NEWSLETTER
There was a time when Kendall Wright was a big-play receiver, and it’s up to Mike Glennon and the Chicago Bears to re-kindle the magic.
Wright was part of the first wave of free agent signings, and one of the more established names the Bears signed. But unlike Dion Sims, who is still a work in progress with potential untapped upside, we’ve seen what Wright can do when given opportunities. Now that he has been given a fresh chance in Chicago, it’s all about getting those chances again – and making the most of them.
Tom Thayer put together a little film review on one of the Bears’ newest receivers, and it’s worth watching:
Thayer goes through some of the most important traits Wright possesses, but the key here might be his versatility. Since the Bears don’t have a traditional No. 1 receiver, offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains will need to get creative in order to get the most out of his top pass catchers. Enter Wright, who can work from outside the numbers and inside the slot.
In the film review, Wright shows off two of his strongest traits – versatility and open-field running – as he takes a hand-off and breaks it open for a big gain thanks to good instincts and field vision. He shows off versatility again later in the video, but this time adds great in-the-air ball-tracking ability. Couple that with the ability and willingness to work the middle of the field knowing what’s waiting in the form of hard-hitting defenders could separate Wright from the rest of the Bears’ receivers.
This will be of the utmost importance to Glennon, who has arm strength to thread the needle, and throws a good-looking deep ball when given time and space to operate within the pocket.
Still, there is considerable risk in the deal … but none of it has to do with money. Building a relationship with a quarterback is already difficult on the surface, but doing so under the microscope of a one-year deal makes it all the more challenging.
For more on Wright and his fit on the Bears, check out our ‘Getting To Know’ series on the shifty wide receiver.
