This new Bears got conviction when you look at the Hester, understanding they could take time learning how-to deploy him to the crime otherwise safeguards while using your on come back video game.
From the 2006 preseason, Hester got four punt efficiency out-of 19 m or higher, and his price, bust and you will capability to transform advice sideways as opposed to missing a defeat were for the full display. Nonetheless was basically expo games facing a good amount of people which do soon feel out from the group.
After that showed up the entire year opener inside the Environmentally friendly Bay. In the very beginning of the next one-fourth, Packers punter Jon Ryan unleashed good 50-turf punt. Hester backpedaled towards 16-lawn line to catch they, become leftover just before easily lowering right, picked an alley and – growth! – was gone having an enthusiastic 84-lawn touchdown.
Hester complete his career having 19 get back touchdowns, all but one as a member of the fresh Carries
“I know we had a gift regarding preseason,” Toub told you. “As he made it happen in the 1st game, it had been unbelievable. We really know. It style of just snowballed toward man and all of us on the same time.”
Five months after, Hester’s 83-yard punt come back is actually the fresh winning get on the twenty-four-23 earn from the Arizona, the very last piece of a remarkable next-50 % of rally.
“It was very sudden,” said Brendon Ayanbadejo, an alternate teams ace just who spent three year towards Bears and you can was a good three-time Pro Dish selection. “That have Coach Toub, the mission were to be the Zero. 1 special teams device. Quickly, Devin made an impression therefore we was such as for instance, ‘Boy, we now have a knowledgeable firearm here.’ He was very fatal. Very unique.”
Hester had four return touchdowns due to the fact a novice – plus a 108-yard go back of an overlooked career objective – and six a whole lot more inside the 2007 even as teams did that which you it you certainly will to modify.
The initial approach were to kick regarding him, and therefore from time to time contributed to kicks out-of-bounds. Then showed up squibs and you will bloops, thus Toub needed to alter the routine techniques and you will manage brand new comes to an end ahead of Hester toward fielding the ball with the kickoff yields. The mark was to get to the fifty, however, things outside of the thirty five try a profit.
“You have to the point where you was basically saying, ‘Just what are they considering this week?’” Toub told you. “It had been enjoyable, boy.”
Which have opponents throwing regarding Hester to the punts, they allowed new Holds to line him abreast of you to definitely side of one’s occupation then rush about other side, knowing the stop is actually oriented in this guidelines
Having organizations constantly kicking away from Hester, Toub been deploying several returners deep with the kickoff efficiency and frequently to the punts. That’s how the famous Johnny Knox enjoy came into this world.
One to lead to a blocked punt from the Packers. The latest Contains also been scheming to operate surfaces into productivity, once you understand coverage teams was overpursuing and you can making openings on the back front.
His fourteen punt go back scores certainly are the most during the NFL background. Add the overlooked community objective get back up against the Gambling into , and then he scored 20 touchdowns towards the special groups with his party going fourteen-4 when it comes to those online game (he’d multiple go back touchdowns in 2 game).
The guy ranking third in every-date punt get back yardage which have step three,696, about simply Brian Mitchell and Dave Meggett. Hester try good about three-big date All the-Expert and you will five-go out Expert Pan options. Just after his arrival, brand new Contains contributed this new NFL in mediocre undertaking career updates for four consecutive season, an excellent reent to help you their feature plus buziak the worry the guy hit into the opponents.