The Chicago Bears feel they have something at wide receiver. Allen Robinson is obviously a stud but much of the optimism centers on second-year man Darnell Mooney. His rookie season was a pleasant surprise, breaking the franchise record for rookie receptions with 66 and posting over 600 yards, Second-most on the team. Many believe he is capable of a big jump in production this season.
That includes the man himself. Mooney put in a ton of work during the offseason, polishing his route running and further honing his craft. Unfortunately, he didn’t get a lot of chances to shine in the opener against Los Angeles. The Bears attempted just two passes beyond 10 yards to him in the entire game. One was incomplete and the other was tipped and intercepted. Andy Dalton didn’t try a single deep shot to him all night.
Even so, he did what he could.
Mooney caught every other pass thrown his way, going for 26 yards on five catches. It probably wasn’t the season debut he wanted, but does that discourage him? Not likely. The receiver spoke to the media on Wednesday and was asked if he’s feeling any pressure about the increased expectations. Mooney calmly shook his head. He isn’t worried about any of that. His focus is on one thing and one thing only. Crushing the opposition.
This is a reminder that Mooney isn’t just about physical talent. Part of what makes him such a potential stud receiver is his mentality. His casual self-confidence is obvious. That is something that is necessary for this league. It feels like his ascent is only a matter of time. It comes down to whether the Bears start playing him to his strengths and also find a quarterback who can get him the football.
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Darnell Mooney is at the mercy of Matt Nagy
That was never more evident than in Los Angeles. Two Nagy decisions played a big part in why the receiver didn’t have any big plays. First was the gameplan. The Bears never really tried to push the ball down the field. Part of that was fear of Aaron Donald and the pass rush along with the two-man deep coverages they were playing. The Rams were intent on keeping everything in front of them.
However, the other part was Nagy’s decision to start Andy Dalton. While a competent quarterback, the man was never known for being a strong asset in the vertical passing game. His last two seasons as a starter? He was 25th and 16th respectively in intended air yards passing. Translation? He made his living in the short-to-intermediate range of the field. For a receiver like Darnell Mooney, that is a problem.
This is why calls for Justin Fields continue to grow.
The rookie isn’t just known for his athleticism and mobility. He also has a reputation as one of the best deep ball throwers to come out of college football in a long time. He was famous for it at Ohio State and flashed that same potential in the preseason for Chicago. People are desperate to see what he can do throwing to Mooney. The receiver himself feels the same way.