Eagles must avoid the bite of Devin Hester

Hes like a shark in the water.

They know hes there but they still have to go swimming.

Devin Hester isnt just one of the greatest returners in the history of the NFL. He is the best and its not even close.

Hes the best ever in a couple different categories, so you respect him and youre very aware that hes there, Eagles head coach Andy Reid said. Whatever you have to do to work with that, thats what you do. I cant sit here and tell you exactly what were going to do, but we know that hes out there. We always know No. 23 and where he is at in the return game.

Hester owns the record for all-time touchdowns as a returner with 17 (11 punts, five kickoffs and one missed field goal). He owns the kick and punt return touchdown record with 16, punt return touchdowns (11), kick returns for touchdowns in a season (6) and punt return touchdowns in a season (4).

Hester has the ability to change any game anytime he touches the ball. And the Eagles have to stop him.

So, how do they stop Hester?

Well, I wouldnt want to reveal my strategy or what were going to do because its almost like calling up Bears special teams coordinator Dave Toub and telling him what were going to do, Eagles special teams coordinator Bobby April said. So Id rather not commit on what were going to do.

While April wouldnt give up the plan of attack on Friday, there arent a ton of ways to approach a player like Hester.

They can either jump right into the ocean or they can stick a toe in and play it safe.

We just have to try to limit his touches, other than that, do what we do, rookie kicker Alex Henery said. I kick it wherever the coach wants me. We have different kicks to vary it up and keep it out of his hands.

But its really hard to keep it out of Hesters hands, especially with how often the Eagles score. Henery will likely be kicking off to Hester quite a few times, that is, if the Eagles offense plays like its capable of playing.

Last season in the Bears game, Hester returned three kicks for 78 yards (26 avg.) and one punt for nine yards.

This season, with the new kickoff rules, many kick returners are being instructed to take a knee for a touchback depending on how deep the kickoff goes. Not Hester. April said he expects the Bears return master to take just about every kick out of the end zone.

Hes just a dynamic player, Eagles rookie kick returner Dion Lewis said. He can do a little bit more. He has a little bit more leeway than I have. Hes a great player. He has the it factor to be a returner, definitely.

The amazing thing about Hester is that he hasnt slowed down. Some returners lose their explosiveness or they become too big a part of the offense to make an impact in special teams. That hasnt been the case for Hester. Hes just as dangerous now as he was when he was a rookie in 2006, when he returned five kicks to the house.

In fact, he was named the NFCs Special Teams Player of the Month in October. He returned a 69-yard punt for a touchdown against the Cowboys and a 98-yard kickoff for a touchdown against the Vikings.

He hasnt slowed down, its almost like hes kicked it up another notch, Eagles rookie punter Chas Henry said. Hes just consistent. Hes just getting better each year.

Henry will have a very important job on Monday. Hell need to make sure he connects on his punts and hits them where April wants them.

If we have to take a little distance off it so its only a 39-yard punt, its better than a 52-yard punt that gets returned for a touchdown. Well just kind of hang it up there high, Henry said. Weve got a great bunch of guys. In the NFL the guys who are blocking are great athletes too. When they double a gunner, it puts a lot of pressure to get down the field and make the play. So that puts a lot of pressure on me. We have done a great job.

When asked if having a rookie punter affects the gameplan against a guy like Hester, April said that it shouldnt. April said that, obviously, Henry is still learning to punt in the NFL and isnt close to his potential yet, but that they have enough trust in him to get it done.

Henry is still growing as an NFL kicker but he hasnt had a lot of opportunities to punt either. He is 33rd in the league with 18 punts and has had only eight returned. April credited the Eagles offense for most of those low numbers.

The Eagles will likely angle punts or ask for more hangtime to stifle Hesters impact but April doesnt want those smaller returns to add up to a big day either.

You know, to steal from Houston Texans defensive coordinator Wade Phillipsyou dont want to get beat by a bomb but you dont want to get killed by a bunch of hand grenades either, April said.

On Friday, April also made sure to mention that Chicagos return unit is dangerous because of more than just Hester. And, Henry echoed what April said.

Hes not just making 11 guys miss, he might make three miss but his blockers do a great job of providing the lanes, Henry said. Thats just something that we have to be aware of.

Besides just talented personnel, April said he thinks Toub (Chicagos special teams coordinator) is one of the top five coaches in the leagueof all the coaches, offense, defense and special teams.

April said that Toubs unit has been at the top of the league for the past five or six seasons, which makes him a great coach.

With all that said, Hester is still the guy who makes the big plays happen.

And the Eagles know hes a shark in the water, they just have to be careful not to get bitten.

Yeah, he has the chance to change a game, Henery said. But if you do what youre supposed to, you can keep him from turning the tide.

E-mail Dave Zangaro at dzangaro@comcastsportsnet.com