It took just one game for Bears RB Kyle Monangai to become a textbook example in the eyes of his coaches
He showed a lot of good things on tape.
Few seventh-round rookies can impress a coaching staff before playing an NFL game like running back Kyle Monangai has been able to do after joining the Chicago Bears.
After finally seeing him in action in the preseason opener against the Miami Dolphins, Monangai was everything the coaches expected to see and more.
“I really enjoyed watching Kyle play,” offensive coordinator Declan Doyle said on Monday after the game. “You watch a physical guy that’s downhill. There’s some shots on tape of him trying to block downfield and playing with a lot of effort. When you watch a guy like that, it’s fun because you look at him and you’re like ‘that’s what we want our organization to represent’ a guy that’s tough, hard-nosed, he’s willing to stick his face in the fan and he’s going to fight.”
Doyle’s comments after watching the tape are far from the first high reviews the rookie has received this summer. Head coach Ben Johnson has previously referred to Monangai as a “glue guy” and someone the team can “trust” in the fall.
Looking back at his NFL debut, it’s easy to see why. Sure Monangai played with some physicality running the ball and making the first guy miss, but his patience and vision were just as impressive.
Of course, like any player in their first NFL game, there’s some plays Monangai would love to have back, mainly some bad reps in pass protection. While speaking with reporters after the game, Monangai offered some more insight into what went wrong.
“Guys are bigger, stronger, you’ve got to have a strong base and strike guys,” Monangai said. “Not everybody is a college linebacker, even though the BIG10 I think is the most physical conference in college football. The NFL is a whole other level playing against grown men. Can’t let it happen again.”
Based on the response from his offensive coordinator after watching the tape, Monangai’s struggles in pass protection shouldn’t be something to be concerned about after one game. Let’s not forget pass blocking was one of Monangai’s best traits coming out of Maryland.
To me, the rookie showed everything needed to be the RB2 in this offense behind D’Andre Swift, although Monangai got the benefit of more reps with Roschon Johnson sidelined due to a foot injury suffered earlier in the week. He’ll be an interesting player to watch develop going into the second game against the Buffalo Bills this weekend.
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