The thing to remember about Chicago Bears fans is they, like anybody else, love underdog stories. There are few things better in the NFL than watching a player get plucked from obscurity, rise through the ranks, and become an unexpected contributor to the organization. It is why fans always seem to gravitate towards underdogs every year in training camp. Some recent favorites include Charles Snowden, Alex Bars, Tanner Gentry, and of course, John Timu. It’s almost a foregone conclusion that somebody else will assume the mantle this year.
There are some fascinating candidates this year. The Bears need pass rush help. D’Anthony Jones and Jalen Harris both signed at defensive end and flashed potential in college. Gabriel Houy was a standout blocker for Pitt despite health setbacks. He could help their offensive line. There is also the uber-productive quarterback from Shepherd, Tyson Bagent. However, history shows that no position garners fan attention more than wide receivers. That is why the favorite to earn that coveted training camp folk hero status will be Thyrick Pitts.
The Chicago Bears have something interesting in Pitts.
They already know the University of Delaware can produce NFL players. Bilal Nichols proved that a few years ago. Pitts is a fascinating prospect. His mixture of size and speed stands out pretty often. He also boasts a pair of strong hands to make difficult catches. Most receivers at his level catch with their bodies. Not him. To top it off, he doesn’t slack in the run game. He’ll throw his 6’2, 200-lb frame around in blocking duty. That is a big deal in this offensive system. So he has the physical traits and a workman-like mentality.
His primary drawback is typical of a young receiver. He’s not a route-runner. His release is sluggish, and he’s too slow in and out of his breaks. It makes him easy to predict, which is why he struggles to gain separation despite obvious speed advantages on most of the cornerbacks he faced. That will take some work to correct. The Chicago Bears have some good coaches in place to help with that. If he can make progress on that front, he may threaten Dante Pettis and Equanimeous St. Brown for that final roster spot.
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