Lovie: Hester's role on offense won't be reduced - Olsen = H-Back

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Bears coach Lovie Smith addressed a variety of issues during a breakfast session Wednesday at the NFL meetings, including the roles of Devin Hester and Greg Olsen in the offense and the possibility of bringing in a veteran backup quarterback. Here are the highlights:

DEVIN HESTER
The plan is not for Hester to have a reduced or specialized role in the offense. Regardless of what new offensive coordinator Mike Martz previously has said, Smith said he wants Hester to get as many touches as a receiver on offense as possible and envisioned his role as similar to what it was in the past.

"I don't know whose plan that was," Smith said. "Mike had been here a few days, you kind of hit him with questions. He likes the potential of Devin as a full-time receiver. I don't see him (getting fewer snaps). Not right now. To me, if you have a player as exciting as Hester, you want to get him as many touches as you possibly can. We're not going in saying he's going to get more plays or less plays. We'll keep all our options open.

"We definitely will still use him as a wide receiver. It will probably be the same role as last year -- punt returner and full-time receiver. Mike is very comfortable with him being one of our lead receivers and it is unlimited what he can do."

GREG OLSEN
He will be used in an H-back role in addition to tight end.

"H-back is probably what Greg has been best suited for up to this point," Smith said. "Right now, that's been more Greg's role. We haven't talked a lot about him being an in-line tight end. That's the next step we have to take with Greg is getting him more comfortable to play in-line tight end."

"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. He can be successful in this offense -- not can, will. He will be successful in this offense. He's a competitor. 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."

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(chicagobreakingsports.com)