In 2006 and 2007, there was no kick returner more dangerous than Chicago's Devin Hester, who set a new NFL record for combined kick return touchdowns as a rookie, and then broke that record in his second season.
Now Hester is used more as a wide receiver than a kick returner, and he hasn't scored a kick return touchdown in two years. But the Bears think they're seeing the new Devin Hester on Sunday night at Soldier Field, when they take on the Philadelphia Eagles and DeSean Jackson.
"He reminds me of Devin," Bears special teams coach Dave Toub said of Jackson, per Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com. "Just the way he plays, he's got really good hands, good ball reader. His first step is just like Devin's, and he's got that top end speed. He's dangerous."
Jackson hasn't had the same kind of impact as a return man that Hester had in his first two seasons: Jackson only returns punts, not kickoffs, and he has two touchdown returns in two years, not the 11 that Hester scored. But Toub said the same kind of talent is there.
"Any time he touches the ball, we got our hands full because he can take it the distance at any time," Toub said. "The big thing with him is that his first step is unbelievable. He can create separation initially, he can make you miss early, I mean really quick. His top end speed is nothing that we've faced this year so far. We got our hands full."
DeSean reminds Bears of Devin
Posted by Michael David Smith on November 20, 2009 1:36 PM ET
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Just another gangbanger with speed
Devin Hester was a huge impact player as a kick retuner and is now an average wideout at best. Daniel Manning is also a good returner but I think the Bears would have been better off trying to find a real receiver and letting Hester continue to run roughshod over their opponents.
Hester isn't half the reciever of jackson... A blind man can run better routes than Hester and DeSean is one of the premiere route runners in the league
Top speed I'd like to DeSean race Chris Johnson, Rodgers-Cromartie, or anyone else that fast. This guy makes corners and safeties look like they're in slow-mo.
Devin Hester has 'really good hands'?? LMAO.
One of Andy's few good second round picks. Hopefully, McCoy will be as good at RB.
Hester's not as good as DeSean, but he's got the ability to get there. DeSean has better hands and runs much better routes, but they're both freaking FAST, and if you give them the ball in space, they're both playmakers.
Still amazed they stopped having Hester run back kicks... unreal. All in the name of this stupid project to make him a #1 WR which he clearly is not.
The Bears F'd up by paying him huge money and they had to move him to WR because no one pays a KR that kind of money.
Except that part about how DeSean can actually play...I imagine...
mooremi9: You are just another no-talent, poster who is jealous of professional athletes. How do you know he's a "gangbanger"? Save all your racist rhetoric for another forum.
DeSean would sure as hell like to be paid like Devin........
Strange that the Bears make this comment after watching two teams in successive weeks show the rest of the NFL that if you shut down Jackson the Eagles are offensively inept.
Big Red: Any clues from this comment what the Bears' game plan is for Sunday? I suppose with this information in had, you'll drastically change the game plan from Pass, Pass, Pass to Pass, Pass, Pass
Kevin- Don't forget Matt McCoy. I'll be psyched if DeSean or LeSean can turn into half the player he was/is.
Devin Hester.....Good Hands? LMAO
He's a good kick returner and gadget play receiver but that's it. Jackson is way out of his league.
People like Hester are fun to watch for a while, until people get film of them, and then they have their little gadget plays and the odd return, but that's it. The good ones last even after there's film.
Kinda what'll most likely happen to Percy Harvin down the road. Hope not, he's fun to watch, but I wouldn't bet against him disappearing after this year.
Hester is a great return man and a overpriced WR...D-Jax breaks ankles in the passing game...
They only way they're related is that they both return some kicks, otherwise one is an actual WR and the other falls down on simple cuts.
darnell jefferson, tailback.
PhillyHouse says:
November 20, 2009 2:19 PM
mooremi9: You are just another no-talent, poster who is jealous of professional athletes. How do you know he's a "gangbanger"? Save all your racist rhetoric for another forum.
PhillyHouse:
While I understand what you are trying to say, he _did_ flash gang signs after a touchdown and in high school was "in with the wrong crowd" so to speak...
Hester was once a CB for a reason...he can't catch! But the Bears figured out that the only way to win was to get him involved in the offense. He's a cornerback playing WR. If that's your #1 recevier, you've got some problems
Jackson like Hester? only in kick returns. jackson is solid as a returner and a receiver, while hester is better off as a return man and cornerback. Hester is lucky to be mentioned as a WR. Go back to the return game and be the best there and let true WR catch the ball.
I'd take Jackson anyday before hester. More bang for the buck and the Raiders need all the bang they can get. What McFAIDen was chosen over Jackson? Thanks Al for muttin!
Yeah, keep those racist gangbanger remarks to cracker villle.