When it came to the passing game of the Chicago Bears in 2012, it was pretty much Brandon Marshall and everyone else.
Marshall had 1,508 receiving yards for the Bears last season. Earl Bennett and Alshon Jeffery had less than 400 each,
Jeffery was selected by the Bears in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft and Chicago hoped he’d be able to provide a complementary threat to Marshall. As a rookie, that threat never really materialized. Jeffery caught just 24 passes for 367 yards and three touchdowns in his rookie campaign and missed six games because of injury,
Jeffery spent the offseason training with Marshall in Florida. According to Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune, Marshall believes Jeffery is better suited to handle the workload this season.
“He was softer last year, much softer,” Marshall said. “Now he’s strong. He’s a beast.”
Jeffery flashed his potential at times last season but also would disappear all too often. Per Pompei, Jeffery snatched a pass from Jay Cutler out of the sky for a touchdown on a pass that seemed to be out of reach. Marshall saw it as just one example of the receiver Jeffery can become.
“That play in the end zone really speaks for his offseason,” Marshall said. “It was a really explosive offseason.”
The Bears could really use another receiver to step up and become a second option for Cutler in the passing game. It would not only give Cutler another target but help relieve some of the pressure off Marshall as well. If Marshall’s correct, Jeffery may be just the guy to take the job,