Bears return specialist Devin Hester will present challenge to Giants punter

Discussion in 'NFC North' started by truebluefan, Sep 30, 2010.

  1. truebluefan

    truebluefan Administrator Staff Member Administrator

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    "During many Giants practices in past years, Jeff Feagles would stand on one side of the team's indoor facility and punt to the other side, where a trash can was stationed as a target.

    Feagles wasn't exactly Larry Bird from the wing, but he nearly always put the ball in the vicinity of the can and would occasionally drain one.

    "Jeff was one of the best," Feagles' successor Matt Dodge said Wednesday before adding this ironic comment: "He could probably land it in a trash can if he wanted to."

    On the other hand, when Dodge swings his leg, the Giants are hoping it's not another garbage kick.

    Which brings us to this weekend's game against the Bears, one in which the biggest story line revolves around the often overlooked punting game. That's not to say there aren't interesting tidbits and matchups on offense and defense, just that the Giants will be taking a big risk every time Dodge is sent out there to punt.

    Waiting on the other end of a potential line drive is Devin Hester, who returned a missed field goal 108 yards against the Giants in 2006, took the opening kickoff to the house in that season's Super Bowl and returned a punt 62 yards for a touchdown Monday night to help the Bears secure a victory over the Packers they probably wouldn't have gotten otherwise.

    Hester, who hadn't returned a punt or kickoff for a touchdown since 2007 — mostly because teams had been kicking away from him — reminded the entire NFL the other night how dangerous he can be.

    "Kick it out of bounds," coach Tom Coughlin said he'll tell Dodge.

    Come again?

    "Don't let him have the ball," Coughlin said."

    http://www.nj.com/giants/index.ssf/2010/09/bears_return_specialist_devin.html
     

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