Chicago Bears fans, we must have this discussion about the future

Players that have disappointed

The Chicago Bear fans have a right to be mad at Allen Robinson after failing to gain that first down. Robinson is a good receiver, but the excuses that bad quarterbacks have held him back from being a top tier NFL talent should stop. Robinson is one of the better possession receivers in the NFL, but he should not be put in the same category as DeAndre Hopkins.

When even the worst ball comes Hopkins way, it’s like he has a magnet on his hands that the ball sticks to. I likely don’t watch enough of Hopkins to say that he hardly drops a pass or runs out of bounds before gaining a first down, but it sure seems like he does just that.

Anthony Miller has not become the slot guy many imagined (Justin Jefferson), but he is not as bad as the media has made him out to be. Miller has been exactly what his scouting report has said he would be minus the touchdowns.

Miller was projected to be a wildly explosive slot receiver who freelances and struggles with drops while making highlight-reel catches. Miller’s catch percentage as a rookie was 61. His catch percentage was 61% in 2019 and is the same this season. Many remember Victor Cruz, who busted on the scene after his rookie season with the New York Giants.

The Giants won a Super Bowl in 2011 with Cruz leading the team in receiving yards with 1,536. He caught 62% of his passes and has a career catch percentage of 59.5. It is more opportunity and scheme that worked out in Cruz’s success with Eli Manning.

Between the targets for Allen Robinson (115), Darnell Mooney (71), Jimmy Graham (62), and David Montgomery (51), the ball won’t get to Miller (68) enough for him to post up a 1,000-yard season. And that is just fine, honestly.  If everything works out correctly, Cole Kmet will become the leading tight end of the future. Darnell Mooney will become the speed threat number two receiver, and Anthony Miller will be the slot guy with more responsibility.