NEWSLETTER
Every summer of football unearths a player whose story compels you to root – perhaps, disproportionately – for his future success. And according to Chicago Bears Head Coach Matt Nagy, that player is wide receiver Kevin White:
Matt Nagy said of Kevin White: "I root for underdogs. I love underdogs. And when you have an underdog that fights his tail off to improve, and when people don't believe in him and he proves the people that do believe him right, then there's nothing better than that."
— Chris Emma (@CEmma670) August 25, 2018
White scored his first professional touchdown on Saturday, a 29-yard catch from Chase Daniel, after putting a sweet double-move on Orlando Scandrick of the Kansas City Chiefs.
We truly can’t get enough of this:
You gotta like seeing this. #KCvsCHI pic.twitter.com/es3Yb0TXVy
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) August 25, 2018
The score was a long time coming for White, who has appeared in just five regular season games since being drafted with the seventh overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. If not for his much-talked-about injury plagued past, we would be amazed that it’s taken this long for White to find paydirt. In any case, we’re happy to see him finally make it, but now’s the time for the former first-round pick to start showing more of that.
Because here’s the thing about White: No one has seen what he can do on a football field, as he simply hasn’t been on one long enough to tap into his skills or reach his full potential. Perhaps that’s reason enough for the Bears to have been as cautious with White as they have been all summer.
But here’s how that cautiousness and uncertainty becomes an advantage: This team has enough pass-catching options between a wave of new wide receivers and tight ends, as well as having capable rushers able to haul in passes out of the backfield, that they don’t need to rely on White. At all. Indeed, that seems to be the plan.
But if the likes of Allen Robinson, Anthony Miller, Taylor Gabriel, Trey Burton, Tarik Cohen, and others are doing their part, that’s going to leave White with opportunities to make plays without being a focal point for the defense (or the pressure of the fans). And if he can come out and be a capable third or fourth option, then great. If he taps into that high upside and first-round pedigree, that’s even greater. If not, there’s really no love lost. At least, not anymore.
During a taped pregame segment on FOX before Saturday’s game, White discussed how, prior to this season, he would let setbacks negatively impact his entire mindset. But with positive vibes surrounding him thanks to a new head coach, lower expectations, and new teammates, it’s easier to take and maintain a next-play mentality: “I want everything so perfect all the time, if it doesn’t go the way I expect, I beat myself up over it – even after practice,” White said. “You make a bad play or a good play, that play is over with and there’s nothing you can do about it.”
Fortunately, the Bears have offered encouragement and positive reinforcement at every turn along the way. They have also successfully managed White’s preseason snaps, holding him out of the preseason-opening Hall of Fame Game and putting him in the best position to succeed during the exhibitions in which he has played. So now, he’s like a lottery ticket without much risk. If he hits, the Bears win. If it doesn’t work out (again), well, the receiving corps is in plenty good shape without him. That’s the kind of underdog you want – one with a ton of upside, and very little team-wide risk.
