Bears excited about what Hester can do this year

The addition of veteran free agents like wide receiver Roy Williams and Sam Hurd, along with running back Marion Barber has piqued interest in a Bears offense that was essentially along for the ride last season during the journey to the NFC title game.

But it’s Devin Hester’s improvement at wide receiver in his second year in offensive coordinator Mike Martz’s scheme that has teammates and coaches psyched.

“Devin Hester is having an unbelievable camp,” quarterback Jay Cutler said. “He’s so much more comfortable in the system.

“In this system, if you think, you’re not going to be very effective. He’s not thinking, he’s just out there reacting, and he’s running super fast like he always does. I’m happy with him, and I think he’s happy where he’s at right now, too.”

In 2009, Hester posted career bests with 57 catches for 757 yards. But his production dipped last season, when he finished with 40 receptions for 475 yards, averaging a career-low 11.9 yards per grab.

Now he could be on the verge of a bounce-back season.

“He’s a lot more fluid and really distinct in his routes,” wide receivers coach Darryl Drake said. “He’s just playing, and that’s what you want your guys to do, just let it flow.

“He understands things a lot better as far as the system. And it should be that way the second year. He works extremely hard, and as long as he continues to do that, everything else will take care of itself.”

Hester clearly seems more at ease in the offense, and he says he’s enjoying the luxury of being able to run routes and make adjustments instinctively without having to think about what to do in every situation.

“It was a new system for all of us (last season),” he said. “A lot of guys through the first half of the season were doing more thinking rather than going out and just playing. This year, with another year under our belts with the playbook, that really helps. It allows us to play fast, whereas last year we were doing more thinking.

“Now, it’s more about just going out and having fun.”

But no matter how valuable Hester becomes as a receiver, he will never equal his accomplishments as a return specialist. Both he and the Bears realize the importance of balancing those two phases so as not to detract from what he contributes on special teams. In just five seasons, Hester already owns the all-time NFL record with 14 combined touchdowns on kickoff and punt returns.

It probably isn’t a coincidence that while Hester was establishing himself as a legitimate NFL receiver in 2008 and ’09 with a combined 108 catches for 1,422 yards, he failed to score a single return touchdown. In his first two seasons (2006-07), Hester had 11, not counting a kickoff-return touchdown in Super Bowl XLI and a 108-yard return TD of a missed field goal.

Last season, Hester’s workload as a receiver was scaled back, and he scored 3 more return TDs.

“Like any guy, when you’re playing 65-70 snaps, it may have an effect on you,” Drake said. “So I have to be careful with how much I ask him to do because he’s the best returner in the game, and there has to be a balance.

“I also think he’s a really good receiver, contrary to what a lot of people think. But there’s got to be a balance. Last year we talked about it, and I kind of took some of the reps from him, and the return game picked up.”

It seemed like anytime Hester’s numbers as a receiver were down last year they spiked in the return game.

Ÿ In the first Packers game, he was limited to 1 catch for 16 yards, but he scored on a 62-yard punt return.

Ÿ In the second Vikings game, he caught just 2 passes for 23 yards but scored on a 64-yard punt return and added a 79-yard kickoff return.

Ÿ The Seahawks limited Hester to 2 receptions for 23 yards, but they couldn’t prevent an 89-yard punt-return TD.

Ÿ In the first Vikings game, Hester’s 4 receptions totaled just 38 yards, but he had a 68-yard kickoff return and brought a punt back 42 yards.

With Williams and Hurd added this year, the Bears have the depth to use Hester judiciously in the passing game and still keep him fresh for returns.

“It does give us some flexibility,” Drake said, “and an opportunity to get those guys involved a little bit more, too, and not have to panic when Hester’s not in there.”

With Hester well rested for the return game, it’s more likely that the opponents’ coverage teams will be panicking.

Ÿ Follow Bob’s Bears reports via Twitter @BobLeGere and check out our Bear Essentials blog at dailyherald.com.