Losing Tarik Cohen was a rough blow for the Chicago Bears. Most think so for what he meant to the offense. However, people had no idea how precious he was to the punt return game until he was gone. Without him, the team was forced to turn to Ted Ginn Jr. It was logical at the time. He had a deep history of success on special teams even if that success was years in his past. A few weeks later, he was cut and replaced by Dwayne Harris.
So what in the world happened? The best way to answer that is Ginn was just that terrible. Over his final four games with the team, the 35-year old fielded just five punts for a total of 24 yards. What made it even worse were the times he chose not to field them at all. Too often the receiver would let a punt bounce rather than even try for a fair catch. This would result in bad field position for the Bears.
The breaking point came in Los Angeles against the Rams.
Chicago started five drives that night at the 7, 10, 1, 6, and 5-yard lines respectively. It’s hard to generate offense and score points in the NFL when you’re constantly backed up like that and Ginn was a primary culprit in that. He didn’t field a single punt that night. Not one. Too often it looked like he was making a business decision rather than trying to help his team win a football game.
That obviously didn’t sit well with head coach Matt Nagy. It was right after that game that Harris got a phone call and was eventually signed to the practice squad. In his first game since the beginning of last year, he had three returns for 17 yards against the Saints. That was enough for the Bears who cut Ginn not long after, making Harris their primary return man moving forward.
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When asked about his philosophy on returning kicks, Harris’ quote instantly came across as a jab at the departed veteran.
"The worst thing you can do is let the ball hit the ground as a returner." – Bears PR Dwayne Harris.
— Zack Pearson (@Zack_Pearson) November 12, 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcezX-hUwfI&ab_channel=ChicagoBears
Dwayne Harris illustrated his point the next week
Against the Titans, he had six returns for 64 yards. One of the best games a player at that position has had since Cohen got hurt. Keep in mind Harris is just two years younger than Ginn. It’s not like he’s a young kid trying to make an impression. He’s simply a guy who knew his job and was doing whatever it took to accomplish it. Safe to say the Bears the absolute right decision plucking him off the market.
This is a guy who wanted the job and knew the job. It’s fair to say Ginn, for all his talent and experience, just didn’t quite have the drive and desire he might’ve had a few years ago. That is not saying he’s a bad player. It is just that it felt too much like he was chasing paydays at this point in his career. Dwayne Harris seems like he wants to play. No doubt a product of him having been out of football since September of 2019.
Chicago is fortunate he was available when he was.