Gabriel: Bears' Young Players Don't Make Most Of Their Opportunity

By Greg Gabriel--

(CBS) On Sunday morning on the Bears pregame show on 670 The Score, I was asked by former Bears long snapper Patrick Mannelly how the front office evaluated young players in a late-season game.

My answer was that every play in which a player is in the game is an opportunity to be evaluated by the decision makers. When a team has a rash of injuries such as the Bears, it gives a chance for young players to play and show that they deserve to be players in the NFL. They have to make the most of these opportunities if they want to have a career.

In the Bears' 27-21 loss to the Titans, there were several young receivers who failed at their chance to to show that they legitimately belong in the league. With Alshon Jeffery suspended, Eddie Royal not at percent and Kevin White on injured reserve, Marquess Wilson, Josh Bellamy and Deonte Thompson all got much more playing time than they would normally get. Also add to the list Cameron Meredith, who because of injuries has also become a starter for the better part of the season. All of these players dropped passes in critical parts of Sunday's loss.

I shouldn't have to mention that the most important part of a receiver's job is to "catch" the football. Yet for whatever reason, these players all failed to do their job. As the Bears dropped 10 passes, including two in the end zone on their final drive, these players hurt their chances of having NFL careers beyond this season.

Of the four players, Meredith has shown a reasonable amount of consistency during the year. He has been one of the bright spots in this regrettable season. That said, Meredith on Suday was put in the position to show that he has the talent to be a No. 2 or No. 3 receiver, and he didn't get the job done.

Wilson is a player who has talent, but his career to date has been a huge question mark because of his lack of durability. When he has had the chance to show he deserves to be in the NFL, he also failed.

Bellamy and Thompson are only on the team because of their special teams play, and they rarely get the chance to play. Still, they have to make the most of these chances if they want to further their career. It was Bellamy and then Thompson who both dropped potential winning touchdown catches on the Bears' final drive. Bellamy's was the most frustrating drop, as he was wide open and the ball was placed perfectly. He tried to body catch the ball instead of using his hands, and the ball bounced off his chest.

Fortunately for these players, they will get more opportunities to redeem themselves this season. Because of the injuries and suspensions, these players are all the Bears have. They will get another chance, and they better make the most of their second chance. If they don't, they can kiss their NFL careers good-bye.

Is Matt Barkley an NFL quarterback?

Another youngster front and center for the Bears on Sunday was quarterback Matt Barkley, who was making his first NFL start. In the postgame studio show on CBS, former Steelers coach Bill Cowher said the Bears may have found their quarterback of the future in Barkley.

Not so fast, Bill.

Barkley put up some decent numbers -- completing 28 of 54 passes for 316 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions, with at least 10 of these incompletions being drops by his receivers. Still, looking at Barkley's play, I didn't come away with the thought that he's a future NFL starter.

Barkley started the game poorly. His best throws were passes that ended up being gains because of interference penalties. Barkley isn't a quick decision maker, and he doesn't have a quick release. He often waits too long before he releases the ball. His arm is average at best and he can't "drill" the ball when it needs to be drilled. He often just floats the ball, and that can be dangerous.

Both of Barkley's interceptions came in the red zone and were costly. Neither pass should have been thrown, as they were the results of poor decisions by Barkley. It's also worth noting some of those Bears drops came on throws in which the ball placement could've been better.

With Jay Cutler being out with a shoulder injury, Barkley will get more chances to play and prove that he belongs. My feeling is that right now he lacks the physical traits to be better than a third quarterback on an NFL roster. He certainly isn't a starter, and if he is, that team is in trouble.

Greg Gabriel is a former NFL talent evaluator who is an on-air contributor for 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @greggabe.