In 2012, Brandon Marshall was the receiving game of the Chicago Bears. He handled almost the entire work load, clearly better than the other receivers on the team. To paint a clear picture, Marshall put up 1,508 receiving yards, while Earl Bennett and Alshon Jeffery each put up less than 400. The offensive balance clearly was not there, leading to injuries and frustration.
Jeffery was expected to play a big part in the Bears' receiving game after being selected in the second-round of the 2012 Draft. Chicago was hoping he would play as a nice complement to Marshall throughout the season, but he was never able to materialize into a true threat. Jeffery finished the year with just 24 catches for 367 yards and three touchdowns, while missing six games with an injury. Marshall was not thrilled.
"He was softer last year, much softer. Now he's strong. He's a beast," Marshall said.
Jeffery put in a lot of work in the offseason to build up his strength and get fully healthy. After putting in work with Marshall down in Florida, the veteran receiver believes Jeffery is not more suited to carry more of the work load this upcoming season.
"He's like a sponge," said Marshall. "I say, 'Hey bro, this is how you take care of your body.' So he's eating right. Got a chef. Seeing a chiropractor. Getting massages. Studying film. Working out hard. I can't say enough about what he put in."
General manager Phil Emery notes that that Jeffery did not come to the team last season in the best shape. The rookie failed to take care of his body most of last season, leading to several injuries. Now appearing like a totally different player, Jeffery will be relied on heavily as Marshall continues to come back from a hip injury.
So far in training camp, things are looking much better. Quarterback Jay Cutler has hit Jeffery on several deep passes into the endzone. The second-year receiver is now getting a lot of work since Marshall is still being limited throughout training camp.
"He's had a good camp. He's shown strong hands. He's shown the ability to get open in tight coverage and he's coming out every day to compete and he brings added value because he's a good special teams player," head coach Marc Trestman said.
Marshall is expected to continue his dominance on the field in 2013. If Jeffery can finally emerge to be that real offensive threat, Chicago could have an excellent tandem on their hands.
