After getting traded from Chicago to Carolina on Thursday, tight end Greg Olsen had kind words for his Bears teammates and fans. But he acknowledged being “bothered” that when offensive coordinator Mike Martz came to town last year, his role was reduced.
“There’s no worse feeling then not being able to play up to your potential,” Olsen told Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times. “Last year, I felt like that was the case.”
In 2009, Olsen had a career-high 60 catches for 612 yards and eight touchdowns. Then Martz came to town, and those numbers dropped to 41 catches for 404 yards and five touchdowns.
Now, after the Panthers acquired Olsen for a 2012 third-round draft pick, Olsen will play for Panthers offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski, who was the offensive coordinator of the Miami Hurricanes during Olsen’s freshman year there. Olsen is excited about that.
“To get back with coach Chud, and what he’s done in the past, with tight ends, is going to be huge for my development,” Olsen said, “and I’m looking forward to it.”
Olsen says he doesn’t know exactly what his job will be in an offense that also includes tight ends Jeremy Shockey and Ben Hartsock, but he does know Chudzinski -- unlike Martz -- will get the most out of him.
“It’s hard to say,” Olsen said. “But, his track record of using guys is pretty clear, and that’s encouraging. Now, it falls on my shoulders on how I perform. To be honest, I think it’s a way to finally get out of the restraints of what our system was.”
And that’s Olsen’s parting shot at Martz.