The Chicago Bears are clearly going in a new direct at wide receiver with the arrival of Ben Johnson and his coaching staff. It started to become apparent when they signed Olamide Zaccheaus last week from Washington. Now it’s even more obvious. The team came to terms with two-time Pro Bowler Devin Duvernay, who spent last season with the Jacksonville Jaguars. While he never amounted to much on the offensive side, the veteran has become one of the league’s best special teams players.
Over the past five seasons, he has averaged a healthy 12 yards per punt return and has two kick returns for touchdowns. It is apparent the Bears are looking for guys with speed who can make plays with the ball in their hands. That was the case with Zaccheaus and is with Duvernay. This isn’t a surprise. Johnson sought out the same qualities when he was the offensive coordinator in Detroit. No doubt, he has ideas about how Duvernay can be useful in certain situations.
The Chicago Bears made a few things clear with this move.
First is that special teams coordinator Richard Hightower has plenty of sway inside the building. That shouldn’t be surprising after they elected to keep him after Matt Eberflus was fired. Duvernay is exactly the type of player he’d covet. Then there is the matter of Tyler Scott. The former 4th round pick has tried to find a niche on the roster for the past two years, but issues with dropped passes and lack of versatility saw him relegated to the sideline most of last season. Zaccheaus and Duvernay arriving with their diverse skills make it more likely than ever that he might be on his way out. While unfortunate, it is a grim reminder that most later-round draft picks don’t pan out. Either way, the Chicago Bears look like a much deeper team at wide receiver now.
This has very little to to with the WR room and all to do with special teams. No Velus means if a #4 WR can be a backup return man then #6 WR can be a dedicated return man. It is looking like there is a plan to build a roster from top to bottom. Speaking of IQ, this seems pretty intelligent to me.
My comment will be relevant, but irrelevant (according to me) – I’m intrigued by all these moves. I research them as I read about them as that’s the level of fan I’m at. So many of you are so much more intricately intelligent in this arena. That does not intimidate me…lol, but Yeah, I’d like to catch up – as my passion for this team is of the utmost. The Bears will always be my first love. Having said all this nonsense – What took the Bears organization SO LONG to get serious about Football? Seriously? Did they just enjoy… Read more »
Most “later round” picks don’t have the best chances to make it. THE reason they are drafted late (or not at all), is the issues they have, either in their game, their physical limitations (height, speed), or their lack of experience, means that teams have to compensate as much as possible, as fast as possible. Refuse to coach, and 95% of players won’t work out. That is a huge chunk of resources. So few players have the ability to coach and train themselves, that you could spend decades hoping that they all land on one team.
Scott, Zaccheaus and Duvernay will all start even and battle it out in camp. This might be the best competition to watch develop. Who can learn Johnsons offense the quickest.
Tacos and anchovies?