Bears Draft Prospect Video: KJ Hamler, WR, Penn State
We’ve all seen the flashes from Trubisky.
The arm strength, the mobility.
But there is a mental block preventing him from becoming the quarterback Ryan Pace thought he drafted. At this point, it certainly seems like that mental block will keep Mitch from being the guy who ends the franchise’s historical quarterback drought. But crazier things have happened, haven’t they?
Because while the trade for Nick Foles means the Super Bowl window should be open for the 2020 Chicago Bears, the club’s best chance at keeping it open longer is still dependent on Trubisky’s development, barring the team selecting a new “quarterback of the future” in the second round of the upcoming draft.
Last week I identified wide receiver as Chicago’s biggest roster need heading into the draft, so today I want to look at wide receivers in the draft and see which ones might be a fit for this offense. I’ve done previous work looking at wide receivers Andy Reid brought in to Kansas City, where he trained Matt Nagy. When examining their Combine performance, all typically excelled at three drills:
Receivers who were targeted for that offense usually hit at least 2 of those 3 thresholds, with many of them hitting all 3. And this seems to hold true in Chicago, at least in terms of the wide receivers in which the Bears have invested most. Allen Robinson, Anthony Miller, and Taylor Gabriel all hit at least 2 of 3 thresholds. 2019 4th round pick Riley Ridley only hit 1/3, and 2018 7th round pick Javon Wims 0/3. (A day 3 pick is less of an investment.). Given that the Bears are likely considering WR in round 2 again this year, I think it’s worth looking at what players who might be good physical fits for this offense.
As always, these test results are not a way to say how good or bad a wide receiver will be, but simply if they match the physical characteristics of previous players who have excelled in this offense.
Unlike at tight end, this is a very athletic wide receiver class; 31 of the 45 WRs who did at least 2 of these 3 tests at the Combine hit at least 2 of the three thresholds. Their results are shown in the table below (missed thresholds are shown in red).
He’s worked with Mike Nichols. (Image 1, Charlie Wilson’s War.)
He’s been in a Best Picture. (Image 2, Argo.)
He’s done a Broadway two-hander with Al Pacino. (Image 3, China Doll.)
But now his career reaches a new height as he’ll answer three questions on a blog.
I used to admire Chris Denham from afar, as a fan who’d seen his work on the stage in New York. Then he married one of my best friends – marrying into one of my favorite families on earth – and now I get to admire him off-stage as well. He’s a great dude, a mediocre husband and I’m sure he’s a good father but I’m not qualified to make that judgement.
DBB: You did Charlie Wilson’s War with Mike Nichols and Shutter Island with Martin Scorsese (who I assume you can now call “Marty”). I assume those were very different kinds of sets. So stylistically, what kind of football coaches would those two guys be?
Denham: Nichols and Scorsese were more similar than different. They were both storytellers on set – raconteurs. Lou Holtz comes to mind. Neither was a screamer. Both of them dressed impeccably. Does that make them the Tom Landrys of cinema? Both men were cerebral. Well prepared. Storyboarding the shots (game-planning) but allowing the actors to call audibles and scramble. I’m stretching this metaphor too far.
DBB: I first became aware of you when I saw you in Master Harold and the Boys on Broadway in 2003. (When I do my South African accent I’m still doing your South African accent from that shows.) I have argued Broadway theatre – with the huge crowds, celebrities in audience, stage door experience – is the closest the arts come to professional sports. Was that your experience at all?
Denham: Yes, doing a Broadway show approximates the adrenaline, the sheer rush of live sports. I mean, anything can happen. It happens right in front of you. Right in your face. Literally. Doing that play with Danny Glover, I accidentally threw a wet rag into the first row, into the face of an unsuspecting old lady. It was such a big rag. It completely covered her face. The best part was she just threw it back on stage and everyone clapped. I did Martin McDonagh’s The Lieutenant of Inishmore and this damn cat is supposed to walk onstage at the end. Occasionally (it tended to be Wednesday matinees), the cat would just saunter offstage and walk into the audience. People would just go nuts and start clapping and cheering insanely. It was amazing actually. It reminded us what theater can do that film and TV can’t do. It’s participatory.
These are difficult times for a lot of people.
But you can do things.
Here are three.
(1) Support the brilliant work of Del Reid and the folks at 26Shirts.
Every two weeks, the shirt changes. And a large percentage of the sales go to a worthy cause. This shirt’s cause:
Lucky McMahon is a wonderful 5 year old boy who was born premature at 33 weeks. So far in his life Lucky has required over 15 surgeries, and struggles with a complex medical history as a result. Lucky suffers from Hydrocephalus and Chiari Malformation, but what he really needs help with are his teeth. Lucky requires multiple teeth removed, crowns places, and cavities filled. Without the procedures Lucky’s current infection could worsen and prove fatal. Due to Lucky’s unique diagnoses, he requires anesthesia during his multiple procedures, and a dentist who is able to work with Lucky’s needs. Lucky’s mom Paula is fighting hard for her little boy, and has found a dentist to do his procedures, but she needs financial help to cover the cost. She thanks anyone who purchases a shirt to help her and her little boy!
(2) Give a few dollars to the Windy Kitty Cafe (or whatever animal shelter you support).
If you love cats, and I do, Windy Kitty Cafe is one of the most glorious places on earth. They recently established a kitten nursery and I got to watch about 8 kittens climb on my lady friend Sarah for a half hour. (See directly below.)
They are operating on a shoestring budget right now because they can’t get visitors in the door to help supplement their costs. But you can help. By CLICKING HERE. By giving them a few bucks.
