Tag: David Montgomery

5 questions we have following Bears’ 2020 NFL Draft

There are still some unknowns continuing through this offseason as a result of the Bears’ 2020 NFL Draft.

The 2020 NFL Draft in the books, but the work has only begun for the Chicago Bears ahead of the scheduled start of the regular season.

While the Bears addressed some issues on their roster — including cornerback, tight end, pass rush and wide receiver — there are still some unknowns continuing through this offseason as a result of the draft.

Here are five questions we have following the 2020 NFL Draft:

1. What’s the plan at strong safety?

Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Heading into the draft, there was a strong belief that the Bears were going to bring in a strong safety to pair with Pro Bowler Eddie Jackson. When guys like Antoine Winfield Jr., Grant Delpit and Jeremy Chinn were still on the board when Chicago’s second-round picks rolled around, it was a surprise when the Bears chose to bypass a safety for a tight end and cornerback.

The Bears currently have four safeties that figure to battle for that strong safety job — Deon Bush, Jordan Lucas, DeAndre Houston-Carson and Kentrell Brice. But none of those guys inspire confidence on a starting basis in the secondary.

Bush figures to be the favorite to win the job. But if the Bears were confident that Bush was the guy, they wouldn’t have brought in Ha Ha Clinton-Dix last season. There are still some safety prospects on the free-agent market, including Tony Jefferson, that the Bears could bring in. Otherwise, it’s likely we’re going to see Bush or Lucas opposite Jackson in 2020.

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Ranking each Bears draft class under Ryan Pace

When you put each of Bears GM Ryan Pace’s first five draft classes next to one another, how do they stack up?

We’re down to just hours before the 2020 NFL Draft officially begins in Las Vegas, NV virtually, giving teams yet another opportunity to improve their roster as the offseason marches on.

For Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Pace, this year’s draft will be his sixth and like most GMs, he’s found his share of diamonds in the rough while missing badly on top prospects.

But when you put each of his first five draft classes next to one another, how do they stack up? Below is a ranking of Pace’s worst to best draft classes between 2015 and 2019.

5) 2019 draft class

Daniel Bartel-USA TODAY Sports

Key hits – None

Key misses – None

It seems a little unfair to rank the Bears most-recent draft class in last place, considering the players have only had one season to develop. But the truth is, none of the Bears five picks have shown they are true hits yet. They also relinquished their first and second-round picks when they traded for All-Pro outside linebacker Khalil Mack prior to the 2018 season.

Their first selection didn’t come until pick No. 73, trading up in the third round for running back David Montgomery. The former Cyclone was decent and definitely showed flashes throughout the season, but he wasn’t consistent enough and only averaged 3.7 yards per carry. He wasn’t bad by any means, but he wasn’t a standout. Most notably, he was the only rookie to play a significant amount of snaps.

Their next pick, wide receiver Riley Ridley, didn’t play a single down until Week 13 and failed to make an impact. Cornerback Duke Shelley, the Bears’ sixth-round pick, spent a large portion of the season inactive, and their pair of seventh-rounders in running back Kerrith Whyte Jr. and cornerback Stephen Denmark were released and spent the year on the practice squad, respectively.

It was a rough year for this rookie class, but the bright side for this group is Montgomery, Ridley, and Shelley will have more opportunities to prove themselves and take the next step in their careers in Year 2.

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4 don’ts for the Chicago Bears in 2020 NFL Draft

Let’s take a look at four things Bears GM Ryan Pace should not do in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Draft week is upon us, and we’re just days away from meeting the Bears’ 2020 draft class. Unlike last season, when it was best player available mentality, Chicago has several needs both on offense and defense that they need to tackle.

While no one can ever gauge what general manager Ryan Pace will do come draft time — which is exactly how he likes it — I have some suggestions for Pace and co. ahead of this 2020 NFL Draft.

Let’s take a look at four things Pace and the Bears should not do in the 2020 NFL Draft.

1. DON’T: Trade up

Tim Boyle/Chicago Sun-Times via AP

Pace has a reputation for seeing his guy and doing whatever it takes to get him. For better or for worse. Although, typically, for worse. For every Khalil Mack there’s a Mitchell Trubisky. For every Eddie Jackson, there’s a Leonard Floyd.

Pace has traded up each of the last four drafts, including twice in 2016 and 2017. In 2016, he traded up to select Floyd and linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski. In 2017, Pace traded up to grab Trubisky and Jackson. Then in 2018, he traded up to draft receiver Anthony Miller, and most recently in 2019, to select running back David Montgomery. Pace isn’t shy about trading up to select guys high on his board, but there’s a belief that changes this year.

Considering the Bears are already thin with the draft capital they currently have — they have just two selections in the first four founds — Chicago can’t afford to be relinquishing picks. Now, trading down on the other hand, that would serve to benefit the Bears and perhaps lock up a third or fourth-round selection.

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Bears have met with Appalachian State RB Darrynton Evans

The Bears are searching for a backup for RB David Montgomery, and they’ve done their homework by meeting with App State’s Darrynton Evans.

There are no shortage of needs for the Chicago Bears, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. While positions like offensive line, tight end and quarterback will draw most of the attention, you can’t ignore needs like running back and wide receiver.

The Bears are certainly doing their homework, as they were among a handful of teams that have met with Appalachian State running back Darrynton Evans during the pre-draft process, according to Draft Wire’s Justin Melo.

It’s no secret that the Bears run game was abysmal — and a big part of the reason why Chicago’s offense sputtered last season. There’s been a renewed focus to correct the run game, so say the Bears, but they can’t ignore that there’s no solid backup for starter David Montgomery.

Tarik Cohen will be listed as the No. 2 back, but he’s a gadget player. Cohen isn’t someone that could take over for Montgomery should he go down with an injury. While everyone’s hopeful for preseason stud Ryan Nall, the Bears don’t know that they can depend on him to be a dependable three-down back should the situation call for it.

Which is why general manager Ryan Pace needs to address running back in this draft. And maybe Evans is the answer for the Bears. Evans is a versatile back that has the traits to be a three-down back in the NFL, and a nice complement to Montgomery.

In 2019, Evans rushed for 1,480 yards and 18 touchdowns on 255 carries last year with the Mountaineers. For his career, Evans rushed for 2,884 rushing yards with 25 rushing touchdowns along with 39 receptions for 319 yards and six receiving touchdowns in three collegiate seasons.

Here’s what NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein had to say about Evans in his evaluation:

Slashing outside-zone runner with glide in his stride and ability to run with elusiveness and creativity. Evans is a little undersized and might be viewed as a change-of-pace option, but he appears to have the three-down skill set to handle committee carries. He can run with patience, but has the loose hips and agile feet to plant-and-go in a hurry. He sees the field and does a nice job of setting up and eluding tacklers with lateral cuts or stacked moves. While he’s confident in space, Evans lacks the commitment and finishing force to make a living inside the tackles. His third-down and kick-return versatility increases the likelihood that Evans will hear his name called in the middle rounds with a chance to become a solid RB2.

Zierlein projects Evans to go in the fourth round. While the Bears don’t currently have a fourth-round selection — they traded that for quarterback Nick Foles — you figure the Bears would be interested in Evans should he happen to fall to the fifth round, where they own pick 163.

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2020 NFL Draft: Bears expected to trade down in 2nd round

Bears GM Ryan Pace isn’t known for trading down to accumulate draft picks, but it sounds like that might change this year.

Bears general manager Ryan Pace has garnered a reputation in the NFL Draft for trading future draft capital and going all-in on players that he believes in. Although, it hasn’t always worked out.

Pace has traded up each of the last four drafts with mixed results. In 2016, he traded up to land outside linebacker Leonard Floyd in the first round and linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski in the fourth round. In 2017, Pace traded up one spot to draft quarterback Mitchell Trubisky No. 2 overall, and he also traded up in the fourth round to land safety Eddie Jackson.

Pace continued the trend in 2018, when he traded up to select receiver Anthony Miller in the second round. Even last year, Pace moved up 13 spots in the third round to select running back David Montgomery.

But something Pace is not known for is trading down to accumulate picks, although he has done so on a couple of occasions.

In a recent mock draft, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune hinted that the Bears are expected to trade down in the second round, which would certainly go against the norm.

The Bears are expected to seek a trade down with at least one of their second-round picks to add depth to their class.

Considering the Bears have just two draft picks in the first four rounds — and with a number of roster needs — it would make sense for Pace to trade back and lock up an extra draft pick, perhaps before the fifth round.

The interesting part about Biggs’ note is that he mentioned seeking a trade with “at least one” of those picks, hinting that trading down with both second-round picks isn’t necessarily out of the question.

This NFL Draft is different from last year’s for Chicago in that it’s not about selecting the best player available. This year, the Bears have several roster needs both on offense and defense that need to be addressed with Chicago’s limited draft capital.

When all is said and done, whether Pace decides to trade back ultimately depends on whether or not one of his guys is still on the board when Pick 43 or 50 rolls around.

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NFL.com believes Bears are well-off at running back in 2020

The Bears’ run game struggled in 2019. Yet, there are some that believe that Chicago is in a good situation with its run game.

The run game was one of the most criticized aspects of an abysmal Bears offense in 2019. And yet, there are some that believe that Chicago is in a good situation with its run game this offseason.

NFL.com’s Jeremy Bergman believes the Bears are in good position at running back heading into 2020. He cited the fact that the entire offense struggled as a whole in 2019, as well as Chicago having two running backs in David Montgomery and Tarik Cohen still on their rookie deals and trending in the right direction.

Chicago’s ground game regressed in 2019, dropping from 11th to 27th after the drafting of David Montgomery and the decision to trade away Jordan Howard. There were other variables at play there, namely the frenzied play of quarterback Mitchell Trubisky and the inconsistency of the Bears as a whole.

But it’s hard to argue that wholesale changes should be made to the backfield, considering Montgomery and Tarik Cohen are both still on their rookie deals and ascending. Chicago should lean on Montgomery much more in 2020 but the Bears could use someone not named Ryan Nall to complement the youngsters. A cheap veteran pickup in free agency is warranted.

Of course, when you look at it from a monetary standpoint, the Bears are in a decent spot, especially when you consider their current predicament in terms of the salary cap. But there’s a reason that one of the focuses of this offseason has been to fix the ailing run game.

Matt Nagy isn’t necessarily someone known to have an affinity toward the running the football, which is exactly why he brought in some new offensive minds that specialize in just that.

New offensive coordinator Bill Lazor, offensive line coach Juan Castillo and even tight ends coach Clancy Barone will no doubt have their fingerprints on Chicago’s plan to address the run game.

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Could we see Cordarrelle Patterson line up more at RB in 2020?

The Bears need to find a way to get Cordarrelle Patterson more involved in the offense, and it sounds like that’s the plan in 2020.

Cordarrelle Patterson was one of the Bears’ biggest weapons last season. And he barely saw the field on offense.

Patterson was named a first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowler for his impressive performance as a kick returner. But those moments that Patterson was involved on offense, he made some impressive plays that kept the chains moving and led to points that were hard to come by in 2019.

But Patterson only played on 18.9 percent of Chicago’s offensive snaps in 2019. He had 11 catches for 83 yards and added 103 yards on 17 carries, including a 46-yard rush.

The Bears need to find a way to get Patterson more involved in the offense, and it sounds like that’s the plan in 2020.

“Yeah, that’s a guy Matt and I have talked about just making sure we’re maximizing his talent,” Ryan Pace told reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine this week. “Obviously he’s an explosive, talented player. That can be at running back, receiver, returner. We’re going to make sure we’re getting the most out to that player because he’s too talented not to.”

While Patterson is officially listed as a receiver, his versatile skillset cannot be defined by a single box. Patterson’s playmaking ability can come on special teams as a kick returner or on offense as a receiver or, yes, as a running back.

Patterson first saw action at running back during his time with the Patriots, where he started back-to-back games in place of the injured Sony Michel. During that 2018 season, Patterson had 42 carries for a career-high 228 yards and one touchdown.

One of the focal points for the Bears this offseason will be to fix their ailing run game. While they drafted rookie David Montgomery to kickstart the run game, it was anything but reassuring. Montgomery had a decent season, but the Bears didn’t trade up for decent.

How do the Bears fix their run game? Getting Patterson more involved in the run game is an option that the Bears are exploring.

“We like the group we have right now,” Pace said. “I think Tarik (Cohen), when he’s rolling, it gives us a scatback. We call it a joker back. And then David, with his ability to break tackles and run with power, and then as we talked, about, you know, maybe sprinkling in Cordarrelle Patterson some and his explosiveness. So, and Ryan Nall, we like Ryan Nall a lot. We like our running backs. That doesn’t mean we can’t continue to add to the room, but I think right now we have a lot of different flavors there that all feed off each other.”

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NFL.com gives Bears 2019 rookie draft class a C+ grade

It was an overall disappointment for the Bears’ rookie class during one of the more disappointing seasons in recent history for Chicago.

It was an overall disappointment for the Bears’ rookie class during one of the more disappointing seasons in recent history for Chicago.

With no first or second round draft picks, the Bears had just five selections. They traded up 13 spots to take running back David Montgomery, who had 889 rushing yards and six touchdowns in his rookie season. But Chicago’s other four picks didn’t has big an impact.

NFL.com ranked the Bears’ rookie draft class third in the NFC North with a grade of a C+, which trailed the Packers (B+) and Vikings (B-).

Beyond the well-documented quarterback issue (SEE: next paragraph), the biggest culprit behind Chicago’s unexpectedly blah season was the offensive line. Bears GM Ryan Pace openly acknowledged the unit’s shortcomings in his end-of-season press conference: “We struggled in that area this year — that’s real.” And therein lies the problem in evaluating the rookie campaign of Montgomery, whose yards-per-carry mark (3.7) left a lot to be desired. But honestly, Chicago’s O-line hung Montgomery out to dry pretty routinely — and obviously, opposing defenses weren’t too worried about getting burned by the Mitchell Trubisky-led passing game on a snap-by-snap basis. Montgomery did his best to overcome these adverse circumstances, breaking the eighth-most tackles in the NFL (47) — which is how he finished second among all rookies in both rushing yards (889) and rushing touchdowns (6).

Montgomery was the only draft selection that made an impact for Chicago in 2019, which made the Bears’ draft class unimpressive considering just one of their five selections saw the field for a significant amount of time.

Besides Montgomery’s production, the Bears didn’t get much of anything out of the rookie class. This isn’t all that surprising, considering Chicago made just five selections last April, with Montgomery being the only player taken before Day 3 of the draft. Coming out of Georgia, Ridley was advertised as a polished route runner — like his brother, Calvin — but he couldn’t even crack the game day roster until Week 13. Adding insult to ineffectiveness: The very next two wideouts selected after Ridley — Hunter Renfrow and Darius Slayton — provided significant Year 1 contributions.

Receiver Riley Ridley and cornerback Duke Shelley saw little playing time. Then there was seventh-round picks running back Kerrith Whyte and cornerback Stephen Denmark that didn’t make any impact on the active roster. Denmark spent the season on the practice squad while Whyte was dealt the the Steelers.

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Three Bears among top-ranked fantasy players for 2020

The Bears offense was terrible in 2019. And yet, Allen Robinson was among 3 players that landed on ESPN’s list of top 100 fantasy players.

The Bears offense didn’t have much to brag about in 2019. They ranked near the bottom of most statistical categories. Simply put, Chicago’s offense was terrible.

And yet, the Bears have three players that landed on ESPN analyst Eric Karabell’s top 100 fantasy football players list for the upcoming 2020 season. Perhaps Karabell sees the Bears offense turning things around, although not necessarily for quarterback Mitchell Trubisky.

Receiver Allen Robinson landed the highest ranking at No. 22, while running backs David Montgomery and Tarik Cohen were ranked No. 41 and No. 91, respectively.

Robinson was the lone bright spot on Chicago’s inept offense. He had 98 receptions for 1,147 yards and seven touchdowns. Robinson notched the first 1,000-yard season for a Bears receiver since 2014, and that was in a struggling offense with questionable quarterback play.

There was a lot of hype surrounding the selection of third-round draft pick Montgomery, but he underwhelmed for the most part. Montgomery finished his rookie season with 889 rushing yards (which ranked 19th in the NFL) and six touchdowns. A lot of that comes from the Bears’ inability to get the run game going, which is no doubt a major focus this offseason.

Then there’s Cohen, who was expected to light it up in Nagy’s offense this season. That didn’t happen. Cohen rushed for 213 yards on 64 carries and caught a career-high 79 passes for 456 yards and three touchdowns. Nagy needs to decide how to best utilize Cohen, and perhaps he’ll see a similar impact that he had in 2018.

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Will Bill Lazor have his fingerprint all over Bears’ run game?

Arguably the biggest failure of the Bears offense last season was the run game. Chicago will be looking to fix it, starting with Bill Lazor.

There’s no doubt that the Bears’ focus for this offseason is fixing the offense that doomed the team in 2019. Not only were they one of the worst offenses in the league, but they had regressed in a season where they were supposed to show a better understanding of Matt Nagy’s offense.

Nagy wasted no time overhauling the offense hiring four new offensive coaches, including offensive coordinator Bill Lazor, quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo, offensive line coach Juan Castillo and tight ends coach Clancy Barone.

While we won’t know how these hirings ultimately affect the offense until the new season begins, there’s an excitement surrounding these hirings that bring a wealth of knowledge to a struggling offense with specific needs.

The Bears are bringing in Lazor as their new offensive coordinator, although Nagy will continue to call plays.

Someone that knows Lazor well is quarterback Matt Moore, who was in Miami when Lazor was the Dolphins’ offensive coordinator for two seasons.

“Man, I like Bill,” Moore said, via WGN. “Bill is a high energy guy. He’s going to hold you to the highest standard. He’s creative. He’s going to try to create speed and space just like anybody. When he was here, he had just come from Philly with Chip Kelly. When you talk about all that space with the bubbles and all that stuff, kind of how the game has evolved, and Bill was right on top of it. So we were doing all that stuff. They got a good coach in Bill Lazor, I know that.”

Arguably the biggest failure of the Bears offense last season was the run game, which was one of the worst in the league. Rookie David Montgomery had a decent season, but he wasn’t helped much by play calling or the offensive line.

Matt Nagy has brought in guys that will no doubt have a hand in fixing that aspect of the offense, including Juan Castillo and Lazor.

“(The run game) was big (with Lazor),” Moore said. “I think that was one of the big things that he brought with him from Philly. So I think he’ll have his fingerprint all over it for sure.”

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