The 2018 Chicago Bears rookie class has been a catalyst for the success the team has enjoyed this season. It could not only be the best of the Ryan Pace era but maybe the best this organization has seen in a decade. Probably longer. First round pick Roquan Smith leads the team with 70 tackles. Anthony Miller has a touchdown catch in three of the last four games. Bilal Nichols has 1.5 sacks, two QB hits, and three tackles for loss.
Crazy as it may sound, there is another name who is fast establishing himself as a charter member of that class. Offensive linemen rarely get the credit they deserve because there’s no mainstream stats to determine how good or bad they are. One has to really dig into the tape to recognize such things. It would appear that has become the case with rookie left guard James Daniels, who just completed his best game of 2018.
.@ChicagoBears @jamsdans is one impressive rookie. It’s hard to find true “earth movers “ and it starts with his takeoff, the leverage the wide base and the hands. It’s amazing to find a lineman that keeps his hands inside 💯💯💯. #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/E6m4LQN7P8
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) November 20, 2018
James Daniels showing dominant tendencies as a Chicago Bears rookie
Understand this. The Vikings defensive line is littered with current or former Pro Bowl talent. Daniels went against Linval Joseph and Sheldon Richardson for much of the evening. The Bears ran a total of 40 pass plays. Daniels did not allow a sack, a hit, or a pressure all night long. That would be impressive for a 10-year veteran All-Pro. This is a 21-year old kid in his first year. Unreal.
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It validates the assessments by many draft experts that the Bears got themselves a steal. Daniels had been projected to go somewhere late in the 1st round. Some had him as the second-best interior offensive lineman in the draft behind Quenton Nelson. For him to fall to the second round and right into the Bears’ laps is a definite turn of good fortune.
There’s no telling how much better he’ll get as he continues to mature. He’s still so young and under the careful watch of Harry Hiestand, one of the best offensive line coaches in the business. The Bears may not just have a fixture on their front for years to come. They could have a potential star. If so, that takes the 2018 class to an even higher level than it already is.
