- Punt return for a touchdown in his regular season debut in Lambeau Field
- Two kickoff returns for touchdowns in the same game against the Rams, right after he took over kick return duties.
- 108 yard return, the longest in NFL history, against the Giants off a missed field goal
- Comeback clinching 83 yard punt return for touchdown against the Cardinals in a game where the Bears scored three touchdowns and the offense didn't account for any of them.
- Returned the opening kickoff of Super Bowl 41 for a touchdown.
Hester has a new role this year, that of an offensive player. Or as he would probably say, an "offender". See that's the problem with Devin, to say he's as dumb as a box of rocks is an insult to rocks everywhere. How is this guy supposed to be able to understand an offensive playbook or even run a good route when he probably can't spell encyclopedia? Granted, the Bears didn't draft him to solve logarithms, but don't you need to be a little smart to play offense? Did I ever tell you I talked to Hester? It's true, at the team hotel last year after the week 4 beat down of the Seahawks. He was just standing there all by himself so I went up to the poor guy and introduced myself as Grossman's little brother ("Luke"). Hester just stared at me confused until I walked away, but I'm fairly confident he believed me. This is the guy who people expect to save the Bears offense? I mean, did you see his speech at the ESPYs!? (I couldn't find it on youtube, if someone comes across it please email it to me, it absolutely hysterical)
As Mike Mulligan warned us yesterday, Bears fans shouldn't put all their hopes and dreams on this guy right away. The Bears offense is going to be very, very good this season, and Hester might be a big part of that. But he won't be as vital as Bernard Berrian, Mark Bradley, Greg Olsen, Garrett Wolfe, Grossman, or maybe even Mike Haas. His biggest contribution will still come on special teams and he'll be used as a decoy in a lot of plays on offense. He will make some incredible plays on offense when he gets the ball (I was at training camp yesterday in Bourbonnais and he absolutely broke Ricky Manning Jr.'s ankles), but don't expect the dude to be Steve Smith this year, no matter what Mushin Muhammad tells you.
Here's some pics of Hester yesterday. Check out the second one, he was running so fast, the picture came out to be a blur.
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You bring up a great point. Unfortunately, the media in Chicago has made this the defining aspect of this training camp. True, Hester has the tools to be an effective offensive threat, but Hester's involvement will be decided based on Toub's need in terms of special teams and Turner's evaluation of him as a receiver. Having phenomenal speed and great hands do not always add up to being a great receiver, it takes understanding of coverages and coordination with the quaterback and other receivers to be good and on the field at all times. I think Hester's biggest threat will be in a slot role (vs. a wideout) as he has the speed to easily separate from linebackers and create confusion between corners and safeties in zone coverages. Then again, it could take just one hit to put him out for a few games or the season. I dont mind seeing him in a platoon role (2-3 times a game) when needed, but I'd rather see him focus on returning kicks/punts. He was crucial to the Bears season in that department and that should be his ultimate focus.