Bears Roster Review is a weekly conversation about JJ Stankevitz and Cam Ellis’ Bears 2020 roster status. This week: wide receivers.
CAM ELLIS: JJ, hello. Last week we talked about the Bears’ running backs, the two of us. (1.5?) Today, they are wide receivers, which is exciting because there are so many! And they are fine! Mainly. So when I say ‘Bears’ WRs’ what is the first thing that pops into your head?
JJ STANKEVITZ: How good is Allen Robinson in soccer. He’s a legitimate No. 1 receiver in this league, I won’t hear any argument that he’s not in the top 10 at his position, and the Bears are lucky to have him for his impact on and off the field.
Like, let’s not take Allen Robinson for granted. He is an amazing road coach and has the size, speed, and physique to rack up over 1,000 yards each year, just like he did in 2019!
ELLIS It was an exceptionally quiet season of over 1000 yards, which is probably normal for an 8-8 team. So now I’m going to dive into my ARob take – why would I sign with the Bears again? Maybe he likes Chicago, and maybe he sees a future here, and that’s enough for him. Totally fine! But they WILL PAY him, and the team’s immediate future looks like it’s much closer to 2019 than the previous season. I’ve always wondered why we all assume it’s going to happen.
There are good teams, really good teams that don’t need to rely on historically large turnover rates, which would happily pay for it.
STANKEVITZ: Yes, the pandemic and concerns teams have about the 2021 salary cap could also have something to do with why A-Rob has yet to sign an extension. However, I think it is an interesting question as to WHY he would like to face the Bears again. On the one hand, yes, he has caught passes almost exclusively from Blake Bortles and Mitch Trubisky in his career. I don’t think anyone can blame him if they wanted to play for a team that has a top-notch quarterback.
But on the other hand, he broke his ACL in one contract year in 2017. He wouldn’t blame him if he wanted the security of a contract extension and a lot of money guaranteed three years after that, either. A-Rob really has all the cards here: if he wants to stay in Chicago, the Bears will make it possible. If you want to leave, there are plenty of teams that would love to have you.
ELLIS It has just started to feel more and more like a leap in logic for me that I would happily sign the last part of its best moment without trying to see what life is like with a competent passing game. But it’s time for her to deserve it, and frankly, it’s the least of the worries in that room. However, I can’t decide what it is: the progression of Anthony Miller, or someone approaching WR3. Miller would find consistency would be a scary thing for the NFC North secondaries, but the depth in the Bears’ WR group has not developed at the speed that people thought it would. Javon Wims and Riley Ridley (and to a lesser extent Cordarrelle Patterson) would make me nervous if I was a Bears fan right now.
STANKEVITZ: I think Miller making that jump from year 3 is the biggest concern here. We’ll get to depth later (especially when it comes to speed), but having an explosive and reliable No. 2 WR should help give this offense a significant dimension. From week 11-15, Miller averaged about six catches for 86 yards on that stretch. In his other 11 games, Miller averaged approximately a catch and a half for 20 yards per game.
Miller clearly has the talent, but he has not been able to harness it fairly consistently in his career. The Bears have to hope that having two years of experience will help him finally make the leap we expected him to make in 2019. And I’m sure he will! He’s a guy I’ll keep a close eye on on boot camp, as long as we’re actually on-site for boot camp.
ELLIS I was struck by the tone that WR coach Mike Furrey took when talking about Miller. It was hard. He more or less hinted that Miller’s “professional development” was to blame for any lack of production earlier in the season, which is a courteous (if not so veiled) way of questioning the effort. As someone who was also 25 years old not too long ago, I don’t worry too much. As someone who watches Allen Robinson lead that WR room, I am DEFINITELY not that concerned. Miller’s back shoulder is a bigger obstacle to any future success than his attitude; You put it between the lines and, according to all its coaches and teammates, it’s as competitive as they are.
But that shoulder will NOT stay, and I think it’s a problem.
STANKEVITZ: Yes, Miller having another shoulder surgery this offseason is concerning. I credit him for playing it roughly: I don’t think he would be so impertinent on my shoulder, he would probably pass out. But I do think there is a mental aspect that Miller still needs to understand. Just because it opens doesn’t mean it’s always on the right track, which is something Furrey hinted at that he needed to learn during the 2019 season. However, last year’s offense was such a complete disaster that, like everyone else, could benefit from a clean slate in 2020.
ELLIS The 2019 Rams game is a great example of that, I think. The great interception that sealed Trubisky’s game / bench came on a route that Miller cut off too early, a somewhat critical aspect of the play that, unsurprisingly, was swept under the rug in favor of big QB remarks. This is life. Okay, time: let’s talk about Riley Ridley. Be careful what you say because Twitter will find it.
STANKEVITZ: It seems that Bears Twitter expects Ridley to be a secret weapon in 2020, right? That is not bad, but I doubt it.
And that’s nothing specifically against Ridley. I just haven’t seen him enough, or really anything from him at the NFL level, to suggest a zero-to-60 breakout season is approaching. Can Ridley be a solid No. 4 receiver in 2020? Of course. That would represent a successful season for him, as a man who can be counted on to step in as backup. And for a former fourth-round pick, that would be pretty good!
ELLIS Yes, that seems reasonable, which is probably why Bears’ Twitter flatly rejects it. I just … I don’t know where the volume is going to come from so it suddenly turns into a star. ARob is getting his balls, as are Miller, and Jimmy Graham, and Cole Kmet, and Cohen / Montgomery. Patterson and Ginn will get their numbers from time to time, and the Bears might even try to run the ball too! I think Ridley’s roof this season is, not unlike what you said, a backup or special teams guy. Special kits are made for guys like him.
I didn’t even mention the newbie! Who could say that he brings a more important dynamic to the offense than Ridley right now.
STANKEVITZ: So, I like what the Bears did by replacing Taylor Gabriel, who, by the way, was a better receiver than I think he could have had credit for being. But adding three quick guys – Darnell Mooney, Ginn, and Trevor Davis – should give the Bears at least one guy who can reliably stretch defenses once or twice a week.
Now, the quarterback has yet to hit those shots, poor Gabriel was ousted too deep, but going cheap to find a trait isn’t a bad idea!
ELLIS I saw an interesting Tweet thread talking about Ginn’s (lack of) actual production. Of all the WRs that ran at least 30 ‘go’ routes in 2019, Ginn’s EPA (expected points added) was the worst in football. Worst! It goes against what we have been told all this time about how you still have it. I love a good debate between the eye test and the statistics, what do you say? Will Ginn be a legitimate choice, or will she just be paid to run away from Allen Robinson?
STANKEVITZ: I guess if they pay you to run away from Allen Robinson, they don’t pay you much, who cares? All the Bears need is for him to catch a pair of deep balls throughout the season to make his impact worthwhile. I think the combination of him and Mooney will most likely produce that, which means he doesn’t put too much on the shoulders of a fifth-round rookie or 35-year-old vet.
ELLIS Is it one or the other? Many of the 5th Raiders have not made the list, but I’m not sure I agree with the line of thinking I see that implies that there is only room for Ginn or Mooney. Maybe Mooney will end up in the practice squad to start the season, but I think the Bears would be dumb if they thought they just need a deep threat and therefore will choose between the 35-year-old and 5th AAC player.
However, there is no disrespect for the best logo in college football.
STANKEVITZ: Oh no, I think they are both on the list, Ginn and Mooney. I think your WR depth chart is Robinson-Miller-Patterson-Ginn-Mooney-Ridley. That leaves Javon Wims outside looking in.
ELLIS Hard to find Javon. OK, so end this. What is your best Bears WR will take in 2020, and what is your most reasonable Bears WR will take in 2020?
Featured: Anthony Miller will have the most games over 100 yards in 2020.
Mild: Ted Ginn Jr. ends up with fewer yards than last year (421).
STANKEVITZ: Hot: Allen Robinson has 1,300 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Mild: Riley Ridley is a useful backup, nothing more and nothing less.
ELLIS: You certainly know your audience!
STANKEVITZ: I’m here for the Riley Ridley hive!
ELLIS Yes, stop yelling at JJ, all of you!
