Darnell Mooney

Chicago Bears must evolve and adapt with team identity

by
justin field, bears

The Chicago Bears will be leaving Las Vegas with a big road win and some momentum heading into a Week 6 home matchup against the division-rival Green Bay Packers. Over the last three weeks, we’ve gotten a sense of what the Bears’ identity is as a team: The defense is the backbone while the offense is built on a solid running game.

Chicago’s formula for success has worked so far. Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders was a clear example of how the running game has quickly become a strength of the Bears’ offense. Damien Williams and Khalil Herbert combine for 34 carries, 139 rushing yards, and one touchdown, averaging 4.1 yards per carry.

“When the running game is going like this, we can do a lot of things on offense,” quarterback Justin Fields told CBS Sports Evan Washburn after the game. “Hopefully we can keep that going and keep winning games.”

The numbers also reflect that the Bears identity is run first. Chicago controlled the ball for just over 32 minutes on Sunday afternoon, which equates to around 50 percent. As a passer, Fields was 12-for-20 with one touchdown and 111 passing yards. This is the second straight week Chicago has taken a somewhat conservative approach with Fields as a passer.

The Bears will need to open up the offense more, allowing Fields to make plays through the air. With games against explosive offenses such as the Green Bay Packers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers looming, a solid ariel attack will allow Chicago to keep pace with both teams.

The Bears passing game did have some bright moments in week 5, including a 13-yard pass from Fields to wide receiver Darnell Mooney on 3rd-and-12 with just 7:26 to go in the fourth quarter. Fields fit the ball into a tight window between two Raiders defenders, giving Mooney a chance to make a play.

“That’s just a timing throw,” Fields said after the game. “So we practice that all throughout the week. Just that look, just trying to get a first down, trying to keep the drive going, it was a great catch by Mooney, and a great call.”

Chicago’s identity has been solid so far, however, as the season continues to progress, the Bears will need to adapt to continue winning games, and prevent other teams from figuring out a way of stopping the offense.

Chicago Bears: Week 4 wrap up, quick takeaways, and week 5 preview

by
justin field, bears

After winning at home in week 4, the Chicago Bears improve to 2-2 on the season with solid performances from rookie quarterback Justin Fields, running back David Montgomery, wide receiver Darnell Mooney, and the Bears defense. Let’s look back at week 4.

1) Head coach Matt Nagy admitted after the game that offensive coordinator Bill Lazor was calling plays. Guess what? Lazor calling plays should be part of the Bears gameplan moving forward. The Bears were efficient on offense, running and passing the ball effectively, being a threat to score on every single play.

2) Fields deep ball was a thing of beauty. A quarterback capable of hitting any throw, Fields connected with wide receiver Darnell Mooney for a 32-yard gain down the sideline with just 10:54 remaining in the third quarterback. The two also connected three times on the Bears first drive for 29 yards. Fields excels at hitting the deep ball and the Bears need to get more explosive on offense, so expect to see more of the Fields-Mooney connection as the season progresses.

3) Shoutout to running backs David Montgomery and Damien Williams. The two combined for 31 carries, 161 yards, and three touchdowns. Montgomery did injure his knee and as we await the results of a scheduled MRI, should the 2019 third-round pick end up missing time, the Bears will turn to rookie running back Khalil Herbert to complement Williams.

4) The Robert Quinn revenge tour continues. Despite being 31-years old, Quinn had five tackles, one sack, one tackle for loss, and two quarterback hits. With 4.5 sacks on the season, Quinn has upgraded the Bears pass rush this season, justifying the five-year, $70M contract the Bears dished out to Quinn in free agency during the 2020 offseason.

5) Can we talk about the sneaky good game that inside linebacker Alec Ogletree had? A late training camp addition, Ogletree has quickly emerged as a solid piece for the Bears defense and totaled 12 tackles and one tackle for loss on Sunday. The veteran is making a strong case for keeping the starting ILB job once Danny Trevathan returns.

6) The Bears did struggle on third down, going just 1-for-8. But as Nagy mentioned in his postgame presser, the Bears did avoid multiple third-and-long situations, which should be considered a step in the right direction. Chicago’s offense is still a work in progress and the Bears can’t afford to make many mistakes, so going 1-for-8 is still better than what the Bears have done in the past.

7) Justin Fields needs to get better at protecting the football. His first and only fumble of the afternoon came in the second half but this is the second time at home this season that Fields has lost a fumble. The 11th overall pick lost one against the Cincinnait Bengals in week 2 but recovered it to save the Bears offense.

8) Chicago averaged 6.5 yards per play on Sunday, the most yards per play Chicago has averaged this season and the highest since week 14 of the 2020 season, when the Bears averaged 6.9 yards per play against the Houston Texans at home in a 36-7 win.

9) Fields credited the Bears offensive line on four different occasions during his postgame press conference and Chicago’s front five rightfully earned it. The offensive line allowed just one sack all afternoon, compared to week three, where the entire unit allowed nine sacks.

10) The Bears were better in the redzone too, scoring on three occasions with four total redzone trips. The field gets harder to defend when a defense is back up against the ball and the Bears took advantage with smart playcalling, running the ball every time Chicago converted.

 

What about week five?

Week 5 is sure to be interesting. The Bears will travel to Las Vegas to take on the Raiders, with this being the second time both team’s have met since 2019. It’s another Khalil Mack revenge game, considering the Raiders got the best of Mack in 2019 during the last matchup in London.

Bears fans like to make fun of Raiders head coach Jon Gruden for trading Mack back in 2018 but Gruden also has the Raiders offense averaging 30.0 points per game. The Bears secondary will be tested in this game. Quarterback Derek Carr has passed for 435, 382, and 386 yards in three games this season.

The Bears will need to account for the Raiders skill position players, including tight end Darren Waller, wide receiver Henry Ruggs, and running back Josh Jacobs, who is listed as questionable for Monday Night Football against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Chicago does enter another must-win game. Win in Las Vegas and Fields, who could start for the third straight week will enter week 6 against the Green Bay Packers at home with a major boost in confidence. The Bears will have a chance to get to 3-2 before having to play Green Bay and then travel to Tampa Bay in week 7 to take on the Super Bowl champion Buccaneers.

 

Assessing the Chicago Bears offense in week two

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Sunday afternoon proved to be fruitful for Chicago Bears fans. Not only did the Bears come away with a victory but Chicago also got an extended look at rookie quarterback Justin Fields for the first time in the regular season with veteran Andy Dalton leaving the game due to a knee injury.

Fields playing a majority of the game doesn’t mean he’ll be the starter moving forward but the Bears coaching staff now has to make a decision to make: Should the Bears continue to roll with Dalton if healthy or start Fields and bring the future to the present? The final call with be made by head coach Matt Nagy but Fields performance on Sunday while leading the offense could be enough to name the 11th overall pick the starter.

Chicago’s offense showed plenty of positives on Sunday, including the ability to consistently move the ball through the air with a vertical passing game but for every positive, there seemed to be a negative. Wide receivers Allen Robinson and Darnell Mooney each dropped two touchdown passes that would’ve iced the game by at least two possessions.

Fields’ mobility was apparent throughout the afternoon, as the rookie rushed 10 times for 31 yards, including a 10-yard rush with 2:55 remaining in the fourth quarter to set the Bears up with a first-down to end the game. Chicago did run some RPO looks, ensuring that Cincinnati’s defense would need to account for running back David Montgomery on every play. Montgomery, who rushed 20 times for 61 yards had three receptions for 18 yards, impacting Chicago’s passing attack during a busy afternoon for the third-year running back.

Overall, Chicago’s offense put together a solid enough performance to warrant being able to compete with any opponent. The Bears may not be explosive as Nagy wants to be just yet, something that will come with time but week 2 was encouraging for both the present and future.

 

Chicago Bears: What does week 2 hold for WR Darnell Mooney?

by
darnell mooney, bears

When the Chicago Bears host the Cincinnati Bengals in week 2, wide receiver Darnell Mooney will be a name to watch as a player who can be a reason the Bears finally get in the win column. Mooney, who totaled five receptions for 26 yards, averaging 5.20 yards per reception. Labeled as a breakout candidate heading into 2021, the Bengals provide Mooney with the perfect opportunity to have a big game, further cementing his status as the Bears WR2.

“They play in your face, man-to-man, a little zone here and there but I mean, they’re not going to hide anything,” Mooney said via the Bears official YouTube Channel. “There’s some opportunities out there, for sure, this week.”

Assessing the Cincinnati defense, Mooney will likely be matched up against Chidobe Awuzie throughout the game. Assisting Awuzie will be Safeties Jesse Bates III and Vonn Bell, both of whom will provide extra assistance whenever Mooney is asked to run deep. To fully utilize Mooney’s talent, Bears head coach Matt Nagy also needs to give Mooney the opportunity to make plays by calling plays that will require quarterback Andy Dalton to throw the ball beyond 15 yards, dialing up deep shots to keep Cincinnati’s defense guessing on every single play.

“No pressure at all, I mean I’m just going out there, trying to play my game and win the game,” Mooney said. “Regardless of what numbers are there are expected out of me, I mean, I’m trying to get, I’m trying to get dominant.”

Mooney’s rookie season showed promise to warrant a major breakout season in year two. While his production in week 1 wasn’t necessarily the best, as the Bears prepare for the Bengals, Mooney will have a major opportunity to flip the script, especially with more consistent play from the quarterback position, something that was showcased at times in week 1 for the Bears.

Chicago Bears: Why didn’t the Bears gameplan on offense work?

by
andy dalton, bears

Just over 48 hours have passed since the Chicago Bears‘ week 1 loss to the Los Angeles Rams and with the Bears now looking ahead to week 2, Chicago must figure out what went wrong against the Rams. On the surface, the Bears’ offensive gameplan included short, quick passes designed to get the ball out of quarterback Andy Dalton’s hands in just under 2.5 seconds.

Throughout the evening, the Bears’ offensive line did create solid running lanes for running back David Montgomery. The real reason the Bears left Los Angeles winless is due to the passing attack. Despite throwing 38 times, Dalton completed just 27 passes, with only one pass of 10+ yards being completed.

“I think just the kind of way this defense plays, they limit the big play and they make you just kind of move the ball down the field,” Dalton said via the Bears official YouTube Channel. “I mean you see the drives that we scored on, I mean I don’t know how many plays they were but you had to keep finding ways to get first downs and keep moving the ball all the way down the field. You’re not going to get very many explosives against this team.”

Further dissecting the Rams gameplan, limiting big plays means that wide receiver Darnell Mooney’s speed was accounted for by the Rams defense on every play. Wide receiver Allen Robinson was followed by Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey on multiple plays, limiting Robinson’s impact.

Essentially, as a result of the Rams deciding to defend the deep passing game, Los Angeles was content with giving the Bears quick, underneath throws because Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris knew that players like cornerback Jalen Ramsey were instinctive enough to breakdown what the Bears would be running.

Moving forward, for Chicago’s gameplans to work, the Bears will need to ensure that playcalls don’t look very predictable. Furthermore, allowing Dalton to hit deep passes via play-action could also go a long way towards opening up the Bears’ offense and maximizing talents fo players such as Mooney and Robinson.

Chicago Bears: How Darnell Mooney has improved this offseason

by
darnell mooney, bears

Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy had nothing but praise for wide receiver Darnell Mooney on Saturday morning prior to the team’s second padded practice of the weekend. After nine starts and 61 receptions as a rookie in 2020, Mooney entered the offseason with massive expectations of taking another major step forward.

With new faces at the quarterback position, consistent wide receiver play is a necessity for the Bears, who feel content about the wide receiver room featuring Mooney and eighth-year veteran Allen Robinson. A year ago, at this exact time, Mooney was an unknown commodity who took advantage of every opportunity, with results translating onto gamedays.

“Mooney right now is on fire with his route running,” said Bears head coach Matt Nagy prior to practice on Saturday morning. “He’s running some routes right now that I really haven’t seen him and A-Rob running those routes.”

More consistent quarterback play should lead to an increase in production who had a standout day on Friday, making a few key catches throughout practice, including a leaping grab over second-year cornerback Jaylon Johnson.

“It’s more routes, he’s putting his own spin and stamp on more routes,” Nagy said. “Last year, he had a couple routes where he was really good at. When we evaluated him last year, we knew in the fifth-round, I’m just telling you, we knew in the fifth round, we were getting a steal.

Mooney’s work ethic has also impressed the coaching staff, something that many have taken notice of. The message coming out of Halas Hall is clear: Mooney just isn’t looking to win matchups with his speed. He’s looking to become a complete wide receiver and make plays in any way possible.

“He’s proven us so far, to be what we thought he was,” Nagy said. “Because he works hard and the other thing is, A-Rob is his mentor. A-Rob’s teaching him a lot of stuff. That’s to his credit for latching onto him and now he’s putting it out there on tape and it’s just it’s fun to see. And he wants to keep growing.”

The Bears returned to Halas Hall for practice on Saturday and will return again on Sunday, giving Mooney an additional two days to continue proving that the former fifth-round pick is ready for a big leap in year two and begin making a name for himself.

31 questions to Bears camp: What will Mooney/Robinson accomplish?

by
Allen Robinson, New York Giants

After a year of inconsistent quarterback play, Chicago Bears wide receivers Darnell Mooney and Allen Robinson will enter 2021 with Andy Dalton and Justin Fields at the most important position in sports. In 2021, both wide receivers combined for 163 receptions, 1881 receiving yards, and 10 touchdowns.

Set to play 2021 on the franchise tag, Robinson has been labeled a “pro” by the Bears coaching staff. Entering his eighth season, Robinson should have another big year, with the goal of securing a long-term contract extension next offseason. Mooney’s speed makes him a major asset in the vertical passing game for the Bears, allowing for wide receivers and tight ends to get open underneath, giving Fields and Dalton quick and easy completions.

Both Robinson and Mooney will hope to make the jump towards becoming one of the NFL’s top wide receiver duos. When Chicago’s offense is clicking at a high level, something that starts with consistently good quarterback play, both wide receivers are capable of catching 100-plus receptions a season, along with 1000-yard seasons.

“To me, I didn’t exceed everything I wanted to accomplish but going into year two, I just want to be more of a threat to the defenders and more of an asset to the team,” Mooney said this offseason via the Bears official YouTube Page.

Robinson accounted for 68 first downs in 2020, being the main reason that Chicago’s sluggish offense was able to move the chains at times while accounting for 319 yards after the catch. In the same categories, Mooney accounted for 33 first downs and 254 yards after the catch. With the Bears adding more speed to the offense this year, production in both categories mentioned should increase, creating additional opportunities for both players.

As the Bears continue to prepare for the 2021 regular season, a year that will be defined by quarterback play, Robinson and Mooney can play a big role in how the Bears’ 2021 season turns out.

Chicago Bears: Biggest questions at the WR position

by
darnell mooney, bears

As the Chicago Bears report to training camp in exactly two weeks and the wide receiver position is perhaps the most intriguing on the offense. Besides Allen Robinson, the Bears feature 2020 fifth-round pick, Darnell Mooney, as well as fourth-year wide receiver Anthony Miller. Add in speedsters Damiere Byrd and Marquise Goodwin and head coach Matt Nagy is looking to have his offense take another step forward with quarterbacks Andy Dalton and Justin Fields.

The Bears depth chart also features Javon Wims, Riley Ridley, rookie Dazz Newsome, Rodney Adams, Thomas Ives, Chris Lacy, and Jester Weah, creating some intriguing competition for the final two or three roster spots.

As the Bears report to Halas Hall, what are some questions at the wide receiver position? Let’s find out.

1) Can Anthony Miller finally live up to the draft status?

Heading into 2021, Miller is on the Bears roster bubble with one final shot to prove that he belongs with the Bears. Year three saw Miller catch 49 receptions for 485 yards but just two touchdowns. Miller should be guaranteed a roster spot, however, to truly make an impact, he’ll need to prove that he’s ready to go the extra mile to really make a serious case for getting some legitimate playing time.

Mooney’s emergence last season wasn’t good news for Miller, who essentially lost the starting job. Chicago is still searching for a productive slot wide receiver, meaning the opportunity for Miller to turn his career around still exists, perhaps more than most are willing to admit.

2) Will Byrd and Goodwin push for a starting spot?

Bears head coach Matt Nagy wants speed on offense, the main reason Goodwin and Byrd were brought in. Goodwin opted out of the 2020 season due to COVID concerns but when he last played in 2019, he averaged 15.5 yards per reception, showing off his big-play ability. Byrd spent last season with the New England Patriots, totaling 47 receptions for 604 yards, averaging 12.9 yards per reception.

With uncertainty at who will be the starting slot WR for the Chicago, it’s quite possible Goodwin or Byrd push for a starting spot, especially if Miller doesn’t perform. Beyond Robinson and Mooney, the competition at WR is wide open, giving Byrd and Goodwin an equal chance of winning, especially if Chicago opts to run more three-receiver sets on offense, grouped with 11 personnel heading into 2021.

3) What will the duo of Robinson and Mooney accomplish in 2021?

A year after combining for 163 receptions, 1881 yards, and 10 touchdowns, the duo of Robinson and Mooney could see a major jump due to more consistent quarterback play from Andy Dalton and Justin Fields. Every sign coming from Halas Hall throughout OTA’s and minicamp seems to signal that Nagy wants to run a pass-first offense, giving both wide receivers more opportunities.

Dalton and Fields have both shown the ability to hit the deep ball consistently enough to the point where Mooney’s speed will finally be used to the fullest extent. Both quarterbacks also showcase good accuracy and the ability to fit throws into tight windows, giving Robinson a chance on each play.

Robinson and Mooney could certainly burst onto the scene in 2021, becoming one of the NFL’s top wide receiver duos. The talent and potential was on display throughout 2020 but with better decision-making at quarterback, both players should see a reasonable jump in production.

The Chicago Bears’ wide receiver competition is heating up

by
darnell mooney, bears

The wide receiver position and the Chicago Bears are generally not on good speaking terms. In the last decade, the Bears only had two household names: Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery. The talented duo assisted the Jay Cutler era Bears, with both ranking in the top 10 in total receiving yards in the franchise’s history. After their departure, however, the Bears were left with few options at the position. It would be three seasons until the Bears found an answer to their wide receiver dilemma.

In 2019, Ryan Pace brought in former Jacksonville Jaguar Allen Robinson as one of the biggest free-agent signings of the year. Robinson, fresh off of an ACL injury, Robinson was looking to make teams pay. Ryan Pace and the Bears, fresh off of a 3-13 record, looked to give their young quarterback (Mitch Trubisky) some weapons. Pace then brought in speedy slot receiver Taylor Gabriel, a flex tight end in Michael Burton, and drafted a running back that would turn out to be game-changing in the passing game in Tariq Cohen.

Fast forward to 2021. Only Allen Robinson and Tariq Cohen remain. Draft picks like Anthony Miller in 2018, and Darnell Mooney in 2020 have established a foundation of talent at the position. Fortunately, the Bears were able to retain Allen Robinson on the franchise tag. However, with the deadline to agree on a contract extension rapidly approaching on July 17th and no negotiations occurring, it appears that this could be Allen Robinson’s last season in Chicago.

Heading into the 2021 NFL draft, the wide receiver position lacked depth on the Bears’ roster. So, a week before the draft, the Bears brought in Marquese Goodwin.  Goodwin, who opted out of the 2020 NFL season, is known for his explosive speed. In fact, Goodwin is such an explosive athlete that he performed in the 2012 Summer Olympics for Team USA in the long jump.

As of April 28th, the first night of the NFL draft, the Bears’ WR room looked like this:

Allen Robinson

Darnell Mooney

Anthony Miller

Marquese Goodwin

Javon Wims

Riley Ridley

Jester Weah

Thomas Ives

Khalil McClain

Rodney Adams

When the Bears traded up to pick star quarterback Justin Fields, it only became inevitable that the Bears look at the wide receiver position to assist their young quarterback. However, it wasn’t until the 6th round that the Bears took a wide receiver off the board – Dazz Newsome, the talented athlete out of North Carolina. Unfortunately, he suffered a broken collarbone requiring surgery but is expected to return in time for the pre-season.

A few weeks later, the Bears announced they added more speed to the position, with the addition of Damiere Byrd. Byrd has elite separation ability and complements Justin Field’s deep ball accuracy.

As rookie minicamp started, the Bears brought in Chris Lacy for a tryout. Liking what they saw, they signed him to a deal as well. Unfortunately,  Chris Lacy’s time at the Lions was relatively uneventful, and he’s little more than a depth piece.

As of June 22nd, the Bears’ WR room looked like this:

Allen Robinson

Darnell Mooney

Anthony Miller

Marquese Goodwin

Damiere Byrd

Dazz Newsome

Rodney Adams

Chris Lacy

Javon Wims

Riley Ridley

Jester Weah

Thomas Ives

Khalil McClain

Putting it all together

This WR room is much bigger than it was at the beginning of the off-season, which is good. The Bears have options. Anthony Miller was on the hot seat entering the off-season, and some still believe he sits on the bubble. With this year being a contract year for Miller, he will have to prove to the front office that he deserves an extension. I’m convinced he will get what he wants.

The Bears currently have thirteen wide receivers on the roster, and teams will typically carry six into the season. Meaning seven of these names will no longer be Chicago Bears when September rolls around.

Realistically, the Bears didn’t bring Marquese Goodwin and Damiere Byrd in without expecting them to be on the full 53-man roster. I also don’t see how Jester Weah or Riley Ridley out talent them onto the roster.

For those familiar, I already think the connection between Fields and Robinson will set the league ablaze. But I also think that Anthony Miller will take the next step into his progression and that Damiere Byrd will have a breakout season with Fields arm talent.

Now we are ways away from the 53-man roster deadline, but I’m comfortable in sharing my projected roster after the Pre-season ends.

My Projected WR Room as of August 31st

  1. Allen Robinson
  2. Darnell Mooney
  3. Anthony Miller
  4. Dameire Byrd
  5. Marquese Goodwin
  6. Dazz Newsome

But what are your thoughts? Who gets cut? Who’s the #3? Let me know.

Chicago Bears: Darnell Mooney ready for a major jump in year two

by
darnell mooney, bears

After finishing his rookie season with the Chicago Bears with nine starts, 61 receptions, and four touchdowns, wide receiver Darnell Mooney will enter year two as a breakout candidate for the Bears. Some would argue that Mooney broke out last season, but the former fifth-round pick is just scratching the surface of how good he really can be.

The plan for Mooney is simple: Develop into WR2, becoming a perfect complement to eight-year veteran Allen Robinson. Mooney showcased flashes of how complete of a player he could develop into last season, quickly becoming a starter and never looking back.

Chicago’s coaching staff was impressed with Mooney’s rookie campaign, and entering two, Mooney’s expectations are sky-high.

“They told me I exceeded expectations and that I played very well,” Mooney said via the Bears official Youtube page. “To me, I didn’t exceed everything I wanted to accomplish but going into year two, I just want to be more of a threat to the defenders and more of an asset to the team.”

Mooney brings so much to the Chicago Bears:

One attribute of Mooney is being a team player, knowing that helping the offense succeed should always be the first priority. Operating from the slot but also playing time on the outside last offseason, Mooney is open to being used in any role, especially as head coach Matt Nagy sees fit.

“Just sitting down, thinking of creative ways, whatever coach Nagy comes up with,” Mooney said. “He has a creative mind with plays and wherever I can be in a good position to be more of an asset to the team, I’m willing to take that on.”

Smart coaching can be the difference between good and great players. In Mooney’s case, he’s willing to do anything to take a significant jump in year two, especially since the starting wide receiver job is his to lose at this point. The game has also slowed down significantly for Mooney, which is of immense benefit.

“Extremely benefit, sometimes and before the play even happens, I can see how it plays out in my head and then seeing defenders body language and understanding the defensive look,” Mooney said. “It is extremely benefit to have that experience under my belt.”

As Mooney enters year two with the Chicaog Bears, look for him to truly burst onto the scene and gain some league-wide recognition that wasn’t present last offseason. Mooney has done everything and more to warrant taking a major jump in year two, something that will happen with stabilized quarterback play.