Chicago Bears Training Camp Profile: Allen Robinson

The Chicago Bears will report to camp this week and all eyes will be on the newly built offense and Allen Robinson, the crown jewel of this offseason.

The Chicago Bears wide receivers were absolutely terrible last season. One could have seen it coming considering the lack of proven options on paper.

Cameron Meredith and Kevin White were slated to be starters and significant contributors last season. Meredith suffered a season-ending injury in the preseason. The Bears lost White for the season in the first week. Once that happened, you knew it was about to be a long season for the offense.

General manager Ryan Pace didn’t take any chances this past offseason. The Bears signed former Atlanta Falcons speedster Taylor Gabriel and traded up into the second round to draft Anthony Miller. No doubt, the centerpiece of the offseason was Allen Robinson. Robinson has established himself in a short time as one of the league’s best wide receivers.

With the assistance of an offensive mind like Matt Nagy, Robinson is set to take that next step. Could he reach the same level as Julio Jones, Odell Beckham, and Antonio Brown as an elite receiver? He certainly has the tools to do so, and he sees Nagy as a guy that can get him there. With that in mind, as the Bears head into training camp, we take a look at what he could bring to the team.

Strengths

Robinson uses his size to his advantage at 6-foot-3, 209 pounds. He’s a go up-and-get it wide receiver that takes advantage of smaller opposing cornerbacks. Robinson displays smooth route running abilities for his size. He shows great awareness in identifying whether the defense is playing man or zone coverage.

Robinson can run just about any route on the field. He makes an impact in the short-to-intermediate area of the field but is also a deep threat. That’s all attributed to his outstanding footwork which creates separation between him and the defender.

Most look at Robinson as a boundary receiver because of his size. However, his ability to run every route on the route tree makes him a mismatch for opposing defenses. If there’s a favorable matchup in the slot, Robinson can also line up there and take advantage. He’s a nightmare draw for opposing defensive coordinators.

Robinson broke out in the 2015 season, with 80 catches, 1,400 receiving yards, and 14 touchdowns. This was all with Blake Bortles under center for the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Bears hope to get similar production from him in 2018.

Weaknesses

There really are no significant weaknesses to Robinson’s game that you can nitpick. Perhaps the only thing you can poke at is that he doesn’t have the greatest speed in the world. He’s not a guy that will consistently use speed to burn defenders down-the-field or after the catch.

Another mystery with Robinson goes back to the 2016 season. After coming off the 1,400 yard and 14 touchdown season, Robinson’s production dipped dramatically. He finished the season with 73 catches for 883 yards and six touchdowns.

Bears fans have to wonder which receiver they are getting. Are they getting the 2015 version of Robinson that looks like one of the best young wideouts in the game? Alternatively, are they getting the 2016 version who is decent, but not a game changer?

Next: Three rookies that could alter training camp

Prediction

The Bears really upgraded the receiving talent around Mitch Trubisky. However, I expect Robinson to separate himself as the top dog in the passing game. Combined with Nagy’s creative playcalling, Robinson is primed to take that next step among the better wideouts in the league.