Greg Olsen playing an integral role in Bears passing game

LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Knowing that tight ends haven’t traditionally been very involved as receivers in Mike Martz’s offense hasn’t deterred Greg Olsen from trying to buck the trend.

“There wasn’t much history to rely on,” Olsen said Wednesday. “But I was confident coming in that if I just continued to go out there and do what I do that there would be a place for me. And as we’ve seen, there has been a role and a pretty prominent one for the position.”

Olsen has helped the Bears sprint out of the gate with three straight wins by catching 10 passes for 140 yards and two touchdowns. He has sparked comeback victories over Super Bowl contenders the past two weeks with TD receptions of 39 yards against the Cowboys and nine yards versus the Packers.

“You just have to continue to go out and do what they ask you to do and make the plays when they come your way,” Olsen said. “Coach Martz has said all along that the guys who make plays and do what they’re asked to do are going to play, and that’s kind of the mentality and the approach that we’ve all taken.”

Olsen may have been skeptical about his role initially, but that eventually changed.

“Greg is really coming into his own in this offense,” said quarterback Jay Cutler. “I think he’s really bought into it at this point. Probably in OTAs and when Mike first got here, it probably wasn’t exactly the case. But [Olsen] is making some great plays for us. Mike is trying to put him in situations where he is going to have a good chance to get the ball and a good chance to make plays for us, so I’m excited for him.”

Olsen’s close friendship with Cutler has paid dividends on the field.

“It can’t do anything but help,” Olsen said. “You’re kind of used to each other and you can adjust on the fly a little bit and make some things happen that aren’t necessarily how they’re exactly scripted; kind of ad-lib. At certain times that’s definitely an advantage.”

It certainly worked in their favor Monday night when Cutler and Olsen connected for a TD pass over the middle, drawing the Bears to within 10-7 in an eventual 20-17 win over Green Bay.

“The safeties were really wide and the ‘backer walked out a little further than we had anticipated,” Olsen said. “We thought he’d be a little more in the box. Jay did a good job seeing me adjust. I saw an opening in the middle of the field and just took it and was able to beat the guy.

“Jay did a good job of seeing it and having a quick enough release to get the ball out before [the linebacker] had time to undercut [the route]. It was big for us before the half to at least get on the board and kind of settle in a little bit.”

Cutler went back to Olsen late in the game, and the tight end responded with a leaping 21-yard catch that helped set up Robbie Gould’s decisive 19-yard field goal with :04 remaining.

“I think everyone has that mentality—I know I do—that when the game’s on the line and you need a big play, everyone wants to say, ‘Hey, I’m that guy you can lean on,’” Olsen said. “When the ball comes your way, especially in those situations, you’ve got to find a way to come down with it.”

Given the way he’s performed to this point, Olsen figures to remain an integral part of the offense.

“Greg is a confident guy,” said coach Lovie Smith. “Most guys coming out of the University of Miami, you don’t have to give them that George Halas speech every day. They feel pretty good about what they’re doing, but Greg does for a reason. He’s a great athlete, a coach’s kid, he’s played at a high level. 

"He knows that he is one of the best tight ends in the league, but you still have to make plays out on the football field. We’re going to him more and more. He is a big part of what we’re going to do the rest of the year. He’s one of our guys. He’s a go-to guy. That play he made late in the fourth quarter was big. It enabled us to win the football game.”

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(chicagobears.com)