Devin Hester.

[coopsxx]

he better win rookie of the year

he has done it pretty much all on his own, and has forced (smart) opponents to change there gameplan against him, i dunno if colsten, jones drew (maybe young) has.

[bradentonian]

To put this in a little more perspective:
Hester for the year:  5TDs
Caddy + Clayton:  2TDs

That is an absolutely painful assessment.

I had to edit it as he has actually scored 6 TDs this season (I forgot to include the missed FG he returned for a TD)

[Boid Fink]

Hester is the new Deion Sanders of returning kicks and punts.

But they do need to find a way to keep him off the field.  He is not that great a CB, in all reality...

[dbucfan]

Six in a year, and I have been waiting for one for ....  Oh well.

[corruptpirate]

Hester was worth that 3rd for the Bears. I know a couple of his returns have been the reason why the Bears have won some games. Great returns are momentum shifters especially in close games. And we all know the importance of field position in football is.

Why does everyone love him so much? All he does his return kicks. Can't play WR...Can't play DB... all he does is ST and you burned a 3rd round pick on him?

Between KO and punt returns, he's a guy thats gonna touch the ball 5-7 times a game. How is that any different than a WR on this team? For what he brings to the table, surely he's worth a 3rd rounder.

[karen anderson]

Hester is the new Deion Sanders of returning kicks and punts.

But they do need to find a way to keep him off the field. He is not that great a CB, in all reality...

Kicking it out of bounds is better than letting him get a hold of it!

[Boid Fink]

Why does everyone love him so much? All he does his return kicks. Can't play WR...Can't play DB... all he does is ST and you burned a 3rd round pick on him?

Between KO and punt returns, he's a guy thats gonna touch the ball 5-7 times a game. How is that any different than a WR on this team? For what he brings to the table, surely he's worth a 3rd rounder.

Exactly.

MBF, you cannot be serious about the "why?", can you?  Imean, that is what you want out of ST's, big plays.  And Hester gets them in spades my man.  Spades.  6 TD's for a guy that just returns kicks?  That is damned phenomenal.  It alters the field position game, and that is huge in football.  I mean, serioulsly, did you of all people ask that question?  Why?

I found it appropriate he gave his mentor Deion some props with that TD celebration....FLA athletes keeping it real, gotta love it.

[Boid Fink]

I found it appropriate he gave his mentor Deion some props with that TD celebration....FLA athletes keeping it real, gotta love it.

That little dance had me reminiscing about Deion.  I used to love that guy man.  He was true shutdown corner, and kick return master.  I miss his big playmaking skills.  I actually will start enjoying watching the kid return kicks.  It brings excitement to the game man.

agreed, same with Mo Jones-Drew, watching him run through guys like a bowling ball is pretty entertaining.

[Runole]

Special teams represent at least a 3rd of a teams power and strength.   JMHO but I think a special teams TD is one of the most demoralizing plays to an opponent even more than a fumble or interception.

[Boid Fink]

Special teams represent at least a 3rd of a teams power and strength. JMHO but I think a special teams TD is one of the most demoralizing plays to an opponent even more than a fumble or interception.

I agree.  A quick TD from a kick return/PR is demoralizing, and it juices the entire team up.  But, if a fumble or a pick occurs and ends with a score, I think those are on equal footing in terms of reducing a teams spirit.  But STs kick returns are a rare and valuable asset, no question.

[dalbuc]

They're valuable but they aren't a consistent factor whihc accounts for a lot of their "stun" value.  Dante Hall, the guy people were pimping and an MVP candidate, has more years with no kick return TD's than with them and the same for punt returns. You look at the league leaders and they tend to be high variable - in other words whoever breaks 1 or 2 gets into the top of the list but finding guys who can consistently provide a threat year in and year out is hard an really might be considered impossible.

[Boid Fink]

Devin Hester = Mel Gray???


But I have alluded to this, espescially in reference to any specialty guys (KR/PR) that the odds of them replicating what they did in college to the Pros is slim to none.