If I could buy one Bears receiver’s stock in 2019, it’s Allen Robinson. And not just because of this nifty highlight package:
Allen Robinson is ONLY 26 and led the Bears in targets despite missing three games in 2018. He’s a bargain and i’m in at his 2019 fantasy cost. The juice is worth the squeeze. pic.twitter.com/nP7MW5AP0n
— Justin Lonero (@JustinLonero) July 4, 2019
Alright, fine. The highlight package helped.
Robinson has true No. 1 receiver potential and has showcased it at the highest level. Granted, Robinson is four seasons removed from his epic 80-catch, 1,400-yard, 14-touchdown season. But still … that tape still exists and the potential for Robinson to reach (and surpass!) the 1,000-yard barrier still resides in the Bears’ highest-paid wide receiver. And now that Robinson is a full season removed from ACL surgery, Bears fans could be on the verge of something special.
Let this marinate for a moment: Mitch Trubisky and Allen Robinson almost single-handedly won the Bears a playoff game.
Robinson caught 10 passes for 143 yards and a touchdown in the Bears’ playoff loss to the Eagles. That’s not just absurd, it now stands as a Bears postseason record that Robinson is the only player in franchise history to catch 10+ passes for 100+ yards in a playoff game. That’s wild. Robinson wrecked the Eagles secondary, particularly in the second half and specifically when the Bears needed him the most. The performance was a testament to Trubisky making a halftime adjustment, recognizing a matchup advantage, and capitalizing on it at every turn after intermission.
It’s frustrating that it took so long for the Bears to jump on that opportunity, but encouraging that it looked so damn good once they did. Because here’s the thing: Trubisky and Robinson could do that in any given matchup if the advantage presents itself. Between Trubisky’s arm talent and playmaking ability, and Robinson’s size, reliable hands, and route-running ability, this tandem should be as dynamic on a weekly basis as it was in that postseason snap-shot.
The Bears’ defense is set. An All-World pass-rusher leads the way and is joined by two first-team All-Pro defensive backs (Eddie Jackson, Kyle Fuller), an All-Rookie inside linebacker (Roquan Smith), a Pro Bowl defensive lineman (Akiem Hicks), a Pro Bowl alternate linebacker (Danny Trevathan), and a wave of talented veterans and youngsters itching to make plays. Orchestrating it all will be Chuck Pagano, who knows a thing or two about defensive talent. It’s as good as it gets, folks.
But if this team is going to win the Super Bowl, it needs the offense to get up to speed. For that to happen, the Bears will need Trubisky to be better than he was in 2018. And for that to happen, it could take Robinson to make it happen.
I can already hear your critiques that Trubisky is inarguably the offense’s most important player, so don’t think I didn’t take that into consideration when cooking up this post. But Trubisky isn’t going anywhere unless someone in his receiving corps steps it up. And that player might be Robinson.