Gunning with "Relentless" Rashied Davis

Though he was one of just four wide receivers dressed for the Bears’ first two games, Rashied Davis had next to nothing to do with the passing game. In his handful of offensive snaps, he didn't have any passes thrown his way. That’s a steep drop from last year’s pace, when the 30-year-old made 27 of his 35 catches in the first half of the season.

Since his former role doesn’t seem to be returning any time soon, this means Davis’ primary contributions must come on special teams. To be specific, as a gunner on the punt coverage team. Whether there are one or two opponents lined up across from him when Brad Maynard punts the ball, Davis is expected to be downfield to make the tackle.

“I don’t want to give away all my secrets,” Davis said. “But a lot of it has to do with being relentless. Maybe on other teams it’s OK (not to make the plays when double-teamed), but here Corey (Graham) and I are expected to make plays.”

In Sunday’s game against Pittsburgh, the Steelers varied their punt-return plan against Davis. Sometimes starting cornerback Ike Taylor was one-on-one with Davis. Other times he had a helper. Every time, apparently, Taylor had something to say. On more than one occasion at the end of punt returns on Sunday, Davis and Taylor locked jaws and exchanged shoves.

“24 (Taylor) started talking right from the start and I wasn’t having it,” Davis said. “Usually I’m not like that. I like to have a little small talk with guys, try to keep it light. Like, ‘Why aren’t you guys double-teaming me? You need to get some help.’ But with him talking heavy from the beginning, I knew I was already in their heads.”

Davis’ strategy to get downfield depends on the coverage he’s facing. If he has a “single-up,” then he’s going to make a quick move to shed his guy and get downfield ASAP. If he’s facing double coverage, he’ll examine their stances to try to gauge what type of return might be on. If the two opponents are spaced evenly on either side, then he’ll take a different tack as opposed to having one guy right over him and the other guy inside or outside.

By Davis’ count, Pittsburgh’s double-teams kept him from getting downfield on just one of Maynard’s 6 punts on Sunday.

The ultimate compliment to a gunner?

“When you’re double-teamed every play,” he said.

LW