Olsens primary duty: Blocking

[Friend_Of_Haley]

Speaking on 670 The Score (WSCR-AM) in Chicago, new Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz praised TE Greg Olsen for his versatility but also said that a primary duty will be blocking. "He's a different tight end than I've had in the past, but all tight ends, their first responsibility, they have to put their hand down on the line of scrimmage and be a successful blocker. They have to be able to do that job and do it well, and then they move into receiving," Martz said. "To just skip by that and say, 'Okay, he's a terrific receiver,' then you may as well just put another wide receiver in there. And he can do these things, and that's where [defenses] have a really difficult time with a tight end that is as well-rounded as he is, that can move around and get isolated on 'backers, can put his hand on the ground and block a defensive end yet get down the field and stretch the defense."

I don't think I like this... I mean I wouldn't mind having Olsen's blocking improve... but he is a receiving TE.

[ChronicKerr]

I'm all for him improving his blocking but he'll never be a blocking tight end. Martz' TE's in the past never get big #'s so I'm all for trading Olsen for Marshall.

[Balance-a-Bull]

It's pretty obvious after watching Olsen for any length of time one would conclude that his strong suit is not blocking.

Since the primary focus of TE is to block in the Martz system, then Des Clark will get the majority of snaps when a TE is in the formation.

With a seven step drop pass orientated offense.....protecting the QB is a premium.

Maybe Martz and Tice can help him improve his blocking skills, otherwise consider him as a receiver in wide out playbook schemes.

[DJhitek]

Martz has to employ Olsen in a Dallas Clark mold, that's what he is a good at. He's our best pass catcher at this juncture, it's simple fact.

[Icness]

Read this as: Martz wants the Bears to trade Olsen because he has no use for tight ends. He had Vernon Davis and kept him in tight too, and look what happened once Martz left and someone who actually knows how to use existing talent came in--Davis led the league in TDs. The % of throws to TEs under Martz has never ranked higher than 29th at any of his stops, including dead last 4 times.

I would not be surprised at all if Olsen is traded. There's no way that a Martz offense is going to carry 3 TEs--if they do it's just Angelo being stubborn and proving that this whole regime is done after next year. Because Clark has value as a blocker and Kellen Davis had value on special teams and can play some H-back (which Martz does use at times), Olsen sure appears the odd man out.

I totally agree with Martz's proclamation that Devin Hester will be used a lot less in the offense and that he's more valuable focusing as a returner. Good move.

Be careful about expectations for Torry Holt--he has lost more than one step. As a coach-on-the-field he's invaluable though and worth the signing.

[Art Vandelay]

I am just not looking forward to this year of football.