Minicamp Chat: WR Marcus Monk

All teams in the NFL want to find Marques Colston, a receiver drafted in the seventh round who became an immediate star. The Chicago Bears took a flyer on Marcus Monk, and he looked pretty good during rookie minicamp. Monk met with Bear Report after Sunday's workout to talk about his performance.

John Crist: You've got fantastic size at about 6-4 and 220 pounds. You caught more touchdown passes than anyone in the history of Arkansas football. Why do you think you were still available in the seventh round?

Marcus Monk: I know it was mainly because of my knee injury. I came in in August and I hurt my knee, and it set me back a little bit. But I'm just glad that I get the opportunity and the Bears gave me the opportunity to play football.

JC: The 40-yard dash is obviously a big deal in terms of evaluating talent at this level. But on the field with pads on in the heat of the moment, how much difference do you really think there is between a 4.4 guy and a 4.6 guy?

MM: You've got to know how to use your speed. The 40 isn't really big. Some guys have blazing speed and you can tell, but you've got to know how to use your speed no matter how fast or slow you are.

JC: You guys used that Wild Hog formation in Fayetteville with Darren McFadden lining up at quarterback a lot, and the passing attack looked pretty elementary overall. How much of a change in philosophy is there with the playbook here in Chicago?

WR Marcus Monk
Warren Wimmer Photography

MM: My last year I had [offensive coordinator] David Lee, and he brought a lot more passing into it. But I had got hurt, so I really couldn't play. It's a lot different. We ran the ball a whole lot at Arkansas, but it's fun.

JC: In what ways can being a big receiver help you to succeed? And in what ways can being a big receiver almost make it more difficult out here?

MM: I try to use my body, and I've got to remember the little things [like] staying low coming out of your breaks. Just things that smaller receivers are a little bit easier to do. But just practice.

JC: You've been bombarded with information the last three days out here at rookie minicamp. How do you process everything that's been thrown at you and make sure you retain it for the next time you're back at Halas Hall?

MM: People learn different. I like to write down everything. I write it down, and then when I go back to my room, I take notes. And [then] I read what I wrote.

John Crist is the Publisher of Bear Report and a member of the Professional Football Writers of America. To read him every day, visit BearReport.com and become a Chicago Bears insider.