The Chicago Bears are beginning to prepare for their week three road matchup against the Atlanta Falcons, but they have to be pleased with their 2-0 start. One of the reasons for their undefeated start is due in part to their rookie draft class, including those on offense. Wide receiver Darnell Mooney and tight end Cole Kmet have been vital to the success of the offense so far and yet haven’t shown their true potential.
Darnell Mooney first NFL reception goes for 19 yards.
That route 🔥 pic.twitter.com/OPYrIEIKad— Christian (@ChristianR_Vill) September 13, 2020
Mooney has been the most impressive rookie of the Bears 2020 Draft class so far as he has caught six passes for 79 yards and a touchdown through his first two games as a pro. So far, the rookie wide receiver has displayed different veteran traits in the first two games. In the season opener against the Lions, Mooney caught a 19-yard pass over the middle in which he made a great decision to sit in a zone, giving quarterback Mitchell Trubisky an accurate completion. Against the Giants this previous Sunday, the rookie caught a 15-yard touchdown pass on a broken play. What made the catch so great was that he boxed out the bigger defender to catch the pass and won the 50/50 ball.
How about this?
In a season where rookies are suppose to be at a disadvantage, Darnell Mooney out snapped (39 to 26) Anthony Miller in W2. #Bears pic.twitter.com/bOoO9NmFKo
— Adam Nessel (@AdamNessel) September 22, 2020
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These plays are so important because the Bears have yet to use Mooney for the initial reason why they drafted him, which was for his downfield speed. When the Bears drafted the Tulane receiver in the fifth round, they envisioned him as a deep-ball receiver. Through the first two games, though, Mooney has been used as a possession slot receiver as Trubisky has yet to attempt a +20 yard throw to the receiver. As the season progresses, head coach Matt Nagy will likely dial up a few deep-ball plays for the rookie in the coming games given the type of route has been used on so far.
Another significant rookie on offense has been the second-round tight end in Kmet. Unlike Mooney, the former Notre Dame product has made an impact through the running game so far. The Bears have rushed for over 100-yards in each of the team’s first two games as several of their most productive rushes have come in two-tight end sets. Kmet has helped with run-blocking while only having one catch for 12-yards in the first two games. The tight end was drafted to be a reliable pass-catching target and being a useful run-blocker.
Bears running ball well enough but passing game too tentative, too inconsistent and all too familiar.
— David Haugh (@DavidHaugh) September 13, 2020
If Chicago’s other tight end in Jimmy Graham can continue to make plays, especially downfield, it will help free up Kmet underneath, which is one of the roles of the tight end in Nagy’s offense. The rookie tight end’s presence in the passing game can grow game by game as the season progresses to where he is becoming a reliable target over the middle in the latter half of the season.
Cole Kmet’s first career catch ☘️ https://t.co/hb0YrpQ09h
— Notre Dame Recruiting (@NDrecruiting01) September 20, 2020
It is promising that the Bears have seen unexpected positives through their two offensive rookies, especially with no preseason games to provide live-game experience to grow. Mooney nor Kmet has had a breakout game yet, which is also a great sign of things to come. The rookies have, however, performed traits that veterans posses without showing the talents which attracted the Bears to draft them. That time will come soon, and when it does, it will only make the Bears offense that more dangerous.
