Let’s Talk About Kyle Monangai’s Performance on Sunday ...Middle East

It’s a Bears “Tie Monday,” but it doesn’t quite have the ring of a Bears “Victory Monday.”

Nevertheless, some takeaways from this Sunday’s anticlimactic finish at Soldier Field, like rookie running back Kyle Monangai, are worth discussing.

I touched on some of the good from Sunday in last night’s Bears Nightcap post — which will be a staple Sunday feature this season, joining returning game day regulars like Luis’ recap and Instant Grades, which will be done by Matt this season — where I gave rookie running back Kyle Monangai a game ball for his performance.

I spent some time this morning re-watching yesterday’s game and came away even more impressed with Monangai’s performance than I was in real time on Sunday.

Let’s Talk About Kyle Monangai’s Performance on Sunday

We’ve talked about the two-back dynamic Ben Johnson created as the Detroit Lions’ offensive coordinator with former Bears running back David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs for months, while trying to figure out what Johnson’s backfield plans could be here in Chicago.

D’Andre Swift is the incumbent starter. By all accounts, he has had a solid camp and seems motivated to find more consistency this season under his old offensive coordinator from Detroit. However, Swift’s skill set is limited, and we know that Johnson loves multiplicity in his offense. Swift’s speed and explosiveness are best served by a backfield partner who can get yards through contact and keep a defense honest. But for the multiplicity in Johnson’s offense to show up, Swift needs a backfield partner who complements his style.

Sunday was the first of three Bears preseason contests. And while it presented a small sample, I like what Kyle Monangai put on tape.

Let’s take a look at his longest run of the day, a 13-yard run in which he showed good patience in pressing the front side of the play, allowing the backside to open up, before hitting a crisp cut. He then picked up speed and ran tough through contact on the tail end of the play.

Bears RB Kyle Monangai pressing front side as long as possible to open up space on backside. Finishes run with violence. pic.twitter.com/NLCGEzIzZF

That is a nice all-around run by the rookie. As cliché as it may be in this dialogue, it was reminiscent of David Montgomery’s rookie season in Chicago with how he relied on vision, balance, and finishing his runs with power.

Side note: Braxton Jones getting tossed aside in the second level isn’t ideal, but that’s a conversation for another space.

Here is another run from Monangai. In this run, Monangai again shows excellent patience and vision, and makes nice cuts before finishing through contact:

Kyle Monangai shows great patience and vision here.But check out the effort from Luther Burden pic.twitter.com/xID1Qi1but

Another side note: Rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III appears to have received Head Coach Ben Johnson’s “no block, no rock” memo — impressive effort in the run-blocking game by the rookie wideout.

Monangai finished the afternoon with 30 yards on six carries, with 19 of his yards coming after contact. He forced two missed tackles, averaged five yards per carry, and picked up three first downs for Chicago’s offense.

Did Monangai do enough to enter the RB2 conversation? ESPN Chicago’s Bears beat reporter Courtney Cronin seems to think he is on a path to doing so:

Monangai Fits the Mold of a Ben Johnson Running Back

The easy comp for Monangai is David Montgomery, who was Ben Johnson’s power back in Detroit the past two seasons. However, as Establish the Run’s Anthony Amico pointed out on Sunday, there’s another Johnson power back who looks to be a better comparison for Monangai:

Kyle Monangai211 pounds4.60 forty1.62 ten yd split0 fumbles in collegeJamaal Williams212 pounds4.59 forty1.60 ten yd split0 fumbles first 4 NFL seasonsBen Johnson has a type in his power back. Grind, get what is necessary, protect the rock.pic.twitter.com/jCNPurKkrx

When Jamaal Williams and D’Andre Swift worked together in the Detroit backfield under Johnson, Williams logged 1,139 total yards and 17 touchdowns before heading to New Orleans on a three-year, $12 million deal. Williams was reportedly in for a workout at Halas Hall over the weekend, but has since moved on (h/t ESPN’s Adam Schefter) to have a tryout with the Miami Dolphins.

Simply put, Monangai profiles as the workhorse that Ben Johnson is missing in his backfield. Monangai was the primary back for Chicago during a 16-play, 79-yard touchdown drive on Sunday, accounting for 29 of those yards.

“Drives like that are what I feel like I’m built for,” Monangai said after the game (via The Athletic). “I’m just thinking ‘get a first down.’”

With Roschon Johnson dealing with a foot injury, Monangai’s practice reps have increased. If Johnson is going to be sidelined this week, I anticipate Monangai seeing an increased role against the Bills on Sunday.

Whoever lands the RB2 role will need to run between the tackles, catch the ball out of the backfield, and block. While Johnson has the edge over Monangai as Swift’s complimentary back, Monangai has made the conversation more interesting than expected with his work during camp and his first preseason performance.

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