Despite a widespread belief that tight end Greg Olsen isn’t a good fit for new offensive coordinator Mike Martz’s system, head coach Lovie Smith says that Olsen will be a big part of the Bears’ offense -- maybe even bigger than he was in 2009.
“He’s a competitor,” Smith said of Olsen, per the Chicago Tribune. “He’s going to find a way. His role has increased as far as us going to him every year. I don’t see that changing.”
Olsen, the Bears’ 2007 first-round draft pick, has, as Smith noted, seen a year-over-year increase in his catches, yards and touchdowns each season. Smith claims there’s no reason to think he won’t see an increase again under Martz.
“He’s going to be a highly productive guy in any offense,” Smith said. “He’s faster than most tight ends out there. He can block the way most other tight ends can, but in the passing game he is a step ahead.”
But while Smith is saying the things Olsen wants to hear, reports out of Chicago have suggested that Olsen isn’t thrilled about playing in Martz’s offense. And Martz has said a tight end’s first responsibility is to block -- which is what Brandon Manumaleuna was brought in to do.
Still, Smith is insisting that Olsen “can be successful in this offense--not can--will. He will be successful in this offense.”