Smith knows Hester, Manning can handle double duty

Devin Hester and Danieal Manning give the Bears one of the best punt- and kickoff-return tandems in the NFL, but they also have full-time roles on the offense and defense, respectively.

Hester, who has 7 punt-return TDs in just three seasons, is the No. 1 wide receiver. Manning, who led the NFL with a 29.7-yard kickoff-return average last season, is the starting free safety. Coach Lovie Smith doesn't believe either player is overburdened.

"I think a player can be a full-time player and do one of the returns," Smith said. "Whether Danieal is the nickel (back) or the free safety, he's on the field (for) all of the reps on the defensive side, and then he's returning (kickoffs). Hester will do the same thing. I think he can do that and do it well.

"Both players feel comfortable doing that. Both players want to do that. And in order for us to win, we need them to do that."

Hester is 3 short of Eric Metcalf's NFL record of 10 punt-return touchdowns.

It's the players: After a disappointing 2008 season in which the defense finished 21st in yards allowed, 30th in passing yards allowed and 29th in sacks, the Bears did not rehire defensive backs coach Steven Wilks, linebackers coach Lloyd Lee and defensive line coach Brick Haley.

Wilks was replaced by Jon Hoke, and Haley was replaced by Rod Marinelli, who was given the added title of assistant head coach. Defensive coordinator Bob Babich was given the added responsibility of coaching the linebackers, with head coach Lovie Smith talking over the defensive play-calling duties from Babich.

But middle linebacker Brian Urlacher would not blame the coaching staff for the team's weak defensive showing last season.

"I'm not going to say that, no," Urlacher said. "It's just we didn't play well. We didn't play good when we needed to, and that's all it comes down to. (The coaches) are not going to go out there and play for us and win the games for us. They can get us ready, but come Sunday we have to go out there and make plays to help us win games."

Prime time players: Danieal Manning returned to practice after suffering a leg injury in Friday's practice.

The Saturday night practice under the lights at Ward Field drew approximately 10,000 fans, the largest crowd ever for a Bears night practice at Olivet Nazarene University. Although attendance records are unofficial, Saturday night's crowd was also one of the top two or three in the Bears eight years in Bourbonnais. An even larger crowd is expected for today's 3 p.m. practice.

Young blood: Jay Cutler disputes the notion that young wide receivers can't prosper in the NFL.

"I had Eddie Royal last year, and he caught (91) balls," Cutler said of the 2008 second-round draft pick. "I think receiver is one of those positions you could step in early and compete and add to the team."

Of the 10 wide receivers on the roster, nine are 26 or younger and four are rookies.