Tory Taylor’s big leg, Duvernay’s speed headline Bears special teams

Ariana Pensy · Correspondent · 21 hours ago

CHICAGO - This offseason, the dynamic kickoff became a permanent change in the NFL with one adjustment. To increase returns, touchbacks will now be brought out to the 35 yard line; last season, it was the 30 yard line.

While special teams coordinator Richard Hightower is excited about this change, he will not be revealing his plans for taking advantage of it during the preseason.

“We have looked at that with a really close eye. We’re excited about it. We’ve been playing around with some different things that we hope to roll out (in the) regular season,” Hightower said. “Obviously, won’t do anything in preseason, but preseason’s pretty vanilla. But, regular season, we (are) fired up and ready for some things that we got.”

With Chicago’s first depth chart coming out, it is not surprising to see Scott Daly as the starting long snapper. However, it may be important to keep an eye on the player behind him - Luke Elkin.

While Elkin may only be a rookie, he has gotten Hightower’s attention in training camp especially when he was suddenly thrust into a real-game situation.

“It was good for Luke (because) that’s how it happens in the game. It could happen like that when your number’s called or during the week or whatever. So, it was a good experience for him because it happened on a whim for him,” Hightower said. “But, he did a nice job (but there are) some things in there he could get better at, things that I could get better at, things that all the players can get better at. But, I think it was a good experience for him.”

Punter Tory Taylor is going into his second season in the league. Chicago has the utmost confidence in him, evident by the fact that he is the only punter on the Bears’ roster.

Taylor had a good rookie campaign last year, but Hightower is seeing a lot more out of him this training camp.

“You measure his development from this year to last year. So, where he was every rep that he took last year around this time, you look at what it was last year (and) compare it to his charts, to all the stuff that we do on film and analytically. When you look at it and see where his numbers are and they have grown tremendously,” Hightower said. “So, that’s how we measure it and then how he is as a person and how much more mature he is now and how he’s working how is definitely showing in his punting. He’s hitting the ball really well right now. He hit some of those out the back of the end zone the other day. Returner couldn’t even get to it.”

At returner, there are only two players listed on the current depth chart - Devin Duvernay and Josh Blackwell. Duvernay is listed as the starting kick returner and punt returner while Blackwell is second string at both positions.

Hightower has said before that Ben Johnson is a great head coach that has been heavily involved with special teams. This is something Hightower is doubling down on as the preseason progresses as he said from the other coaches Hightower has been around, he can tell Johnson is one of the greats.

Given he has worked with former and current head coaches Robert Saleh, Matt LaFleur, Kyle Shanahan and DeMeco Ryans, that is quite the statement.

“I know what a good coach (looks) like because I’ve been around all of them. So, I can tell you for a fact, we got a damn good head coach here. A damn good head coach. I’m just telling you. I know what they look like. I’ve been around them,” Hightower said. “He’s heavily involved with special teams. Always in meetings. In practice, whatever we need and then after practice, always asking us, ‘Did you get what you need or did you get what you need in that period? Do you need more time? (How) can I help?’ and for me, for us, that’s worth a million bucks, just the interaction and the involvement that he has. So, he goes above and beyond to try to help not only our area, all areas. He does the same thing with (defensive coordinator Dennis Allen). He does the same thing with other people throughout the building.”