The conversation focuses on three names when talking about the centerpieces of the Chicago Bears offense. One is, of course, Justin Fields. The other two are Darnell Mooney and David Montgomery. The name that sometimes seems to get lost in the shuffle is Cole Kmet. The big tight end was the first pick of the 2020 draft. After a quiet rookie season, he showed progress last year with over 600 yards receiving. Yet still little to no buzz.
Why is that? There are a few reasons. One is that Kmet failed to score any touchdowns last year. Yards are great, but the best tight ends are often defined by how many times they reach the end zone. Travis Kelce had nine last season. Mark Andrews had nine. Then there is the perception of his ceiling. While nobody disputes Kmet is big and strong as a pass target, they’ve constantly questioned his speed.
He has no ability to separate.
That was the constant knock. It was fair. Watching him on tape through those first two years, the instances where he didn’t have a defender within a yard or less of him were rare. Size and strength are crucial for tight ends in the NFL, but more than ever, it’s the speed that separates the best ones from everybody else. Kmet didn’t have that. Well, based on new evidence from training camp, that may have changed.
He had one of the best practices of any player thus far on Thursday, making multiple big catches during drills. Most remember a 30-yard beauty he hauled in from Justin Fields between two defenders towards the end of practice. However, the one with greater potential implications came in one-on-ones, where he beat safety Eddie Jackson deep. It’s not like the safety was caught off guard either. Kmet simply outran him.
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One of the best reps of the day for Kmet pic.twitter.com/CDsP5a9XAA
— Jake (@Jake_QB1) July 28, 2022
Full speed ahead 💨 pic.twitter.com/GzqslYmLPQ
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) July 28, 2022
Cole Kmet looks faster. That is not good news for the NFL.
People will say it’s impossible to improve one’s speed. That is not true. Athletic trainers have repeatedly expressed that several adjustments can help athletes get faster. This includes improving lower body flexibility, stronger core muscles, a more rigid ankle joint, better sprinting technique, and explosive power training. Montgomery embraced this approach starting in 2020 and immediately improved the number of big runs he produced. After only three of 20 yards or more as a rookie, he has ten across the past two seasons.
There is also the possibility that Cole Kmet dropped weight. He usually sat around 260 lbs. Even dropping 10 lbs would lighten him enough to add more velocity. Either way, the results are noticeable. If they turn out to be true, people better start taking the 23-year-old seriously this season. Not only did he fix the one thing holding him back from a breakout season, but his chemistry with Fields is stronger than ever.
It is hard not to get excited about the implications.
Everybody feels Mooney will be good this year. If Kmet can also take a significant step forward, the Bears’ offense might not be as toothless as everybody thinks.
Rischad Whitfield footwork king is who changed the way Montgomery plays , runs , and thinks about his future ! Montgomery is always talked about by Whitfield on tape and during interviews as a star pupil . IF Kmet went down to Houston to get trained it would account for the progress !
He can catch the Football now?
C Kmet has always been under-rated and under-valued by the sports writers and defenses alike. Nobody really understood his true potential or paid close attention to his growth in the position. C Kmet will be a serious threat in Getsys’ offense and J Fields’ chemistry and trust in C Kmet is absolutely defined and connected. C Kmet will have 800 yds and 8 TDs in 2022, he will be Fields security blanket and his top red zone weapon by the end of the season.
CK is a bigger stronger faster Zach Miller minus the injuries mark my words✨🐻⬇️✨
Speed all over the field creates problems for a defense. If the scheme can dictate matchups this offense can win a lot of those matchups. If they try to go smaller to cover the speed, we can ram it down their throats. This could be fun at least some of the time.