The Chicago Bears locker room has changed a lot over the past three years. Credit for this must go to GM Ryan Pace and head coach John Fox. Their tireless efforts are starting to bear fruit as it becomes clear they didn’t just target players with talent. They also wanted ones with character. Over time it has become a team that plays not only to win, but plays to help each other get better.
It would seem nobody is garnering more determined support from teammates than rookie Mitch Trubisky. Word is the quarterback has endeared himself to everybody. His leadership and unselfish attitude continues to strike a cord. To a point where play is elevating across the board in an effort to take the pressure off him. The running game piled up over 200 yards in Baltimore. The defense suffocated Carolina last week.
All of it in an effort to cover up the reality that Trubisky is handcuffed in the passing game. The poor guy has no weapons to speak of. Tanner Gentry is an undrafted rookie, Tre McBride might as well be a rookie since he’s never started before and Kendall Wright isn’t even good for playing an entire game. That might explain the reaction the locker room had when interesting news dropped on the trade front.
Bears locker room thrilled to hear about trade for Dontrelle Inman
News hit yesterday that Chicago dealt for Dontrelle Inman. The 28-year old veteran wide receiver comes from the Los Angeles Chargers, a team he’s spent the past three seasons with. Prior to that he had a run of success up in the CFL, winning a Grey Cup in 2012. Inman had his best year last season with 810 yards and four touchdowns. Unfortunately a combination of a new coaching staff and first round receiver being added to the mix marginalized him.
Subscribe to the BFR Youtube channel and ride shotgun with Dave and Ficky as they break down Bears football like nobody else.
Pace sensed an opportunity to get a solid target for Trubisky on the cheap and sent L.A. a conditional seventh round pick for him. When the locker room heard about the deal, there was a buzz of excitement. At last Mitch might finally get real support.
Biggest takeaway from #Bears locker room is players wanted to know about Dontrelle Inman. They're happy a newcomer is on the way.
— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) October 25, 2017
One thing you notice pretty fast about Inman is he's a sharp route runner with speed. Tends to get WIDE open. #Bears pic.twitter.com/ylZsrxt9S1
— Erik Lambert (@ErikLambert1) October 25, 2017
One thing that stands out about Inman is his resilience and ability to play under pressure. He was undone as an undrafted free agent in 2011 thanks to the NFL lockout, forcing him to head for Canada. Then in 2014, after barely playing all year he was inserted during the third quarter of a crucial game against San Francisco. Inman posted 79 yards and made a vital 17-yard catch on fourth down with 53 seconds left to force overtime. The Chargers won the game, assuring their second-straight year with a winning record.
Chicago represents the first real opportunity he’s going to have to be a focal point in the offense. Something he never really got in San Diego or L.A. Inman will be a free agent in 2018, so this is basically a job interview for the next nine games. Given how this team operates, they’ll do everything they can to make sure it goes well.
