Olsen made big jump from rookie year to second season

LAKE FOREST, Ill. – After a promising rookie year, Greg Olsen took the next step in 2008, delivering one of the most productive seasons by a tight end in Bears history.

Olsen’s 54 receptions were the most by a Bears tight end since Hall of Famer Mike Ditka had 75 in 1964. And with five touchdown catches, the University of Miami product became the first tight end to lead the Bears outright in that category since Emery Moorehead also had five in 1982.

“I thought he made a big jump,” said tight ends coach Rob Boras. “Having gone through a full year in the NFL allowed him to play more confidently, and that allows you to play fast.

“One of his deficiencies was probably in the run game, and his blocking improved. And then just being in the same system two years in a row, his knowledge and his understanding of the system allowed [offensive coordinator] Ron [Turner] to do a lot of different things with him and take advantage of his skills and the mismatches that we felt we could produce.”

Olsen caught more passes in 2008 than any tight end in Bears history not named Ditka, and his 574 yards ranked second on the team behind Devin Hester’s 665 yards.

“I think I had a pretty solid year,” said Olsen, who was named a second alternate to the Pro Bowl. “I got better and did a better job of growing from last year as a rookie.

“There are a lot of things I can continue to get better at, just trying to put myself up in that elite group of tight ends. That’s obviously the goal personally, and I feel like I definitely can do it.”

Looking to take advantage of mismatches with linebackers and safeties, the Bears lined up Olsen all over the field—as a standard tight end, in the backfield, in the slot and even split out wide as a receiver.

The 2007 first-round draft pick probably made the most strides in the running game.

“Greg improved his blocking quite a bit during the course of the year,” said coach Lovie Smith. “I am very pleased with what Greg Olsen did throughout. We didn’t bring Greg here to be an in-line tight end blocking the power 'O,' but in his role that we asked him to do, I think he did it well and he’ll only get better. 

"His future looks bright wherever we choose to put him.”

Olsen and veteran Desmond Clark form one of the NFL’s top tight end tandems. Olsen entered the league with a humble, hard-working mentality that endeared him to his teammates, and Clark helped make the transition easier.

“[Olsen’s] attitude has been a big factor in his improvement and his assimilation into our offense and what he can do for us,” Boras said. “But then Desmond Clark needs to be complimented as well for having a rookie come in and kind of take a guy under his wing and help him.

“The two of them work very well together. There’s a nice combination there.”

(chicagobears.com)