Meet the Young Guns Fueling the Bears Offensive Growth
The Chicago Bears are doing something this season that many fans have not witnessed in a while: field a good offense. It is not a secret that the team has struggled to score and move the ball consistently for many years. However, under Ben Johnson, they have flipped the script. This season, the offense ranks top 10 in both points per game and yards per game. While there are many reasons for this, one of the major ones is the impact of the rookies. The stats may not jump out, but they have played a crucial role in the growth of the team.
Despite being a seventh-round pick, Kyle Monangai has made the biggest difference. Coming into the season, the expectations were low as he was seen as nothing more than a backup who would get some rotational snaps. This was until he had 26 carries for 176 yards against the Cincinnati Bengals. The rookie has now accumulated 146 carries for 681 yards and 5 touchdowns. Each week, he has seen his role become more consistent, as he is splitting carries with D’Andre Swift. Monangai brings the power, while Swift brings the speed. These two have given the Bears an elite duo, presenting a great problem of who should lead the team and the strong run game.
Unlike Monangai, Colston Loveland had hefty expectations as a top 10 pick. It was a slow start to the season until he faced the Bengals. Against them, he had six catches for 118 yards and two touchdowns. Following that performance, he has become a consistent option as he has had at least four targets in every game since then. On the season, he has 39 catches for 498 yards and four touchdowns. Loveland's athleticism and talent have helped take pressure off the receivers, which allows for the ball to be spread around more. His numbers may not seem exciting, but they are still solid, and his presence has turned around the air attack
Speaking of the air attack, Luther Burden III has brought a needed explosive spark. Similar to the other two, the season started slowly for the second-round pick. Burden has had to work his way up the depth chart in a crowded receiver room. However, the coaching staff has made it a point to get him more involved each week. He has 36 catches for 479 yards and one touchdown. Like Loveland, his stats do not tell the whole story. The speed and agility Burden has are something that not many other players on the roster can offer. When he is on the field, defenses need to adjust to avoid letting him break free and wreck the game.
All three of the rookies bring their own unique skills to the offense. Monangai brings brute force and power, which allows Chicago to wear down opponents and control the pace of the game. Meanwhile, Loveland and Burden both open up the air attack due to their athletic abilities. They may not have flashy stats, but without these three, the Bears may not be competing for a playoff spot. Not only have they made the team contenders this season, but they have also been established as building blocks to power the offense for years to come.
