Ben Johnson: Rookie RB Kyle Monangai someone the Bears can lean on in the fall
Bears running backs coach Eric Bieniemy likes to tell rookie Kyle Monangai that every practice is a job interview.
“I’m just trying to ace the interview every day,” Monangai said.
His job interview got off to a slow start in his first trip to Soldier Field on Sunday. Playing alongside the starters in an 11-on-11 drill at Family Fest, the seventh-round pick ran to his left to take a pitch from quarterback Caleb Williams, who looked to pitch the ball to the right. Monangai was at fault — he went the wrong way — and eventually took a handoff and stumbled forward for a yard.
He spent the rest of the drive, however, carrying the Bears. He ran for a first down on third-and-four and scored on second-and-goal from the 2. Later, he plunged in for another touchdown with the second-team offense.
Not bad for the 22nd running back drafted this year.
“I’ve been very pleased with where he’s at,” coach Ben Johnson said after practice. “I think he’s a guy that we’re going to be able to trust this fall.”
It was an impressive start to one of the most important weeks of his young football career. Running backs benefit the most from game action — it’s difficult to run hard against live contact in practice — and it seems unlikely the Bears will play their starters in an exhibition Sunday against the Dolphins. That figures to leave Monangai to play in place of starter D’Andre Swift and short-yardage back Roschon Johnson.
Earlier in training camp, Monangai called preseason games a “big opportunity to prove to the staff and the front office that they made the right decision.”
The second-leading rusher in Rutgers history and a two-time captain, the 5-8 Monangai lasted until Round 7 because of concerns about his size and speed. He ran a 4.6-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, the third-slowest among all running backs.
He hasn’t gotten any taller or faster since becoming a pro. But the Bears like the traits that have jumped out since they started practicing in pads a week ago.
“When you tell him something, it shows up on the tape,” offensive coordinator Declan Doyle said. “You don’t have to tell him twice.”
Johnson said he has been a sponge for information.
“He wants to do everything exactly like you coach it, and there’s a lot of merit to that,” Johnson said. “He’s going to be one of those glue guys that you can count on to do it the right way.”
Not that he’s on the roster for his classroom prowess alone. The Bears have been impressed with Monangai’s enthusiasm for pass- blocking. That’s typically the most difficult detail to master when a running back turns pro.
“He’s more than willing to stick his face in there and go after it,” Doyle said.
The Bears went into the draft looking to take a running back. When the Patriots took TreVeyon Henderson one spot ahead of them in Round 2, the Bears pivoted to wide receiver Luther Burden III.
So Monangai has an opportunity to push for playing time that belies his status as the draft’s 233rd overall pick.
“It’s something you dream about as a kid,” Monangai said. “Now when you’re living it, it’s no longer a dream. It’s my job. It’s something I wake up and do every day.
“The big thing for me is being present in the moment and not allow it to stress me. Because it can be stressful. It’s a highly competitive environment, really big stakes. . . . Not let anything get to your head, too good or too bad. Just being steady about it, being consistent.”