Daily mailbag: Olsen trickery unmasked
July, 26, 2010
7/26/10
2:39
PM ET
By
Kevin Seifert | ESPN.com
I couldn't get anything past Cory of La Crosse, Wis., in our most recent weekend mailbag. After I suggested that the Chicago Bears' Greg Olsen would catch a record-setting number of passes this season for a tight end in a Mike Martz offense, Cory wrote:
Ah, you got me, Cory. I knew I wasn't taking a huge leap with that response. In fact, we've been discussing the numbers in the chart below for months. But in all seriousness, I would truly be shocked and disappointed in Martz's schematic abilities if Olsen finishes with less than 40 receptions. We'll touch on that issue and many others when I arrive Friday in Bourbonnais, Ill., for the first stop of my annual training camp tour. More to come.
The "bold" statement about Greg Olsen setting a record for most catches for a tight end in a Martz system isn't too bold, as it is a necessity. He would only need to catch 39 balls to eclipse that record (Ernie Conwell -- 38 in 2001), and for a Bears offense to have any chance of winning games, he would definitely need to catch more than 40 passes.
Ah, you got me, Cory. I knew I wasn't taking a huge leap with that response. In fact, we've been discussing the numbers in the chart below for months. But in all seriousness, I would truly be shocked and disappointed in Martz's schematic abilities if Olsen finishes with less than 40 receptions. We'll touch on that issue and many others when I arrive Friday in Bourbonnais, Ill., for the first stop of my annual training camp tour. More to come.
TIGHT ENDS IN A MIKE MARTZ OFFENSE
Bears tight end Greg Olsen led the team with 60 receptions and eight touchdown catches last season. He also had 612 receiving yards, but things may be changing under new offensive coordinator Mike Martz. Since 1999, when he became offensive coordinator in St. Louis, Martz has never had a tight end make more than 38 receptions, catch more than six TDs or accumulate more than 431 yards.
| Years | Team | Leading tight end | Rec. | Yards | TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | San Francisco | Vernon Davis | 31 | 358 | 2 |
| 2007 | Detroit | Sean McHugh | 17 | 252 | 0 |
| 2006 | Detroit | Dan Campbell | 21 | 308 | 4 |
| 2005 | St. Louis | Brandon Manumaleuna | 13 | 129 | 1 |
| 2004 | St. Louis | Brandon Manumaleuna | 15 | 174 | 1 |
| 2003 | St. Louis | Brandon Manumaleuna | 29 | 238 | 2 |
| 2002 | St. Louis | Ernie Conwell | 34 | 419 | 2 |
| 2001 | St. Louis | Ernie Conwell | 38 | 431 | 4 |
| 2000 | St. Louis | Roland Williams | 11 | 102 | 3 |
| 1999 | St. Louis | Roland Williams | 25 | 226 | 6 |
Kevin Seifert | email
NFL- ESPN NFC North Blogger
- Joined ESPN in 2008
- Covered the Minnesota Vikings for the Minneapolis Star Tribune for eight years
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Kevin Seifert
Seifert joined ESPN.com in 2008 after covering the Minnesota Vikings for the Minneapolis Star Tribune for eight years. He lives in the Twin Cities with his wife and children.
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