LAKE FOREST, Ill. – On the first play of team drills during Wednesday’s OTA practice, Devin Hester hauled in a Jay Cutler bomb deep down the right sideline for a touchdown.

After producing only one TD of over 50 yards last year after amassing 14 such plays in his first two NFL seasons, Hester is hoping that the long reception was a preview of things to come.

“It’s just showing a glimpse of what this season could look like,” he said.

Devin Hester scored three touchdowns in 2008 after tallying 15 in his first two years.

Hester led Bears wide receivers with 51 catches for 665 yards and 3 TDs last year. But he didn’t deliver as many big plays on offense or in the return game as he had anticipated. After compiling 13 TDs on special teams in his first two seasons, Hester failed to return any punts or kickoffs for scores in 2008.

“The season I had last year wasn’t up to my high expectations,” said the 2006 second-round draft pick from Miami. “This year I’m coming out trying to be better than I was the first two years. My goal this year is to just come out and make big plays like I normally do.”

The dearth of big plays was evident when Hester watched television the past few months.

“I was kind of getting upset because when they show commercials on ESPN and NFL Network, I’m not one of the players they show,” he said with a smile. “I know there’s a reason why—because of the season I had last year. This year, hopefully during the middle of the season, I’ll be on some of those commercials.”

On track: Having not missed a day of the offseason program, Cutler continues to make a smooth transition. If he hasn’t mastered the offense yet, that moment is rapidly approaching.

“I think he’s getting it,” said offensive coordinator Ron Turner. “I don’t know if he has it yet. There are a lot of similarities concept-wise to what he’s done in the past. Maybe the terminology is different, but the concepts are the same. There’s some carryover. In the short time he’s been here, I think he’s getting a real good grasp of it.”

Cutler continues to amaze teammates and coaches with his remarkable arm strength.

“He’s got some zip,” Turner said. “The ball comes out. It’s taken a little bit of an adjustment and still a little bit of adjustment for the receivers to know how quickly the ball is going to get on them.”

The acquisition of Cutler has created a huge buzz and limitless possibilities for the Bears offense.

“Overall I feel good,” Turner said. “I’m excited, I really am. I also realize that it’s not going to happen overnight. It’s going to take time. It’s going to take a lot of work.

“We’re real excited about Jay obviously. He’s generated a lot of excitement in the locker room. I think we have a lot of good players around him, but it’s going to take a while for everything to mesh. It doesn’t just happen. We need a lot of reps. We need to get a lot of reps with him and the receivers with everybody getting on the same page to get the timing and the rhythm. It’s going to come. But it’s going to take some time and work.”

Backup option: Expectations are high for backup running back Kevin Jones, who likely will see expanded playing time behind starter Matt Forte. Jones rushed for 109 yards on 34 carries in limited action last year.

Jones signed with the Bears last July 15 and opened training camp on the physically unable to perform list while recovering from a torn ACL. A year later, he’s healthy and participating in the offseason program.

“Kevin will fit in real well,” Turner said. “We’re excited about him. He had an off-season. Last year when we got him he was coming off that knee injury and wasn’t in the best of shape because of the knee. He’s had a year to learn our system and a year to get that knee better.”

Looking good: Rookie receiver Johnny Knox, a fifth-round pick from Abilene Christian, has displayed quickness, speed and good hands in OTA practices.

“It’s coming along each day,” Knox said. “I have to take my time and just have to get the feel of the quarterback from Week 1, but I am feeling really comfortable each day.”

Asked to identify the biggest adjustment from college to the NFL, Knox said: “The playbook. There are a lot more plays, and there’s a lot more speed and I have to read coverages on the run, so I’m just trying to learn that.”