Big season envisioned by experts has yet to materialize for Bears' Olsen

As far as Pro Bowl campaigns go, Greg Olsen's is off to a sluggish start.

When the Bears traded for Jay Cutler on April 2, it immediately triggered speculation that Olsen was destined for greatness and would be a frequent visitor to the Pro Bowl. Common opinion was that a Pro Bowl quarterback like Cutler was all a talented tight end like Olsen needed to realize his immense potential and start putting up Tony Gonzalez-type numbers - or at least numbers in that ritzy neighborhood.

However, through the Bears' first four games, Olsen has 10 catches for 94 yards, a pace that would leave him with 40 receptions and 376 yards, not nearly enough to get to the Pro Bowl or warrant comparisons to Gonzalez.

Olsen is still confident he can achieve the greatness that's been predicted for him, and he doesn't blame his slow start on trying to live up to the hype.

"I feel that I have that type of potential and that type of ability," the 6-foot-5, 255-pound Olsen said. "Things have to go your way sometimes and (you have to) get the breaks. But I feel good overall about how my game's been through the first quarter of the season.

"I know a lot of the other stuff gets looked past - the run-blocking, pass-blocking, stuff like that - but I'm not really too concerned about all the stuff that gets said. I feel good about where I'm at, and I just have to continue to not press and, when the chances come, just make the best of them."

Apparently opposing teams also figured Cutler would be looking to Olsen frequently, what with the lack of respect that the Bears' wide receivers received early in the season. Olsen has been attracting more attention than ever from opposing defenses.

"I'd say (the attention) is a significant upgrade, especially from my rookie year," Olsen said. "But that happens. A lot of guys around the league get different attention and different looks each week, and you just have to adjust and take what's there. (Against the Lions) we were able to score a lot of points. At the end of the game, it's not about how many catches you have and the stats.

"When the plays come your way, make them, and the rest of the stuff takes care of itself. I'm not too worried about stats around here."

But Bears offensive coordinator Ron Turner is concerned about getting the ball into Olsen's hands, whether he's lining up as a traditional tight end, split outside like a wide receiver or in the fullback position, all of which he's done this year.

"He can do a lot of things," Turner said. "He and I talked last week. We've got to get him more balls in the passing game.

"Having him be able to do so many things is a luxury. They don't know if he's going to line up as a wide receiver or line up as a tight end or at the fullback and be a lead blocker. So that definitely gives us the ability to do a lot of things."

Olsen and the Bears will get a good look at what a prototype NFL tight end looks like Sunday night when they face the 6-foot-5, 253-pound Gonzalez and the Falcons at the Georgia Dome.

After 12 years and 10 Pro Bowls with the Chiefs, Gonzalez was traded to the Falcons in the off-season, and he hasn't slowed down. Through four games he's the Falcons' second-leading receiver with 19 catches and 215 yards, on pace for 76 grabs and 860 yards. He and Olsen both have 2 TD catches.

Gonzalez has the most receptions (935), receiving yards (11,155) and touchdowns (78) of any tight end in NFL history, all of which Olsen is aware of.

"As a young tight end coming up, (you know that) for the last 10-12 years, he's been the main guy," Olsen said. "He's been consistent. He's done a great job. As a young guy growing up and even now as a young guy in the NFL, watching a guy like that, the way he goes about it, the way he approaches the game, his consistency and what he's able to do, I think most young guys at the position would probably recognize him as one of the top guys that they followed over the years."

Sunday night Olsen gets a chance to see just how he measures up against the best.

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