Expectations are high going into 2021 for Cole Kmet. As the top draft pick from the 2020 class last year, this is as it should be. The Chicago Bears need him to become more of a focal point in the offense. He knows that and has worked tirelessly to make sure he is ready. Head coach Matt Nagy stated without a hint of pause that the team plans to get the 22-year old more involved than ever.
To that end, Kmet has put in a ton of film work to continue adding to his game. While he is working with Jimmy Graham and also gets plenty of tips from Nagy about Travis Kelce, neither of them are the same type of athlete he is. Instead, the young tight has looked to two others for a better understanding of how to use his considerable skillset properly. Those two names include an obvious one and one most young fans will have never heard of.
Rob Gronkowski is obvious but Mark Bavaro?
Only older fans will know that name. Here’s a quick rundown. Bavaro was a standout at Notre Dame for two years in 1983 and 1984. While his numbers weren’t prolific, he built a reputation for being big, physical, and deceptively good as a pass catcher. He was also a capable blocker. Sound familiar? The New York Giants ended up selecting him in the 4th round of the 1985 draft.
He was a hit almost immediately, making All-Pro in both his second and third seasons while helping the Giants win two Super Bowls in 1986 and 1990. This made him an all-time fan favorite in New York. Sadly his career was cut short by injuries, but he still managed to make an impact that people remember to this day. Both in college and the NFL.
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It’s easy to see Gronk and Bavaro in Cole Kmet
The way he plays the game is a spitting image of them. Once he has the ball in his hands, it’s going to take an army to get him on the ground. The trick for him is mastering the other part of the game that made those two so deadly. An ability to get open. This is typically the biggest challenge for most tight ends upon reaching the NFL. Learning to run proper routes and use their bodies to create separation.
This was something Cole Kmet struggled with as a rookie. Is he ready to take the next step? The next few months will be telling. Initial impressions in OTAs and minicamps suggest he is in tip-top shape and was giving the Bears defense problems. With Graham pushing into his mid-30s and clearly lacking the juice he had seven years ago, the time is right for Kmet to ascend.
Chicago certainly needs him.
They’re not exactly rich in weapons. Allen Robinson is great but beyond him, it’s a series of maybes. Darnell Mooney and David Montgomery looked good last season and could take a big step forward this year. Kmet joining in that ascent might finally give this team a viable offense that can score points. A persistent issue during most of the Nagy era.
