Aug/04/08 12:38 PM Filed in:
Devin Hester
BOURBONNAIS - The question of
whether or not Devin Hester is good enough to be a
starting wide receiver this year, and maybe even a
No. 1, may already have been answered.
In Sunday's practice, Hester caught 7 of Rex Grossman's
20 completions, beating both starting cornerbacks, Nate
Vasher and Charles "Peanut" Tillman, who form one of
the more talented tandems in the NFL.
"Peanut is probably one of the best corners in the
league because he's very physical," Hester said. "You
know once you go against Peanut, you're going to have
to be prepared to fight. Peanut is an aggressive
corner; he's going to get his hands on you. Receivers
don't like corners getting their hands on them. Going
against a corner that's real aggressive, you've got to
step up and play big."
Opponents who try to jam Hester at the line of
scrimmage will suffer the consequences if he gets a
clean break.
"He's a mismatch for a lot of people speed-wise,"
Grossman said. "So, if they want to come up and play
press, man-to-man coverage with no safety help, they're
going to get burned. We're excited about that matchup
all season."
Hopes fading: The hope was that first-round pick Chris
Williams would be back at practice when the Bears
returned to Olivet Nazarene University on Sunday. But
the offensive tackle didn't appear any closer to
returning to the field than he has since July 24, the
second day of camp, when he suffered a strained back.
Williams was being counted on as the opening-day left
tackle, but that possibility now seems remote.
"It hurts him each day he misses," coach Lovie Smith
said. "But I've seen players miss a lot of time and
come back and still be successful. That's what we're
hoping will happen with Chris."
Williams, who isn't even jogging on the side at
practices yet, could not provide a timetable for his
return.
"I have no idea," he said.
"I hope it's not too much longer."
(dailyherald.com)