We all saw this one coming. The day that former Miami punt returner, kick returner and sometimes wide receiver/cornerback Devin Hester started flaunting his stuff in the NFL – causing an outcry that his talents were underused during his tenure at the University of Miami.
Chicago Sun Times staff reporter, Brad Briggs wrote an article this morning called “Hester glowing like neon” and in his praise of Deebo’s skills – there were some quotes and knocks on how The U failed to use the former #4 correctly. Below is an exerpt from Briggs’ article:
Hester’s affinity for Sanders has affected his position. He dreams of playing cornerback, and that’s a primary reason why he has not been moved to offense. Hester chooses his words carefully, but his heart lies on defense and that’s what he told Bears coach Lovie Smith when he was approached a week after the draft to see if he had an interest in moving to the other side of the ball. But he’s willing to do what is best for the team, and if it means playing offense, he’s game.
He is moving elsewhere — up the depth chart, passing Dante Wesley last week to become the backup to Nathan Vasher on the right side. When Charles Tillman needed a breather in the second half, the Bears felt good giving Hester three snaps with a safe lead.
”The game slowed down for him,” secondary coach Steve Wilks said. ”That’s the key. We gained a lot more confidence in him because he gained a lot more confidence in himself.”
Hester’s athletic ability is off the charts. But along with his plant and drive, change of direction, flexible hips, burst and vision, he needed assuredness.
”It was a confirmation when they moved me up the depth chart,” he said. ”That told me to keep my head up and keep working to get better.”
Everyone involved agrees he would be further along if he hadn’t been switched back and forth so much in college. Sanders blamed the Miami program for putting out the word that Hester struggled to learn the playbook, perhaps because the Hurricanes were upset he would not be returning for his final season of eligibility. Hester had a team-high four interceptions as a sophomore, more than first-round pick Antrel Rolle.
”Miami pretty much missed the boat,” Sanders said. ”I don’t understand how a guy can’t learn the defense when he led them in interceptions. Then as a junior, he can’t learn the same defense?
”Not only that, but then they featured him on offense in the [Peach] Bowl. The same guy who couldn’t learn the defense could learn plays on offense? That puzzled me, and we just had to get around that whole rap. If they would have played that kid the whole time on defense, he would have been a first-round cornerback.”
For his part, Hester said he’s not upset, but he added, ”I know they are going to regret they didn’t play me more.”
Hester’s career at The U will remain a mystery. Many will remember the super-freshman returning the opening kickoff against Florida; 97-yards for the touchdown. A year later he changed the tone of the game with a 78-yard punt return for a go-ahead score against Louisville – as well as another opening kickoff, this time at NC State.
There was the field goal block and touchdown return against Florida, the blocked field goal against Florida State, highlight reel returns against the likes of Duke and Temple – as well as some stellar run backs after interceptions.
Then there was the Peach Bowl Massacre.
In an effort to sell Hester on returning to The U for his final season, Coker and staff put together a game plan which featured Deebo on offense. It was playground football, at best. 9 plays for 68 yards, receiving and rushing – simply by just forcing the ball to the most ‘talented’ kid on Miami’s side of the ball.
The experiment failed, the Canes got worked 41-3 and Hester declared for the NFL Draft weeks later, drafted by Chicago in the third round.
Miami coaches oft knocked Hester for his inability to learn the playbook – while bouncing him back and forth between offense and defense, in an effort to get him on the field. At day’s end, it appears that Hester is set to be a cornerback in the NFL, as well as a stellar return man. Why did the Hurricanes coaching staff shy away from putting Hester at cornerback and leaving him there for a few years? I don’t know.
Maybe he really couldn’t learn the playbook. Maybe his head wasn’t in it until he started getting those NFL paychecks. Maybe he was in Randy Shannon’s doghouse. Lord knows enough talented kids have ended up there the past few seasons.
Whatever the case, Devin Hester is going to become a household name as he continues sharpening those NFL skills – bringing joy to Bears fans and frustrating those Canes who feel his skills were greatly underused.