CHICAGO — Offensive coordinator Luke Getsy said multiple times last season he never has been with a team that spent as much time practicing the two-minute offense as the Chicago Bears did.
So it was no surprise Tuesday afternoon at Halas Hall, near the end of the Bears’ second organized team activity of the spring, when 1:40 was put on the clock. What quickly followed was something Getsy — and Bears fans — could get used to.
On the first snap, DJ Moore won a clean release off the line of scrimmage. After a quick double move, he was sprinting downfield.
“Just played pitch and catch after that,” Moore said.
The deep shot from quarterback Justin Fields wasn’t just a first down. The offense was in field-goal range. One play provided the smallest of glimpses, but everything was in rhythm and the Bears have a bona fide threat for opposing secondaries.
“The first thing I would say is speed,” coach Matt Eberflus said of his reactions when the team got on the field Monday. “I was like, ‘Wow, there’s a different gear there.’”
Fields’ ability to throw the deep ball was highlighted at times a year ago, but the passing game as a whole was a wreck. The hope is the passing game will take off behind a reworked offensive line — including the addition at right tackle of first-round pick Darnell Wright, who was graded highly for his pass-blocking ability in college — along with Moore now leading the wide receivers.
Too many times, the Bears have addressed their wide receiver corps without adding a player who pushed the depth chart from the top down. In other words, they have added a potential No. 2 (more often a No. 3) and haven’t done enough to raise the level of competition and play.
The Bears were last in the league with 2,219 passing yards in 2022, the lowest figure since the Jacksonville Jaguars had 2,179 in 2011. Only five teams have had fewer passing yards since 2000, including the 2005 Bears (2,002). Twenty-eight teams topped 3,000 passing yards last season.
Moore clearly pushes the current depth chart — which includes Chase Claypool, Darnell Mooney (not participating as he recovers from a leg injury), rookie Tyler Scott, Dante Pettis and Velus Jones Jr. — from the top down. It should prevent the Bears from having to use a legitimate No. 2 or No. 3 as a wannabe No. 1, and it makes everyone better.
Seeing it on the practice field is a good reminder of why general manager Ryan Poles prioritized getting a proven, high-caliber veteran in return from the Panthers along with the flock of picks for the No. 1 selection Carolina used on quarterback Bryce Young. There’s no wait-and-see to figure out if Moore will be a hit.
The 6-foot Moore isn’t overly tall but is a muscular 210 pounds. The combination of speed, strength and body control, with some savvy route-running ability, helped him produce three 1,000-yard seasons during the last five years as the Panthers were on their own odyssey at quarterback.
With Fields and Moore working to learn the nuances of each other’s game, they were playing more pitch and catch at the start of an extended 7-on-7 period.
“It was a little bit more than (Monday),” Fields said. “We had a lot of one-on-one back-side stuff to him, so that was good to get on that same page. Even if we do have a concept — front side and then one-on-one back side, I’m going to of course work him more just to get those reps in right now. So when the season rolls around, we’re on the same page.”
The pair already has communicated a ton during meetings this offseason, but with OTAs going on, it has reached another level.
For example, Moore said he needs to develop an understanding of Fields’ footwork on different plays for how it might affect what he’s doing on the front or back side of the formation. Fields said he wants to learn how Moore likes to react to certain coverages and what he sees post-snap. That requires time on task and reps.
“Quarterback-receiver relationship is so important,” Getsy said at rookie minicamp. “As great of a quarterback or receiver as you can be, if there’s not a relationship and a connection between the two of them, then it doesn’t really matter. They’re in that phase right now of getting to know each other.
“What’s cool is DJ’s experiences, he’s had to play with a few different quarterbacks and a few different systems, so you can tell he doesn’t really get fazed by the new. Once those two can communicate with each other — body language, quick communication verbally — all that will get better as we get going.”
The process is ongoing. Moore thinks he and Fields can be full speed with one another early in training camp, adding they’ll need a few days to tighten things up after a summer break. If they can learn that quickly, it could lead to big things for both — and the other wide receivers.
It was notable that Fields said Claypool appears ready to step forward after the Pittsburgh Steelers looked like the big winner of that 2022 trade when they benefited from the No. 32 pick acquired from the Bears.
“Chase has improved tremendously from the end of last year to now,” Fields said. “That’s one thing I’m truly proud to say, seeing his work ethic, his attitude change. We don’t have Mooney right now in practice, so once we get him back, it’s going to be awesome.”
The Bears can put the wide receivers in order now and not feel like someone is out of place.
“I think it helps the receivers, if I’m honest,” Fields said. “Of course DJ’s No. 1. He’s going to play the X. Instead of (the others) having to move around, they can just focus on their position.
“It’s going to be good for them, just knowing their route, knowing their job, getting guys to run certain routes that they can get good at so that they can practice that. And it should be more consistent for them running the routes and more consistent for me throwing to them.”
