Ever so suddenly it looks like the Chicago Bears defensive line might be stacked. Of course Akiem Hicks, Mitch Unrein and Eddie Goldman are the known commodities. What the coaches are trying to find out if there might be some young depth options that have developed since last year. Based on the performance in Arizona against the Cardinals, the answer to that is an emphatic yes. While others showed up well, the two names that stuck out the most were Jonathan Bullard and Roy Robertson-Harris.
Bullard was a third round pick in the 2016 draft for the Bears. There was excitement about the Florida prospect thanks to his uncanny burst and quickness for being a big guy. Unfortunately things just didn’t click for him as a rookie. So he spent the offseason working with former Bears defensive end Alex Brown. Two games into the preseason it appears that work is paying huge dividends.
Jonathan Bullard again shoots the gap and blows up the running play. No chance. #Bears pic.twitter.com/W3x3AKzRdF
— Erik Lambert (@ErikLambert1) August 20, 2017
— ⓂarcusD (@_MarcusD2_) August 20, 2017
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Jonathan Bullard and Roy Robertson-Harris played “Can you top this?”
Turns out there may have been an inner competition going on. After Bullard exited the game with a glute injury, teammate Robertson-Harris stepped up. He was an undrafted free agent for the Bears in 2016. An edge rusher out of UTEP, he was lauded for his immense 6’7″ frame mixed with uncanny athleticism. There was tons of physical potential worth exploring. In the end Robertson-Harris landed on the NFI (Non-Football Injury) list for season.
Come this offseason it was announced he’d been moved from outside linebacker to defensive end and gained significant weight for it. Suffice to say the move was a wise one by the team. Robertson-Harris was all over the Cardinals backfield on a number of different plays.
Roy Robertson-Harris had himself a night. Great job to stay with pursuit and get the sack. #Bears pic.twitter.com/E9YgAmSqR1
— Erik Lambert (@ErikLambert1) August 20, 2017
Excellent job here to penetrate the gap and wrap up the ball carrier by Robertson-Harris. #Bears pic.twitter.com/sHYBD0ayfI
— Erik Lambert (@ErikLambert1) August 20, 2017
Keep in mind Robertson-Harris is almost 270 lbs and he runs this stunt like a linebacker. #Bears pic.twitter.com/eW1tknBhVE
— Erik Lambert (@ErikLambert1) August 20, 2017
The two combined for six tackles, two sacks and a batted arm that forced an incompletion. It would’ve been three sacks, unfortunately Bullard’s got call back by a Kyle Fuller penalty. Nonetheless their impact was impossible to miss. Suddenly there’s a lot of young depth up front for this Bears defense. One can imagine it will become a huge factor in 2017.
