The NFL has always been a league obsessed with size. The belief among many coaches and executives is it’s a sport where big boys reign supreme. There’s no denying that big players tend to have a lot of success, but this is also a substantial myth. Every position in the league has a man who counters this argument. Drew Brees at QB. Antonio Brown at wide receiver. Darren Sproles at running back. Chris Harris Jr. at cornerback. Aaron Donald at defensive tackle. When it comes to linebackers, few understand this better than Vic Fangio.
This is a man who’s coached the position dating back to the 1980s. He’s seen them in all shapes and sizes and has had the chance to coach some of the best ever to play the game of football. So he more than anybody can offer a valid opinion on the idea that size is a central key to the success of inside linebackers in the NFL. The is the persistent concern regarding his newest addition, Roquan Smith.
So many so-called #Bears fans see this photo and the size difference between Dick Butkus and Roquan Smith and are up in arms over Smith being too small. Conversley I wonder if they know who Mike Singletary is pic.twitter.com/d0KXXlsP3J
— Chicago Football Focus (@ChiFBFocus) May 19, 2018
Long story short? He must be laughing it off with the greatest of joy. If anybody knew Fangio’s history, they’d realize he wouldn’t have even batted an eye when the chance to land Smith arrived last month.
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Roquan Smith lands almost squarely in the Vic Fangio wheelhouse
Fangio has coached quite the array of great inside linebackers in his time. One is already in the Hall of Fame and one or two others could follow soon enough. Why is this so important? Mostly because the biggest names on the list are virtually identical to Smith in the size category.
- Roquan Smith: 6’1″, 236 lbs
- Ray Lewis: 6’1″, 240 lbs
- Patrick Willis: 6’1″, 240 lbs
- NaVorro Bowman: 6’1″, 242 lbs
- Sam Mills: 5’10”, 232 lbs
Ray Lewis just got inducted into the Hall of Fame. A 14-time Pro Bowler and two-time Super Bowl champion. Patrick Willis headlined Fangio’s great defenses in San Francisco and reached seven Pro Bowls. He was flanked by NaVorro Bowman during that time, four-time All-Pro in his own right. Last but certainly not least, and also the small by far, was Sam Mills who reached five Pro Bowls.
That’s an insane amount of success for linebackers that everybody called too small at one point or another in their careers. It’s also firm validation that doubting Smith before he’s played a down in the NFL is the epitome of shortsighted and unwise. If those guys could do it, why can’t he? He’s certainly got the perfect coach on the sideline. Somebody who already has extensive knowledge on how to maximize his strengths and hide his weaknesses.
Fangio knew all of this when the Bears turned in the card. No doubt he can’t wait to make those doubters eat their words.
