Bears rookie QB Mitch Trubisky had an outstanding 2016 season for North Carolina. He threw 30 touchdowns to just six interceptions. That’s pretty impressive even at the NCAA level. No doubt he’s excited for the chance to show the team and Chicago they made the right call drafting him #2 overall back in April. It starts with rookie minicamps, where he hopes to learn about and get to know some new teammates. Well, unless the guy is Dallas Lloyd.
Trubisky may still be a bit sour hearing that name. Need a little backstory? Remember that he threw just six interceptions last year. Turns out two of those six came courtesy of the same guy, and in the biggest game of Trubisky’s career no less. It looked like the QB was destined for the top of the draft a few months ago until questions began to arise about his readiness for the NFL.
Why? His uneven performance in the Sun Bowl. While most remember the relentless pass rush of Solomon Thomas being the major catalyst for Trubisky struggling, he wasn’t alone. Lloyd, the starting safety for Stanford, was the one who reaped the benefits with two huge interceptions. One of which he returned for a touchdown.
Captain @DallasLloyd read and ran back his first interception of the @HyundaiSunBowl 45 yards.#TakeawayTuesday #GoStanford #BeatUNC pic.twitter.com/XPks8UJhFc
— Stanford Football (@StanfordFball) January 3, 2017
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No better QB in the secondary than a former one. @DallasLloyd grabbed a team-high five INT this year.#NFLDraft #StanfordNFL #DBU pic.twitter.com/nLqqD4Q6H4
— Stanford Football (@StanfordFball) April 20, 2017
The intrigue of Dallas Lloyd
Both interceptions were cases that involved Trubisky coming under pressure and Lloyd cutting in front of the pass for a pick. What makes it all the more compelling is the backstory of Lloyd himself. He actually began his career at Stanford as a quarterback before being asked to switch to safety. It took some time but he soon began to master the position and it showed with his five interceptions in 2016.
At 6’2″ he has premier size with good athleticism. What really stands out though, as the videos show, is his instinct and ball skills. Though not the fastest or quickest defensive back on the field, he’s likely the smartest. Lloyd is rarely ever out of position.
On the heels of @dpbrugler UDFA "watch list", here is a look at Stanford S Dallas Lloyd pic.twitter.com/ykDUwrnqbS
— Kyle Morgan (@NoHuddleScouts) April 24, 2017
Everybody by this point knows the Bears are in hot pursuit of help at the safety position. Lloyd may be the most intriguing of their undrafted free agent defensive backs at the minicamp. His size and tape reveal a player who can be the brains of the operation on defense. Something they haven’t had for years. Meanwhile he also brings special teams prowess. One should never turn that down.
If nothing else Lloyd is almost certain to delight in the chance to intercept Trubisky one more time.
