Coaches have different standards and production values than players and fans.
As the Bears practice with the exception of top defensive playmaker Roquan Smith, there are still players stepping up to keep the Tampa 2 scheme intact. They do something to complement their productive starters.
“If you spend all your time thinking about what you don’t have, instead of what you have, and solving problems with what you have, you’re behind the 8-ball, and that’s us. It’s not what we’re aiming for. It’s what we should be doing,” said Bears defensive coordinator Alan Williams.
Some of the names Williams says have stepped up to complement their regular starters, and their accomplishments may be surprising.
One is the old standby who always seems to provide help when the Bears’ defense needs it, and the others are made easier for middle linebacker Nicholas Morrow or defensive end Robert Quinn. I am a newcomer.
1. Playmaker
Counting who has generated the most takeaways since the start of camp, it might surprise someone to find that strong side linebacker backup Joe Thomas is the winner.
“We keep track of how many people have intercepted balls, how many balls they’ve knocked out, how many scoops and scores, and how many he’s leading the group,” Williams said.
Thomas is a 6-foot-1-inch, 233-pound former Packers and Cowboys linebacker with significant experience playing 3-4 and 4-3 at age 31, but hasn’t been in the league for a while. I was. If Smith returns, he will be on the bench or on special teams as Matthew Adams will be the third linebacker instead of the second.
“Thomas, he’s still doing a great job. In fact, he’s flipping footballs at a fast pace. If he can do that, it’s a win,” Williams said.
2.Old Colt LB
They brought in Matthew Adams from Indianapolis as a free agent and he was supposed to be on the strong side, but his experience playing every position in a 4-3 for Matt Everfuls for the Colts made Smith feel like I was able to step in as the weaker side when I didn’t go.Practice.
“I think Nick (Morrow) said the other day in the conference that Matt is here because he understands defense, he plays at a high tempo, he’s physically strong,” Williams said. ‘ said.
3. DHC
DeAndre Houston-Carson never fails to produce. The Bears special The ace of his team began playing a defensive role under his coach Matt Nagy two years ago, enabling Tampa Bay and Tom his big upset win over Brady. The new staffer found good uses for him besides leading a special team.
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Williams said, “If a backer is ejected, we put the backer’s position in a safe place and play ‘big money’ for lack of a better word.”Deandre Houston Carson, DHC, he Did a good job.He’s available for assignments and he’s played some plays there.I’m happy with that.”
4. One cornerback in particular
Jaron Jones is one of the undrafted free agents who has made the most impressions on both sides of the ball.
He’s a 5-foot-11-inch, 200-pound former Mississippi cornerback and SEC All-Freshman team member who suffered another injury in 2020 after a season-ending injury derailed his college career a bit.
“Sometimes it’s not ‘Are you acting?'” Williams said. “Sometimes it’s like, ‘Are you just doing your job? Are you a cog in defense? And aren’t you giving up big plays? Or are you making plays that should have been in the right place?’ Are you giving up?” Really, there’s not just one corner position, but the guys that came into the corner position, J-Jones came in and was playing there when he was outside. are the two guys (Jones and DHC) that stood out.”
5. Justin Jones
The three technique can’t end his foray into the backfield as a pass rusher, but he has the kind of penetration needed to wreak havoc.
“Quick jerking,” Williams said. “He’s a pro. He knows how to play football. Some players – and don’t take this the wrong way – some players go out there and they just, hey, they are doing exactly what the coach said.They are reading their keys.They are lining up.They are running.
“Justin can take it a little further and do it with what he expects from the offense from a situational football standpoint.” He’s in this formation. He’s taken it a step further, going from 101 to 202, to an even higher level in terms of how he plays football.”
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