September 9th, 2009 9:37pm PST
Olsen is Ready to Explode
Bear’s tight end will thrive in 2009…..
When Jay Cutler was traded to the Bears in the offseason, there were a lot of unhappy campers in Denver and one overjoyed Bear in Chicago. With a great talent like Cutler under center, the Bears finally have a strong arm to anchor the passing game.
There’s no question that in Denver, Cutler was one of the league’s “elite” passers. Now that he has arrived in the Windy City, that adjective may change some, but to tight end Greg Olsen and the Bear’s offensive coordinator Ron Turner that means very little. Cutler brings a big arm that is capable of making plays and throws that weren’t possible before his arrival and you can bet this is what matters in Chicago.
For Olsen the team’s second leading pass catcher a year ago with 54 receptions, Cutler’s arrival will give the passing game a huge and badly needed injection. Drafted out of the University of Miami, Olsen is a well skilled and highly talented pass catcher who posses great speed for a man his size. In college Olsen didn’t put up tremendous stats, but at 6’4” and 250-lbs his 15.4-yards per catch average was impressive.
Playing in a conservative play-calling system, Olsen has yet to reach his full potential, although last season the team did start to realize his real value. Last season Olsen lined up as the team’s primary second tight end (started just seven games), but it was clear he was also the team’s best receiving tight end. With a change at quarterback, don’t expect to see the former Hurricane blocking. Olsen is going to be utilized much more in the vertical passing game and expect the team to move him around quite a bit to create mismatches.
Last season Olsen caught more than 50 balls as the team’s number two. With GM Jerry Angelo endorsing the rise of Olsen and believing the third year tight end is “ready to explode” it’s hard to not believe this has to be the thinking going into the 2009 season. Olsen was named the team’s starter early in camp, and there is every reason to believe without a superior wideout on the squad, Olsen is going to take on a similar role in Chicago as the one Tony Gonzalez occupied in KC for so many years.
This tight end’s notoriety is growing fast and the new big-arm they now have in Chicago is no secret. With more comfortable names going first in fantasy drafts, Olsen is more likely to be a mid-level selection, but word to the wise; he may be going a little cheap, but don’t let him slide too far.
The Bears passing game ranked 21st last season, but it won’t finish that poor in 2009. Cutler’s arrival will most certainly influence the rise of the pass game in the Windy city and fantasy owners can expect Olsen to be one of the team’s biggest beneficiaries. (2009 Predictions: 68 receptions, 685-yards receiving, 8 touchdowns)
By David Ortega
Check back for more “Fantasy Talk”
Olsen is Ready to Explode
Bear’s tight end will thrive in 2009…..
When Jay Cutler was traded to the Bears in the offseason, there were a lot of unhappy campers in Denver and one overjoyed Bear in Chicago. With a great talent like Cutler under center, the Bears finally have a strong arm to anchor the passing game.
There’s no question that in Denver, Cutler was one of the league’s “elite” passers. Now that he has arrived in the Windy City, that adjective may change some, but to tight end Greg Olsen and the Bear’s offensive coordinator Ron Turner that means very little. Cutler brings a big arm that is capable of making plays and throws that weren’t possible before his arrival and you can bet this is what matters in Chicago.
For Olsen the team’s second leading pass catcher a year ago with 54 receptions, Cutler’s arrival will give the passing game a huge and badly needed injection. Drafted out of the University of Miami, Olsen is a well skilled and highly talented pass catcher who posses great speed for a man his size. In college Olsen didn’t put up tremendous stats, but at 6’4” and 250-lbs his 15.4-yards per catch average was impressive.
Playing in a conservative play-calling system, Olsen has yet to reach his full potential, although last season the team did start to realize his real value. Last season Olsen lined up as the team’s primary second tight end (started just seven games), but it was clear he was also the team’s best receiving tight end. With a change at quarterback, don’t expect to see the former Hurricane blocking. Olsen is going to be utilized much more in the vertical passing game and expect the team to move him around quite a bit to create mismatches.
Last season Olsen caught more than 50 balls as the team’s number two. With GM Jerry Angelo endorsing the rise of Olsen and believing the third year tight end is “ready to explode” it’s hard to not believe this has to be the thinking going into the 2009 season. Olsen was named the team’s starter early in camp, and there is every reason to believe without a superior wideout on the squad, Olsen is going to take on a similar role in Chicago as the one Tony Gonzalez occupied in KC for so many years.
This tight end’s notoriety is growing fast and the new big-arm they now have in Chicago is no secret. With more comfortable names going first in fantasy drafts, Olsen is more likely to be a mid-level selection, but word to the wise; he may be going a little cheap, but don’t let him slide too far.
The Bears passing game ranked 21st last season, but it won’t finish that poor in 2009. Cutler’s arrival will most certainly influence the rise of the pass game in the Windy city and fantasy owners can expect Olsen to be one of the team’s biggest beneficiaries. (2009 Predictions: 68 receptions, 685-yards receiving, 8 touchdowns)
By David Ortega
Check back for more “Fantasy Talk”
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