Two tight ends equal one constant for Bears

Jun/17/08 05:38 PM Filed in: Greg Olsen
GregOlsen
Offensively, there’s concerns about the Chicago Bears’ line, quarterback, receivers and running back. That covers everything, pretty much, except tight end.

If the team has one fortified position, that would be veteran Desmond Clark and second-year Greg Olsen.

They don’t like to be thought of as any different from anyone else, though.

“We’re still going out there trying to compete,” Olsen said. “To help the offense out and make each other better, and bring whatever we can to the offense.

“I think we all look at it that we’re all out there together, the whole offense.”

Clark arrived in 2003 after being leaving Miami as an unrestricted free agent. He says it’s a good thing people aren’t expecting much from the revamped receiving corps.

“They’ve gotten a lot of negative publicity because they’re unknown,” he said. “The way they’re working, they could come out and surprise a lot of people this year.

“We’re probably in the best position we can be in — nobody is expecting us to do anything. It gives you something more than your own motivation when you get outside motivation.”

Bernard Berrian and Muhsin Muhammad are gone, leaving as free agents to Minnesota and Carolina, respectively. Brandon Lloyd and Marty Booker were brought in and Earl Bennett was drafted out of Vanderbilt to join holdovers Devin Hester, Rashied Davis and Mark Bradley.

“Brandon Lloyd is probably one of the smoothest receivers since I’ve been in the league, and I’ve played with some smooth receivers,” Clark said. “The way he runs routes, he doesn’t break stride. He’s been so impressive. Marty Booker’s been Steady Eddy; you know what you’re going to get. He runs good routes and catches the ball.

“Devin and Rashied, those are guys who could be big-time playmakers. When we get Mark back from injury (knee), hopefully he’s right there with the rest of them.”

Olsen downplays the differences between Clark and himself, as Olsen appears to line up in more spots than Clark at the team’s current organized team activities that end this week at Halas Hall.

“Des lines up all over the place, too,” Olsen said. “That’s the goal. It helps the offense to be able to move guys around at different positions. So every time you break the huddle, they don’t think he’s going to be on the line with his hand on the ground.

“The more formations you can line up in, the more personnel groups you can do.”

(rrstar.com)