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Good article about Johnny Knox...
When opportunity Knox, here's Johnny
September 22, 2009
BY BRAD BIGGS
It was the suggestion of just about everyone not at Halas Hall that the Bears add a veteran wide receiver or two entering the season.
But general manager Jerry Angelo has maintained that signing a player with experience often stunts the growth of younger players. He cites the emergence of Marty Booker, who had a club-record 100 receptions in 2001, an opportunity that came after Bobby Engram was let go. Angelo admits it didn't work that way with Mark Bradley, a second-round draft pick in 2005.
But not even Angelo can claim he envisioned Abilene Christian product Johnny Knox emerging as a dependable and explosive target for quarterback Jay Cutler after two weeks. The Bears knew they needed an upgrade at receiver, and had they not traded for Cutler, Angelo admitted he was going to draft a wideout in the first round.
When the Cutler trade took them out of the running for a top prospect, the Bears went with quantity, choosing Juaquin Iglesias in the third round, Knox in the fifth and Derek Kinder in the seventh. Knox might have been the least likely to contribute immediately by virtue of his background at the Division II school where he played for two years after spending two seasons at Tyler (Texas) Junior College.
With Kinder cut and Iglesias destined to be inactive on game days for the foreseeable future, Knox has come on as fast for the Bears as he ran the 40-yard dash at the scouting combine (less than 4.3 seconds). Knox caught a seven-yard touchdown pass in the Bears' 17-14 victory Sunday over the Pittsburgh Steelers and led the team with six receptions for 70 yards.
His emergence hasn't been by design. Knox was forced into action the previous week because a quad strain sidelined Devin Aromashodu.
''I had my ups and downs throughout training camp and preseason,'' said Knox, who rarely worked with the first team during the summer. ''I just try to build off that and make plays when I can. They've just told me to keep doing what I am doing.''
The surest sign that he is fitting in is that Cutler is looking for him. Remember, Cutler wasn't subtle in training camp about his desire to have a say in personnel matters.
''You never know how guys are going to react out there once the lights turn on,'' Cutler said. ''You don't know if guys are still going to be able to play as fast as they are, and he's one of those guys, if not faster. He's out there buzzing around making some big catches with people on him.
''[He's] in the right spots, making some adjustments on the move. I hit him over the middle [on the touchdown], he was kind of standing out. Just him out there using his ability, and I told him, 'Congratulations, you're no longer a rookie. You're out there playing with the rest of us.'''
The Bears guarded against overwhelming Knox with too much responsibility. Earl Bennett, a third-round pick in 2008, never contributed as a rookie because he was asked to learn three receiver positions at once and struggled. Knox has been left in one spot. It won't be surprising if Knox pushes for Bennett's split-end job in the coming weeks after seeing action in two-receiver sets against the Steelers.
''If you would talk to him, he probably saw it playing out this way,'' coach Lovie Smith said. ''He doesn't realize that he's from Abilene Christian and he's in the big city and supposed to be in awe with everything that's going on. Just making play after play.''
The Bears had a good feel for Knox from the start. Southwest regional scout Chris Ballard previously coached against Abilene Christian at Texas & AM-Kingsville. But when Knox's pro day came in March and about half the league showed up, Ballard wasn't there.
''[ballard] told me the day they drafted Johnny that, 'I knew I loved him,''' agent Marc Lillibridge said. ''[ballard] said, 'I gave him a good grade. I didn't show because I didn't want anyone to know we liked him.' It's all smoke and mirrors.''
Knox played in the Texas vs. The Nation All-Star Game, then raised his profile when he ran the 40 at the combine. Now he leads the Bears with 152 receiving yards. To put that in perspective, the starting receivers last season, Devin Hester and Rashied Davis, both needed five games to amass more yardage.
''I guess it's all about getting your opportunity,'' Abilene Christian coach Chris Thomsen said. ''Maybe it surprised me his opportunity has come this early. It doesn't surprise me he is doing well. He is a tremendous worker. He has a tremendously positive attitude. That allows him to be successful in a very high-pressure environment. Football is such a game of ups and downs, and he doesn't flow with that. He's just steady.''
If you still haven't seen this, watch Mr Knox BUST IT.....
2009 NFL Combine 40 Speeds
Moving forward, which would you rather have? Knox or Bennett?
When opportunity Knox, here's Johnny
September 22, 2009
BY BRAD BIGGS
It was the suggestion of just about everyone not at Halas Hall that the Bears add a veteran wide receiver or two entering the season.
But general manager Jerry Angelo has maintained that signing a player with experience often stunts the growth of younger players. He cites the emergence of Marty Booker, who had a club-record 100 receptions in 2001, an opportunity that came after Bobby Engram was let go. Angelo admits it didn't work that way with Mark Bradley, a second-round draft pick in 2005.
But not even Angelo can claim he envisioned Abilene Christian product Johnny Knox emerging as a dependable and explosive target for quarterback Jay Cutler after two weeks. The Bears knew they needed an upgrade at receiver, and had they not traded for Cutler, Angelo admitted he was going to draft a wideout in the first round.
When the Cutler trade took them out of the running for a top prospect, the Bears went with quantity, choosing Juaquin Iglesias in the third round, Knox in the fifth and Derek Kinder in the seventh. Knox might have been the least likely to contribute immediately by virtue of his background at the Division II school where he played for two years after spending two seasons at Tyler (Texas) Junior College.
With Kinder cut and Iglesias destined to be inactive on game days for the foreseeable future, Knox has come on as fast for the Bears as he ran the 40-yard dash at the scouting combine (less than 4.3 seconds). Knox caught a seven-yard touchdown pass in the Bears' 17-14 victory Sunday over the Pittsburgh Steelers and led the team with six receptions for 70 yards.
His emergence hasn't been by design. Knox was forced into action the previous week because a quad strain sidelined Devin Aromashodu.
''I had my ups and downs throughout training camp and preseason,'' said Knox, who rarely worked with the first team during the summer. ''I just try to build off that and make plays when I can. They've just told me to keep doing what I am doing.''
The surest sign that he is fitting in is that Cutler is looking for him. Remember, Cutler wasn't subtle in training camp about his desire to have a say in personnel matters.
''You never know how guys are going to react out there once the lights turn on,'' Cutler said. ''You don't know if guys are still going to be able to play as fast as they are, and he's one of those guys, if not faster. He's out there buzzing around making some big catches with people on him.
''[He's] in the right spots, making some adjustments on the move. I hit him over the middle [on the touchdown], he was kind of standing out. Just him out there using his ability, and I told him, 'Congratulations, you're no longer a rookie. You're out there playing with the rest of us.'''
The Bears guarded against overwhelming Knox with too much responsibility. Earl Bennett, a third-round pick in 2008, never contributed as a rookie because he was asked to learn three receiver positions at once and struggled. Knox has been left in one spot. It won't be surprising if Knox pushes for Bennett's split-end job in the coming weeks after seeing action in two-receiver sets against the Steelers.
''If you would talk to him, he probably saw it playing out this way,'' coach Lovie Smith said. ''He doesn't realize that he's from Abilene Christian and he's in the big city and supposed to be in awe with everything that's going on. Just making play after play.''
The Bears had a good feel for Knox from the start. Southwest regional scout Chris Ballard previously coached against Abilene Christian at Texas & AM-Kingsville. But when Knox's pro day came in March and about half the league showed up, Ballard wasn't there.
''[ballard] told me the day they drafted Johnny that, 'I knew I loved him,''' agent Marc Lillibridge said. ''[ballard] said, 'I gave him a good grade. I didn't show because I didn't want anyone to know we liked him.' It's all smoke and mirrors.''
Knox played in the Texas vs. The Nation All-Star Game, then raised his profile when he ran the 40 at the combine. Now he leads the Bears with 152 receiving yards. To put that in perspective, the starting receivers last season, Devin Hester and Rashied Davis, both needed five games to amass more yardage.
''I guess it's all about getting your opportunity,'' Abilene Christian coach Chris Thomsen said. ''Maybe it surprised me his opportunity has come this early. It doesn't surprise me he is doing well. He is a tremendous worker. He has a tremendously positive attitude. That allows him to be successful in a very high-pressure environment. Football is such a game of ups and downs, and he doesn't flow with that. He's just steady.''
If you still haven't seen this, watch Mr Knox BUST IT.....
2009 NFL Combine 40 Speeds
Moving forward, which would you rather have? Knox or Bennett?
I need to see more of Knox and Bennett, but I think both have a realistic shot at being solid pros. I actually think these two might be best suited as CHI’s starting WRs (if not now, then very soon), with Hester playing the slot and doing full-time return duty again.
