From Peter King today:
“Bears: The Moore Factor
LAKE FOREST, Ill.—One of the great things about seeing practice at training camp: You see the real thing. The day I was at the Bears, wideout
Chase Claypool and rookie corner
Tyrique Stevenson(from the U) started jousting after one coverage play. They had to be separated, and Stevenson chirped angrily at him—not at all rookie-like. Impressive, standing up to the strong-willed Claypool.
Another snap: Stevenson, likely to start, one-on-one on new wideout
D.J. Moore, on a go-route down the left sideline. Stevenson’s a physical kid; doesn’t play like a rookie.
Justin Fields let it fly. Moore climbed (seemingly) on air to high-point the ball over the strong coverage of the rookie. Great catch, strong hands, good instincts knowing when to go for the ball, good confidence in drawing everything together.
Moore is the player this franchise needed for the care and development of the young quarterback, Fields. Even though I think the Bears would have been partial to acquiring either of two untouchable Panthers in the trade-down (pass-rusher
Brian Burns or defensive tackle
Derrick Brown), on this morning a month before the season, it’s apparent no one here wants a do-over on the trade that netted Chicago one of the game’s top 20 wide receivers.
“Very happy with it,” GM
Ryan Poles told me, smiling, when I asked how he felt about the trade now. “Very happy.”
Those who’ve watched the Bears this summer say the biggest difference in Fields is he trusts his receivers more. This is a rare second straight year in the same offense for the young QB, and smart money says he gives his routes longer to develop and will hang in the pocket more than last year. In other words, don’t look for Fields to run it 10.1 times per game, as he did in 2022. This summer, the ball gets out a little quicker, and when it doesn’t, he’s comfortable waiting a tick longer; the decisions are surer.
“The offense is electrifying—it’s electric,” said Moore.
When is the last time anyone said that about the Chicago Bears, by the way? And for that to be true, Fields needs to remember his rushing is a premier weapon. But Moore needs to be a big factor, and immediately. That’s the plan here.
“Justin’s young. He’s a sponge. He’ll throw deep, intermediate, short—just wants to make the best choice on every play,” Moore said.
Moore was the 24th pick in 2018, the top wideout chosen in a weak draft for them. He’s justified the pick, averaging 73 catches and 14.3 yards per catch in his five pro seasons. Moore is average size (6-0, 210) with slightly above-average speed (4.42-second 40-). But he’s competitive, he wins battles for the ball, and he’s there every Sunday (two missed games in five years). Not much not to like.
The Bears, so far, have gotten a poor return in dealing the first pick in the 2023 second round to Pittsburgh for Claypool. Poles, and this offense, need Moore to be everything he’s looked like so far in camp.”
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