A bluff? Raiders say they'll kick to Hester
Oakland Raiders coach Lane Kiffin sounds like a man who prefers to live dangerously -- he said he plans to kick the ball to Devin Hester.
"We're excited about the challenge," Kiffin said in a conference call Wednesday. "It's no fun to kick it out of bounds, so we're going to see how well we can cover.
"We've started to play better on special teams the last few weeks, and this is probably the best returner ever to play the game. It's not just him. Chicago plays great special teams in all phases. We're prepared for a challenge."
If it's true, which is questionable, the Bears can't wait.
"We would definitely welcome that philosophy," said Bears coach Lovie Smith, who was asked if he believed Kiffin. "It's hard to say. Most teams haven't kicked to him. (But) I can understand why you would get a guy that would say, 'Hey, he puts on his shoes just like everybody else. We're going to kick the ball to him,' (but) I can understand why teams wouldn't do it."
Hester didn't put his shoes on at all Wednesday, and he wasn't around to comment because he missed practice with what was characterized as a minor illness.
But Pro Bowl special-teams player Brendon Ayanbadejo said he understands where the Raiders are coming from -- if they're not bluffing.
"That's a good way for a coach to motivate his whole team, (saying) that we're not scared of anything or anybody the Chicago Bears have," Ayanbadejo said. "Right now Devin might be our best player, so they're basically calling us out, like, 'Hey, we're going to kick to your best guy. Let's line up, and let's play some football.' When it comes down to it, that's what football's all about, so it's going to be a good challenge."
Hester leads the NFL with a 19.6-yard punt-return average, while the Raiders are No. 14 in punt-return average allowed. On kickoffs, where opponents have been more successful neutralizing and avoiding Hester, he averages 23.5 yards, seventh best in the NFC, but the Raiders are only 27th as a team covering kickoffs.
Opening up: Tight-lipped linebacker Brian Urlacher conducted a conference call with the Bay Area media Wednesday and was asked if he thought opponents have approached the Bears differently since their appearance in Super Bowl XLI.
"I can't say yes or no," Urlacher said. "I don't know. We're just not playing very well, and teams are beating up on us."
Urlacher didn't agree with the Super Bowl hangover theory, even though it has affected most Super Bowl losers in recent years.
"I don't think we've let down or anything," he said. "We just haven't played as well, that's all there is to it. We're not satisfied with getting there and not winning. I have no excuse for it, except we haven't done our jobs."
That's been most noticeable in the Bears' run defense, which was No. 6 last season but is currently 26th, although he said there are some encouraging signs.
"We've missed tackles, me included, we've had guys out of their gaps, (and we) have gotten gashed, at times, for those reasons right there," Urlacher said. "In this defense, if you do that, you're going to get gashed. (But) we're 2-2 in our last four, which is better than we were.
"We've done some things better and, at times, we've played like (crud). So, we're not consistent. We're not where we want to be. We have the players and the ability to get it fixed. It's just a matter of doing it."
Taking a pass: In addition to Devin Hester, who was ill, guard Ruben Brown (shoulder), safety Brandon McGowan (elbow), cornerback Nate Vasher (groin) and defensive tackle Tommie Harris (knee) all missed Wednesday's practice. Neither Vasher nor McGowan is expected to play Sunday.