Bear Digest

Receivers See Good Fits with Justin Fields

Bears Combine Takeaways: Finding the right fit with Justin Fields at the wide receiver position.

Gene Chamberlain

In this story:

Playing in an offense led by Justin Fields might not be for every receiver.

Fields' mobility frequently meant the ball didn't come out in time last year, and receivers went through scramble drills or became blockers.

Some of the top receivers in the scouting combine could see themselves fitting in with the Bears and Fields, anyway.

Texas Christian 6-foot-2 3/4, 208-pound receiver Quentin Johnston thinks he'd be a fit.

"I kind of gravitate to the younger guys in the league," Johnston told reporters at the combine. "He's very versatile, very athletic, good on the run and in the air.

"That's something I'm used to. I've had a running quarterback since high school. I could see myself fitting there very well."

Max Duggan, the TCU QB, ran for 1,856 yards and 28 TDs in his college career. He had 775 his last two years, a little less than Fields (827) his last two college years.

The Bears met with both LSU receiver Kayshon Boutte and Boston College's Zay Flowers.

"I'd be excited," Boutte said about playing with Fields. "He's a great quarterback and talented all the way around."

And adjusting his game?

"I'm a hard-working player," he said. "Anything you need me to do, I'm able to do."

Flowers sounded a bit like Fields' former Ohio State teammate Jaxon Smith-Njigba in staunchly defending the Bears QB.

"He can make plays with his legs," Flowers said. "If people didn't know, he can throw the ball, too. He was really a throwing quarterback.

"But he just had to use his legs last year. Being able to play somebody like that dynamic would just help my game. I think we can complement each other."

Justin Fields the Other Direction

Not the guys who would get the ball from Fields but a guy who has given Fields the ball is one with a very close-up perspective.

That's Ohio State center Luke Wypler, one of the top players at his position in this draft. He played one season with Fields.

"I mean, I think when you look at Justin Fields, if you give him the weapons that he needs and the things that he needs to succeed, he's one of the most talented football players in the National Football League," Wypler said. "So for me, I've only been with him for a year there at Ohio State, and some of the things he did day-in and day-out were next level.

"I think watching him perform at the level he is now, he's starting to kind of really show the NFL what he's about. And I'm excited to be able to do this next year."

It's possible it would be from up close because the Bears could be looking for the right center. 

They brought one in with free agency (Lucas Patrick) and the draft (injured Doug Kramer) but neither move worked out right away.

Behind Enemy Lines

Northwestern lineman Peter Skoronski didn't mind receiving close scrutiny in the past from the Bears since GM Ryan Poles and assistant GM Ian Cunningham are just up the road from his school at Halas Hall.

Why should he mind? These are NFL personnel people and they're from his hometown since he's from Park Ridge, IL.

Then again, he is a Packers fan. But he should be. His grandfather was Bob Skoronski, who played in Green Bay from 1956-68 and was an offensive line captain for Vince Lombardi's five championship teams.

"I think everyone understands the deal here," Skoronski said. "It would be an honor to play for the Bears. It's my hometown. I played football there in college in Chicago.

"I grew up a Packers fan but I'm not too attached to any particular destination."

His grandfather naturally told stories about the old Packer days under Lombardi.

"I think there was one when he was getting ice cream with his family, my dad and uncles and aunt," Skoronski said. "Lombardi was on him about keeping weight down, stuff like that.

"He was getting ice cream and Lombardi walked in the ice cream shop and he saw him and (he) hid his cone behind his back so Lombardi wouldn't see him eating ice cream. He was putting on some weight. That's one funny story I remember."

Twitter: BearDigest@BearsOnMaven

Published
Gene Chamberlain
GENE CHAMBERLAIN

BearDigest.com publisher Gene Chamberlain has covered the Chicago Bears full time as a beat writer since 1994 and prior to this on a part-time basis for 10 years. He covered the Bears as a beat writer for Suburban Chicago Newspapers, the Daily Southtown, Copley News Service and has been a contributor for the Daily Herald, the Associated Press, Bear Report, CBS Sports.com and The Sporting News. He also has worked a prep sports writer for Tribune Newspapers and Sun-Times newspapers.

Home/GM Report