Darnell Mooney could be the speedy receiver the Chicago Bears need
Rookie Darnell Mooney is turning heads at Chicago Bears training camp.
The Chicago Bears have needed a speedy receiver who could extend the defense. When that happens, the other receivers have more space to operate. Once they make the catch they can make moves to gain more yards. By getting big chunks of yards, the offense doesn’t have to constantly march on double-digit drives to score. An offense won’t score very much if it only moves two or three yards a play.
The Bears haven’t had that kind of speedy receivers for quite some time now. Between 2009-11, the team thought they had that guy in Johnny Knox. He was doing that job and improving. He was the Bears’ fifth-round pick (140th overall).
He made the Pro Bowl in his rookie season using his speed as a return specialist and became an integral part of the offense. Then he suffered a horrific injury in a game and his career was suddenly over. The Bears haven’t had a receiver like him since.
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This offseason, the Bears put a priority on adding speed to the wide receivers corps. They signed free agent Ted Ginn Jr., a player who, even at 35 years old, has plenty of speed to burn.
The team wasn’t finished with acquiring speed, however. General manager Ryan Pace wanted more so he drafted Darnell Mooney out of Tulane. Again, the Bears went to the fifth round to get their speedster.
Darnell Mooney gives the Chicago Bears speed to burn.
The Bears knew they had a fast receiver. Mooney ran a 4.38-second 40 at the NFL Combine, the third-fastest among receivers and fifth-fastest overall. What the team didn’t know, though, was that his speed didn’t drop off much with the pads. There have been plenty of players who look great and perform well in shorts but look different once the pads come on.
Mooney isn’t that kind of player.
So far in camp, Mooney is turning heads. He’s shown off his blazing speed. More than that, he’s showing maturity beyond his age and that speed isn’t the only part of his game. He caught head coach Matt Nagy’s attention, via the team’s official website:
"“Darnell’s done a really good job at soaking up his role, and I think with him, he’s a kid that you don’t see any change any day. He practices the same way that he plays, whether it’s a rapid practice with coach [Mike] Furrey or whether it’s a full rep in a team period 7-on-7.”"
Nagy went on to say that Mooney reminds him of Allen Robinson, the Bears’ top receiver. That is high praise for a rookie. Additionally, he’s asking a lot of questions and going to Robinson and Ginn, the veterans, for advice.
Mooney has done a lot to earn his snaps in camp. He’ll have to continue to work hard to see them in the regular season, however. The Bears have Robinson, Ginn, Anthony Miller, Riley Ridley and Javon Wims. As well as Mooney has been in camp, he’ll start the season as the low man on the totem pole. He’ll have to start the fight all over again when the season begins.
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As far as Mooney has progressed so far, we know that Mooney will do whatever it takes to move up the pecking order. He’ll prove himself to be an integral part of the offense and help the offense score some points. He could be similar to Knox, and that spells good news for the Chicago Bears.