Smith understands why Seahawks will kick to Hester

Bears coach Lovie Smith isn’t surprised that Seahawks counterpart Pete Carroll has said that Seattle will kick the ball to Pro Bowl return specialist Devin Hester in Sunday’s divisional playoff game.

“I think it’s hard to tell your group that hey, we’re not going to kick to someone, especially in the playoffs,” Smith said. “We wouldn’t do that. Even if it’s a great guy down on the other end, it’s about competition. You’ve got to play.”

Smith is happy that he doesn’t have to contend with Hester, who led the NFL in punt returns this season while setting an all-time league record with the 14th kick return TD of his career.

“I definitely like being on the team with a guy like Devin Hester,” Smith said. “I can see how opposing coaches would feel trying to figure out exactly what to do with him, whether to kick it to him.

“Eventually you have to kick it to him. I just don’t see how you could go an entire game without it. I’m told that they plan on doing it. We don’t see it any other way.”

Hester won’t be the only talented return man on the field Sunday. Seattle’s Leon Washington ranked eighth in the NFL in kickoff returns this season with a 25.6-yard average and a league-high three TDs.

“They have a great returner too,” Smith said. “I know Pete’s probably saying a lot of things about our returner, who is the best in the game. No one can really compare with him. But if you don’t have the best in the game, I think they have a pretty good returner themselves that we’ll have to deal with.”