There was plenty of buzz coming out of rookie minicamps this year. Most of it involved Chicago Bears 1st round pick Dillon Thieneman. He was already asserting control over his teammates, getting them properly lined up, and taking on a leadership role. Jordan Van Den Berg also got his share of attention. The explosiveness and athleticism mentioned about the 6th round pick were on display more than once. However, the belle of the ball was 3rd round wide receiver Zavion Thomas, who reportedly surprised even the coaches with route running skills.
Everybody knew the LSU prospect was fast. You don’t run a 4.28 by accident. The belief was that his biggest strength was as a return man. He’d housed the ball three times in college. As a wide receiver? His production never stood out, leading some to believe he was a work in progress. The entire team reconvened for Organized Team Activities this week, including the veterans. Perhaps the Thomas buzz would die down a bit once he started going against proven starters.
Apparently not. The rookie didn’t take long to make his presence felt.
Zavion Thomas brings an element the Bears lacked last season.
While their offense featured many qualities that made it a huge success, one element was missing: a true burner. Somebody who could stretch the field vertically, creating more space for tight ends and slot receivers to operate. Luther Burden filled that role to a degree, but he doesn’t have true game-breaking speed. Thomas does. You can’t teach it. However, you have no choice but to respect it. Defenses will operate knowing the threat Thomas poses every time he steps on the field. That will force them to operate less aggressively, fearing the big play.
🔥 Subscribe to the Untold Chicago YouTube channel to hear Chicago legends tell stories you’ve never seen in headlines — real moments, real experiences, straight from the athletes themselves.
By retreating into a shell to protect against that speed, it opens up opportunities elsewhere. Often, that opening comes in the run game. Playing with safeties high means fewer defenders near the line of scrimmage. Fewer defenders near the line means better chances to find running lanes. The Bears have exploited this strategy many times over the years. You saw it with Willie Gault in the 1980s, Bernard Berrian in the 2000s, and Darnell Mooney a few years ago. Yet Thomas is a different animal.
There is more to his game than just speed.
One thing you find with most receivers of that type is that they are one-trick ponies. They run really fast. Not much else. Zavion Thomas is different because he is also dangerous with the ball in his hands. For somebody of below-average size, he is strong. Tackling him isn’t as easy as you’d think. He is a lot like Devin Hester in that way. Catching him is hard enough. Getting him on the ground is another matter. This is another reason why head coach Ben Johnson wanted him. He is dangerous both with and without the ball.
That 50-yard bomb was merely a taste of what’s possible with this young man. If he masters the route-running responsibilities of his position, there is no limit to what he can accomplish. We might be looking at another Cliff Branch, Bob Hayes, Desean Jackson, or Tyreek Hill. Their respective impacts were impossible to deny. Thomas may never be the primary guy in this offense. That won’t matter. He doesn’t need to be. If he gives you one big play every week, his impact is every bit as significant as someone with seven catches for 60 yards.
