Takeaways from Day 6 at Bears Camp |
Don't look now, but there will be an NFL game in 24 hours as the New Jets and Cleveland Browns will open the Preseason slate tomorrow night. That will be followed by the official week one of the preseason, where the Bears will kick things off on August 12.
Until then, Chicago will continue to go through their reps at training camp as they try to be at their best for that first preseason game. Granted, a ton of work still needs to be done, but from what the fans have seen thus far, there is a lot to like about this team. Day six was another great day in camp for the Bears, and this time, it was more about the offense that stood out. That is a good thing considering the defense dominated the first few days, as the Bears will be looking to build on the momentum they showed the past few days in camp. Here are a few takeaways from Day 6:
One of the biggest reasons why the Bears passing game struggled a season ago was not having a healthy Darnell Mooney on the field. The fourth-year man out of Tulane was expected to lead the team again after hauling in more than 1000 yards in 2021. Mooney not only got off to a horrendous start last season but then suffered an injury midway through the season, which resulted in a stay on the season-ending injury list. For the Bears offense to be at their best, they will need him to be healthy. Not only does Mooney look healthy, but he looks great right now after beating all the WRs in the Get Off drill the other day. With DJ Moore added to the roster, Mooney will move from the outside to the slot position, where his speed will come into play this season. He has also added some muscle to his frame, which could help him handles some of the poundings he will take better this season. Mooney is one of the X-Factors in the Bears' offense, and should he regain his 2021 form, this offense can be scary. Darnell Mooney beats ALL the WRs in the WR “get off” drill.
Throughout the course of free agency and the NFL draft, Ryan Poles made it a point to address the defense, as that was a huge issue last season. One area that wasn't as bad as the rest of the defense was the Bear's secondary, although you would never guess that by the numbers. With three of their four starters under the age of 26, the Bears not only have the youngest secondary in the NFC, but they have the potential to be one of the best units in the NFL. Looking at the pieces they brought in during the draft and this unit could be even better, as Terrell Smith has been leaving a lasting impression on Alan Williams and the coaching staff. Drafted in the fifth round this spring, Smith has not only been seeing a ton of time with the 1's but hasn't looked out of place at all. He has been paired up with fellow rookie Tyler Scott, making life miserable for him on the offensive end. If Smith keeps this up, the Bears will have to make a tough choice as to where he fits in this defense. Terrell Smith showing great patience and hands here against Tyler Scott.
This is what fans have been waiting to hear from Justin Fields and the offense. Not only have the Bears added plenty of weapons to their passing attack, but the passing game stood out in the first padded practice as they came out on fire. That is something that will have to continue this season if the Bears want to be taken seriously as a team. No one will argue that the rushing attack will be one of the best in the game yet again, especially if Fields can duplicate what he did a season ago. However, it will be Fields' arm that will lead them to the next level. Considering how good the Bears' secondary was last season when they had their chances, seeing them get beat by this offense is both a good and bad sign. The bad, if they are getting beat by a passing game that has struggled in the past, what does that mean for this upcoming season? JF1 ➡️ DJ Moore #bears #bearscamp pic.twitter.com/B9K9O5LkDK We'll work on the celebration 😅 pic.twitter.com/bcGO7Tb0sO The good, maybe the Bears passing game has improved to the point where they will be a legitimate threat this season. Training camp doesn't a ton, much like spring training doesn't mean much for baseball. However, the reps they get now and the overall success they can show now will only help them once the games start counting in September. Our full sit-down with #DaBears Head Coach Matt Eberflus… Coming to us from Chicago, @scottpioli51 fills us in on what the @ChicagoBears training camp looks like #DaBears pic.twitter.com/CRJg8jzuPs 1. Darnell Mooney looks healthy
I think he’s feeling just fine. 👀 #DaBears #Bears #chicagoBears pic.twitter.com/Rn5Jd2A6CH2. Terrell Smith making a name for himself
Terrell Smith has been getting some reps with the 1’s and hasn’t looked out of place. #DaBears #Bears #ChicagoBears pic.twitter.com/uNtLhJ4u8l3. Bears passing attack impressive
On the culture in his second year, QB1 Justin Fields and his new-look receiving corps… and the strengths of the defense!@scottpioli51 @nflnetwork @ChicagoBears pic.twitter.com/KRRougInri
