It’s Almost Time to Meet the Rookies and Other Bullets

Jun 24, 2019

Witnessing my favorite Cub hit his 100th career home run in a win against the ever-annoying Mets was the highlight of my weekend. Here’s hoping your summer is off on the good foot, too.

Nothing like getting the week started with a little bit of rookie-related hype:

The Bears’ annual “Meet The Rookies” documentary series is always a treat. It gives us a fresh perspective on players who are about to step into the NFL and puts them in a different light than what we’re used to seeing them in. If there’s ever to get in on the ground floor of a player who could become a fan-favorite in no time, just know that the time is coming soon. The series is scheduled to kick off on Tuesday.

This year’s “Meet The Rookies” series will feature third-round running back David Montgomery, fourth-round receiver Riley Ridley, and undrafted free agent tight end Dax Raymond. Each player will have their own challenges as they make their first strides in life as an NFL player. Raymond probably has the toughest climb to make the season-opening 53-man roster. The tight end position needs help, but Raymond was an undrafted free agent signing and is a bit rough around the edges. Position coach Kevin Gilbride Jr. will have his work cut out for him as he tries to get Raymond up to speed this summer.

Let’s keep the good vibes rolling. Kristopher Knox (Bleacher Report) selected second-year receiver Javon Wims as the biggest standout from the Bears’ offseason training program. That’s good news for Wims, who is in a battle of his own for attention and playing time in a deep wide receiver unit. With Allen Robinson, Taylor Gabriel, Anthony Miller, and Cordarrelle Patterson in the group, there are times when it will be tough for the likes of Wims to make hay. But as we pointed out last week, Wims has caught the eye of Head Coach Matt Nagy and has been working with the first-team offense during OTAs. Certainly, this will help his cause.

If Wims can grow in practice while these guys are blanketing him, then I can’t wait to see what he’ll have in store for the league’s other corners.

The Bears were ballhawks last season with the second-highest forced incompletion rate in 2018! pic.twitter.com/ZczviDY08h

— PFF (@PFF) June 24, 2019

74 days until NFL season starts.

Reviewing some of our favorite NFL stats

Bears CB Kyle Fuller had two interceptions of passes intended for receivers running an Out route, the only defender with more than one. #100NFLStats pic.twitter.com/OlIqn224PH

— Sports Info Solutions (@SportsInfo_SIS) June 23, 2019

The Bears boasted one of football’s best secondaries, but will be without two key playmakers next year. And while safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and slot corner Buster Skrine are viewed as players who represent a drop-off from Adrian Amos and Bryce Callahan, I’m holding out hope that it’s not a steep fall. Clinton-Dix has a real prospect pedigree and was a Pro Bowl safety not that long ago. Skrine plays a physical brand of cornerback that could use some refining from a defensive coordinator like Chuck Pagano whose expertise is in developing players in the secondary. Outside of the obvious, I’m not sure there is a position group I’ll want to keep a closer eye on than the secondary because of the potential moving parts, possible upside, and general importance of the guys in the defensive backfield.

This is a wonderful read about one of the Bears’ best defenders:

He's been has been held down and lifted up, hardened and softened, wounded and healed. My story on the man in the middle of the Bears locker room, @The_Dream99. https://t.co/jt4sKiePeS
— Dan Pompei (@danpompei) June 24, 2019

It’s never too early to talk about the future, especially if you’re an NFL player whose career isn’t going to last forever. Bradley Sowell is going through a mid-career position switch, but already has his eyes on the next step. Sowell tells Patrick Finley (Sun-Times) he wants to work in an NFL front office when his career is done. It’s an admirable goal to put out there, to be sure. But perhaps he’ll have a leg-up in that fight for his next gig knowing that Milwaukee Brewers GM David Stearns is his brother-in-law. The family ties have led to some awkward looks when Sowell has worn Brewers gear in the Bears’ locker room. I’ll never tell someone not to support their fam, but maybe tuck it in under something else while in Chicago’s city limits.

Miss you, Robbie:

He went from a construction crew to the Super Bowl in a little over a year.

And 3 years after leaving the Bears, fans still yearn for the second-most accurate kicker in NFL history.

No. 74 on our list of the 100 best Bears player ever is Robbie Gould.https://t.co/5mjv4SLUB1 pic.twitter.com/z4gdS1gdnW

— Chicago Sports (@ChicagoSports) June 24, 2019

If you’re going to have a long-snapper in your list of 100 greatest Bears players, then you must have the kicker who happens to be the team’s all-time leading scorer. Rules are rules, man. I’m just here to enforce them.

Jeff Fisher has thoughts on the challenges former Bears DC Vic Fangio will face as the Broncos’ first-year head coach:

https://twitter.com/nflnetwork/status/1142568064740995073

Remember when Fisher was rumored to be a target of a Bears head-coaching search if they were to bump John Fox off his perch? And do you remember how he wasn’t even getting a sniff once Fox was removed from his office? That would have been so gross.

Neat-o: Laptops and other gear are among your Deals of the Day today at Amazon.

written by

Luis C. Medina

Luis C. Medina, who you can find on Twitter at lcm1986, has been covering the Chicago Bears at Bleacher Nation since 2017. Since then, he has written about 3 head coaches, 5 play-callers, and 11 starting quarterbacks. Previously, Luis wrote about the Cubs and MLB at BN (2015-16) and worked in the Chicago Tribune sports department (2011-16). He also co-hosted a Cubs postgame show, Outside the Ivy, in 2019.

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It’s Almost Time to Meet the Rookies and Other Bullets

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