As apart of a brand new series, Rookie Preview aims to preview every rookie selected by Ryan Pace and give insightful analysis for the latest in Bears history.
As Bears training camp draws closer, there is optimism surrounding the Bears defense and their latest addition to the defense. For the second time in three seasons, the Bears had turned to the University of Georgia to find a linebacker. When the Bears were on the clock with the eighth overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, the Bears selected Georgia Linebacker Roquan Smith, someone who looked up to current Bears outside linebacker Leonard Floyd.
After the Bears moved on from Jerrell Freeman, it immediately became clear that the Bears needed another middle linebacker. Most fans thought that Nick Kwiatkoski was ready to take over, however, general manager Ryan Pace had other plans in mind.
Unlike the selections of Mitchell Trubisky in 2017 and Leonard Floyd in 2016, there was a different feeling surrounding the Smith pick. For the first time in what felt like forever, the Bears seemed as if they had landed an impact player on defense. Smith wasn’t just another college prospect. He was someone who was a known producer, a proven product that had all the tools needed to be successful at the next level.
In his final season at Georgia, Smith totaled eighty-five tackles, six and a half sacks, and fourteen tackles for loss.
There are many reasons to love a guy like Smith. He brings speed to a defense, meaning he can fly from sideline-to-sideline to stop running backs. Another reason to love Smith is that he can physically match up against bigger targets such as tight ends or even against running backs. He’s also a very smart player, knowing when to begin pursuing someone and when to stop.
-
Ep 119: Patrick Mahomes' Top 5 List
by Full Press Coverage on May 27, 2023 at 7:49 pm
Currently, the only concern with a player of Smith’s caliber is his size. He’s listed at six-foot-one and weighs 225 lbs. However, with the NFL being somewhat of a copycat league, it’s clear that when looking at the size and weight of Smith, they compare very favorably to another Pro Bowl linebacker that defensive coordinator Vic Fangio coached while with the San Francisco 49ers: Patrick Willis.
Willis too was known as someone who would with just one play, end up changing games on defense. In fact, had he still been playing today, he would have likely still been one of the best linebackers in the game. That’s why the Bears rebuild on defense might finally be complete. Smith has an unlimited amount of upside and Vic Fangio is the perfect person to help him fulfill that potential.
Since Brian Urlacher retired in 2012, the Bears have not had a big play linebacker on defense. While the addition of Danny Trevathan in 2016 did help, the skills that Smith brings will make this defense better from day one. Expect to see fewer opponents running to the outside, while bigger targets such as tight ends being slowed down.
One thing to be clear regarding Smith. Like any first-round pick, his development will take time. Understand that it’s all a process. He won’t be the star of the Bears defense starting September ninth, but he’ll certainly improve throughout the course of the season.
For a franchise that’s already had a proven existence of great linebackers such as Brian Urlacher, Mike Singletary, and Dick Butkus, the expectations are clearly high for a guy like Roquan Smith. And while he’ll face challenges along the way, it’s clear that he seems to bring the attitude and skill set to live up to whatever he faces.
Get ready Chicago, your next big thing on defense had arrived.
-
Ep 157: Colts Owner Jim Irsay Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on May 27, 2023 at 7:24 pm
Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay joins Clark and Ira to discuss his Top […]
-
Ep 156: Karen Guregian Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on May 21, 2023 at 3:00 pm
Karen Guregian of MassLIVE joins Clark and Ira to talk about her near four […]
-
I will be watching these NFL Coaches Closely this seasonby LandryFootball.com on May 30, 2023 at 11:40 am
We have spent a good amount of time this spring talking about the NFL […]
-
Each NFL Team's Player Contract to monitorby LandryFootball.com on May 29, 2023 at 12:00 pm
As the offseason quiets down a bit, teams start putting more emphasis on […]
-
Ep 286: FPC Dynasty Rookie Draftby Full Press Coverage on May 26, 2023 at 3:01 pm
-
Ep 285: Draft Discussions Dominatingby Full Press Coverage on May 18, 2023 at 4:38 pm
-
Ep 284: Recapping Rookie Dynasty Draftsby Full Press Coverage on May 11, 2023 at 12:59 pm
-
Ep 283: 2023 NFL Draft Recapby Full Press Coverage on May 1, 2023 at 7:09 pm
-
Episode 3.11: OTAs and Hot Topics w/Sam Fortier from the Washington Postby Full Press Coverage on May 30, 2023 at 9:20 pm
George Carmi hosts Sam Fortier from the Washington Post to discuss the […]
-
Episode 3.10: Commanders Roster and OTAsby Full Press Coverage on May 23, 2023 at 8:53 pm
On the latest episode of the Command the Mic Podcast, George Carmi hosts […]
-
Full Press Blackhawks - Tuesday, May 30thby Full Press Coverage on May 30, 2023 at 2:30 pm
Does picking Connor Bedard speed up the Blackhawks’ rebuild and few […]
-
Renegades Of Puck Ep 767by Charlie Saunier on May 30, 2023 at 4:01 am
Ep 767 The Renegades Of Puck Recap Game 3 Preview Game 4 Milwaukee […]
-
Full Press Hurricanes - Monday, May 29thby Full Press Coverage on May 30, 2023 at 12:45 am
A deeper dive into the Hurricanes free agent list and the cap situation as […]
-
Full Press Kraken - Monday, May 29thby Full Press Coverage on May 29, 2023 at 4:30 pm
Looking back at Shane Wrights’ first season and the future. Learn more […]
-
Renegades Of Puck Ep 766by Charlie Saunier on May 28, 2023 at 7:01 am
Ep 766 The Renegades Of Puck Recap Game 2 Preview Game 3 Milwaukee […]
-
Renegades Of Puck Ep 765by Charlie Saunier on May 26, 2023 at 11:23 pm
Ep 765 The Renegades Of Puck Recap Game 1 Preview Game 2 Milwaukee […]
-
5/30 - Heat Dominate Celtics; Vegas Advances; Jimmy Gby Full Press Coverage on May 30, 2023 at 3:35 pm
Ian and John discuss the Celtics disappointing Game 7 performance against […]
-
5/29 - Celtics/Heat Game 7; DeAndre Hopkins Releasedby Full Press Coverage on May 30, 2023 at 12:12 am
Ian and John discuss Game 7 between the Celtics and Heat as well as the […]
-
5/26 - Celtics Force Game 6; Mahomes QB Listby Full Press Coverage on May 26, 2023 at 2:12 pm
Ian and John discuss the Celtics big Game 5 win the Top 5 quarterbacks of […]
-
5/25 - Panthers Advance To Stanley Cup Finals; Celtics/Heatby Full Press Coverage on May 25, 2023 at 3:00 pm
Ian and John discuss the Celtics and the Heat and welcome in Jim Bringer […]
-
5/24 - Lakers Eliminated, Celtics Force Game 5by Full Press Coverage on May 24, 2023 at 2:08 pm
Ian and John discuss the Lakers loss to the Nuggets in the Western […]
-
5/22 - Celtics, Lakers Face 0-3 Deficitby Full Press Coverage on May 22, 2023 at 1:58 pm
Ian and John react to the Celtics and Lakers being down 0-3 in their […]
-
Ep 2: Top 5 Super Bowls Of All Timeby Full Press Coverage on February 7, 2023 at 3:26 pm
Ian Glendon and John Sapochetti give their Top 5 Super Bowls of all time. […]
-
Ep 1: The Top 10 Quarterbacks Of All Timeby Full Press Coverage on January 12, 2023 at 8:42 pm
On the first episode of 'According To Who?', host Ian Glendon and John […]
-
Full Press MMA - Tuesday, May 29thby Full Press Coverage on May 30, 2023 at 11:00 pm
-
Ep. 246 - Who is to Blame for the Celtics Coming Up Short?by Full Press Coverage on May 30, 2023 at 9:27 pm
-
Episode 3.11: OTAs and Hot Topics w/Sam Fortier from the Washington Postby Full Press Coverage on May 30, 2023 at 9:20 pm
-
5/30 - Heat Dominate Celtics; Vegas Advances; Jimmy Gby Full Press Coverage on May 30, 2023 at 3:35 pm
-
5/29 - Celtics/Heat Game 7; DeAndre Hopkins Releasedby Full Press Coverage on May 30, 2023 at 12:12 am
-
Full Press MMA - Monday, May 29thby Full Press Coverage on May 29, 2023 at 11:00 pm
-
Heat at Celticsby Broken Controller Media on May 29, 2023 at 4:00 pm
-
Ep 119: Patrick Mahomes' Top 5 Listby Full Press Coverage on May 27, 2023 at 7:49 pm
-
Celtics at Heatby Broken Controller Media on May 27, 2023 at 4:00 pm
-
Ep 166: Gene Snitskyby Full Press Coverage on May 27, 2023 at 2:00 pm
-
Boot 2 The Face "PPV Predictions"by Boot 2 The Face on May 26, 2023 at 1:06 am
BIG weekend in wrestling and EJ and Rucker are here to predict!AEW Double […]
-
Boot 2 The Face "Backlash Preview"by Boot 2 The Face on May 5, 2023 at 2:43 am
Your boys are back talking WWE Backlash, All In ticket sales, the new […]
-
AEW Double or Nothing and Night of Champions Previewby Full Press Coverage on May 26, 2023 at 9:59 pm
Jim is back once again joined by Teddy Repantis as they preview Double or […]
-
What's Next For CM Punk and AEW, The Bloodline, and the Countdown to Double or Nothingby Full Press Coverage on May 23, 2023 at 1:27 pm
Jim is back once again joined by Teddy Repantis as they discuss the launch […]