The new Matt Nagy Bears offense is going to look a lot different from what Chicago was used to seeing over the past few years. The days of the living trees are over. Size will be less emphasized while speed, quickness, and route running skill come to the forefront. That much was evident about the Nagy offense during his time with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Nagy is a coach who is big on what they call “chunk” plays. He likes to cut up defenses in considerable portions, always staying on the attack. Aggressiveness is the order of the day. This is something he learned during both his college and Arena League days. Those offensive styles can use bigger receivers of course, but often have the most success when they stress a defense down the field.
This has been a persistent problem for the Bears. In 2017 Mitch Trubisky had just 11 “big” pass plays of 25 yards or more. Alex Smith, whom Nagy directed in Kansas City? He had 38. Only three QBs in the entire NFL had more. A big reason why was because the Chiefs had the quick, fast receivers to make it work.
One must presume the Bears will angle to build a similar group in Chicago. The upcoming draft will certainly be one of their tools to that end. Who are some names to keep in mind that would fit their blueprint nicely?
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Calvin Ridley (Alabama)
Most believe he’s the best wide receiver in the entire draft, and for good reason. Ridley has drawn numerous comparisons to Marvin Harrison. What he lacks in size and overall youth, he makes up for in speed, route running precision and reliable hands. He was the only viable pass weapon Alabama had in 2016 and 2017 and defenses still couldn’t stop him. For an idea, he had over 900 yards this past year. The next closest on the roster didn’t top 300. That’s proof enough Ridley doesn’t need ideal situations to have success.
Anthony Miller (Memphis)
The general rule for a player is this. If you come from a smaller program and want to be drafted, you need to dominate your level of competition. Anthony Miller did that and then some at Memphis. Despite being just 5’11” defenses couldn’t find an answer for him. He had 2,996 yards and 33 touchdowns over the past two seasons. Everybody knew the ball was going to him and it didn’t matter. He averaged over 15 yards per catch during that run, showcasing a consistent ability to create separation.
Christian Kirk (Texas A&M)
If anybody could be called the Tyreek Hill of the 2018 class, Christian Kirk is the closest. He has the same size, versatility and athletic traits that make the Chiefs Pro Bowler so dangerous. He might not be quite as fast but he’s plenty fast enough. There is no magic formula to Kirk. It’s easy. Get the ball in his hands and let him do his thing. Get it to him in space? That’s easy money. Kirk can run good routes. That’s not his issue. It’s that he doesn’t do it consistently. He still relies a bit too much on his natural ability, which is substantial. An easy fix for someone like Nagy.
Keke Coutee (Texas Tech)
The term “human joystick” is becoming a bit too commonplace these days but it’s hard not to use it with Coutee. This guy is so, so quick. Not just in the legs either. His entire body has a read-react timing that is hard to describe. He’s one of those players that can get open conventionally but is even more difficult to deal with after the catch. This belies how tough he is too. He’s taken some wicked shots by defenders and not only held onto the ball, but often wasn’t knocked down. His knowledge of the spread offense at Texas Tech as well makes him an easy sell.
D.J. Moore (Maryland)
A classic case where size is deceiving. Teams will focus on the fact that Moore is only 5’9″. Yet if they watch his tape for a few seconds they’ll realize he plays like he’s 6’8″. The guy packs a lot of power into his shorter frame. Defenders have a hard time bringing him down not just due to his agility but also his strength. He’s got a running back build but the quickness of a slot receiver. It’s an unusual combination. Running routes isn’t a problem either. He’s shown he can beat different types of coverage to get open.
DaeSean Hamilton (Penn State)
Nobody really took notice of Hamilton until the Senior Bowl came around. Up to that point most saw him as a modestly-sized, modestly-productive receiver from a modestly-successful program. Then during the practices leading up to the game, Hamilton consistently made most of the opposing cornerbacks look foolish. His polished route-running and surprising quickness stuck out over and over. He may not be the most explosive but Hamilton is consistent and highly-experienced.
