Josh Bellamy Could Be the Answer To Bears Receiver Woes

There are a ton of Chicago Bears fans who just can't understand why Josh Bellamy is still on the roster. All he's doing is eating up a valuable spot that can be used elsewhere. In truth most of this hatred stems from Bellamy's unfortunate tendency to drop passes. While a problem, it's probably the one thing that has kept him from becoming a starter on this offense. Yes, you read that correctly. Bellamy is a good football player. Nobody wants to admit it though because it's easier to say he's bad due to one flaw in his game. Truth be told the details tell a far different story. For starters he's excellent on special teams. In 2015 alone he made 10 tackles in the third phase and another six last year, also forcing two fumbles. He also stepped up big last year on offense. With injuries and suspensions slamming the receiver position in November, Bellamy was the one who helped provide a spark. In a three-game stretch against the Titans, 49ers and Lions he made 11 catches for 179 yards. They beat San Francisco and should've won the other two games. True to form he was at it again in the opener against Atlanta.

Josh Bellamy haters need to look at the whole picture

Here's something to keep in mind. People dog piled on Bellamy after the game for not catching that pass in the end zone. However, if they'd watched the replays they'd know that the supposed drop was created by a blatant holding penalty that wasn't called. On the play Bellamy runs his route into the end zone and makes brief contact with Falcons corner Robert Alford. From there he breaks left towards the sideline. As he's doing this it's clear as day that Alford grabs hold of his arm and shoulder pads. This messes up the timing of the route, resulting in Bellamy being unable to locate the ball in time to catch it. [video width="1920" height="1080" mp4="https://www.sportsmockery.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/TRIM_20170914_081340.mp4"][/video] Some may view that as an excuse but it's a valid one. Also nobody has bothered to point out the Bears wouldn't even have been in that position were it not for Bellamy. The offense lost wide receiver Kevin White during their second-to-last drive of the game. This forced Bellamy onto the field. Just two plays later Chicago faced a 3rd and 5 from the Atlanta 25-yard line. Glennon found Bellamy for a six-yard gain and a first down. On the next play Tarik Cohen took in 19 yards for the touchdown.

His biggest play though came on the next drive

Also have people already forgotten what Bellamy did on the final drive? He delivered two key catches that amassed 21 of the 82 yards they needed to get in position for a touchdown to win the game. None were more clutch than a 4th and 3 they faced at the Atlanta 42. Bellamy faced man coverage, got off the jam immediately and popped wide open for a 14-yard catch. What nobody noticed is who he did it against. That would be Desmond Trufant, the Falcons' Pro Bowl cornerback. [video width="1920" height="1080" mp4="https://www.sportsmockery.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/VID_20170914_080904056.mp4"][/video] [video width="1920" height="1080" mp4="https://www.sportsmockery.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/VID_20170914_081009286.mp4"][/video] Seeing something like that, it becomes easier to understand why offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains didn't seem too panicked following news of the White injury.

“When Kevin went down, those last two series, I think we threw 25 straight passes in those two two-minute drills to get us down there, and those guys responded."

Bellamy was the one who led the way. Look there's no denying the guy has the occasional dropped pass. That is frustrating for fans. They want consistency. The bottom line is though he does something other guys on the roster can't. He gets open. If nothing else he's proven he can do that consistently regardless of who he's lined up against. For a receiver-starved team that is a valuable commodity. Maybe it's time to give the guy a chance.