Inside the numbers on Greg Olsen

The notion entering the 2009 season for the Bears was that the arrival of Jay Cutler was going to launch the career of Greg Olsen to new heights.

The quarterback and tight end quickly formed a bond off the field and the idea was that relationship would extend to the field and Olsen's statistics would quickly enter the Pro Bowl range.

Olsen posted career highs in receptions (60), yards (612) and touchdowns (8). But his yards per catch were 10.2, a notch below what he had done in 2008. That might have been the biggest surprise, given the idea that Cutler's arrival and his penchant for throwing the ball downfield would create more opportunities for Olsen to run the deep seam.

Here is how Olsen's numbers stacked up around the league among tight ends:

*60 receptions: 10th
*612 yards: 11th
*10.2 yards per catch: 19th
*8 touchdowns: T-4th
*108 targets: 8th

The last stat is the most eye-catching: Olsen was targeted 108 times by Cutler, according to Stats Inc. That also led the Bears. Here is how those numbers broke down:

*Olsen: 108 targets, 60 receptions in 16 games
*Devin Hester: 91 targets, 57 receptions in 13 games
*Earl Bennett: 88 targets, 54 receptions in 16 games
*Johnny Knox: 80 targets, 45 receptions in 15 games
*Matt Forte: 72 targets, 57 receptions in 16 games
*Devin Aromashodu: 43 targets, 24 receptions in 10 games
*Desmond Clark: 34 targets, 19 receptions in 11 games

The numbers that jump out are the ones that belong to Aromashodu. He appeared in 10 games but wasn't a significant part of the offense until the final four, when he acquired the majority of his statistics. The figures for him show how much involved Cutler wanted to get Aromashodu in the offense. Cutler talked about wanting to get him in the mix and backed it up with the decisions he made with the ball.

Click here to order Greg Olsen's proCane Rookie Card.



(chicagotimes.com)