are being made and positions taken that make absolutely no sense given the position of the teams and players making them. I don’t ever remember anything this weird going on before in the NFL and it is a little depressing to me to see players I have respected for a long time acting this childishly. I thought they were more adult than that but, it seems I was wrong.
If Tebow went to Jacksonville they would NEVER have another blackout game again.
It is because of Tebow, he’s the most polarizing player in the NFL.
Actually the Tebow to Jacksonville thing makes perfect sense for the Jags, because Tebow is the only one who would be able to get that team out of its financial disarray.
Also Colts drafting Luck makes perfect sense for the Colts who would get rid of a 100 million dollar man for just a fraction of that.
But it would be the worse possible thing for the Broncos, getting an overpaid older guy who is one head hit away from retirement due to his messed up surgically repaired fragile neck.
Another weird thing Henry, the networks fighting for Denver games, I mean some networks are trying to FORCE other networks to give up Denver games to them. Now that is crazy.
This poor kid is never going to get the chance to just play football and be judged by that. I will be the first to admit without any hesitation, Tim Tebow is a far better man than I am. I would have lost my temper a long time ago and told someone, anyone, everyone, to KISS MY BUTT!
No doubt Jax should have drafted Tebow, and I bet the people there who didn’t regret that decision greatly… Speaking of drafting Tebow, there were rumors of both the Bills and Pats had serious interest in the second round, where they both picked ahead of us.. Maybe McD’s learned of BB’s liking and swooped in.. Don’t forget that in the next year, the Pats selected Ryan Mallet in the third round..