Bears Blitz

Published by Kendrick Marshall on March 3, 2010
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears

Rumor has it Chicago Bears tight end Greg Olsen is not pleased with the prospect of performing in Mike Martz’s newfangled offense come 2010 and wants to be traded.

If that is the case, general manager Jerry Angelo would be wise to get on the phone and play “let’s make a deal” with a prospective interested bidder.

The former 2007 first-round draft pick led the Bears with 60 catches and eight touchdowns in 2009, but Martz reiterated that tight ends in his offense will need to be solid blockers in addition to maintaining their responsibilities in the passing game—a significant weakness Olsen’s game.

“All tight ends, their first responsibility, they have to put their hand down on the line of scrimmage and be a successful blocker, and then they move to receiving,” Martz said in an interview with WSCR-AM 670 in February. “To just skip by that and say, ‘He’s a terrific receiver,’ well, then you might as well just put another wide receiver in there.”

The tight end has not historically been used as a primary target in a Martz system, where wide receivers and running backs are expected to make the majority of contributions.

Just ask Vernon Davis, who only caught 31 balls with the San Francisco 49ers in 2008 under Martz. In 2009, Davis returned to the form that made him a first-round draft pick, hauling in 78 passes and totaling 965 yards and 13 scores working with offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye.

If that holds true, Olsen should be looking to find a new home.

Olsen had been tabbed as the Bears’ de facto wide receiver who also happened to be listed as tight end to work with quarterback Jay Cutler. It was believed that Olsen and Cutler would be an effective combination in exploiting NFL defenses.

However, with a decline in production from running back Matt Forte, implementing inexperienced wide receivers in Johnny Knox, Earl Bennett, and Devin Hester in the West Coast Offense, Olsen was targeted by defenses and became invisible most Sundays as a result.

Trading Olsen would help the team acquire a much needed draft pick after giving up two first-round selections as part of the Cutler trade with the Denver Broncos, and shipping a second-round pick to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the now late Gaines Adams.

Chicago currently is not slated to make their first pick until the third-round of April’s NFL Draft.

The Bears would still have complimentary tight ends Desmond Clark and 6’7″ mountain Kellen Davis in reserve. Chicago could also play the free-agent market and grab a Brandon Manumaleuna or Ben Watson.

Olsen was drafted with high hopes out of the University of Miami, but he has yet to live up to those lofty expectations. Dealing him would be beneficial for Olsen and team brass who will be under tremendous pressure to right the ship after a disappointing 2009 season.

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