The Chicago Bears had a problem. Matt Eberflus’ defensive scheme could be wildly successful. The issue was it needed an interior pass rush to function. The Bears couldn’t find one in 2022, and the defense struggled as a result. Going into 2023, GM Ryan Poles knew he had to find a difference-maker. However, he made a surprising decision by passing on what many thought was obvious in Jalen Carter. The Georgia product was dynamic in college, showcasing the talent you look for in an interior pass rusher. Poles opted to go with Darnell Wright instead.
He chose to roll the dice in the 2nd round on Florida product Gervon Dexter. Many experts had him labeled as a quality run defender. While that wasn’t bad, it didn’t solve the Bears’ primary issue. However, Poles and Eberflus believed he had the athleticism, power, and length to become a fearsome rusher once he adapted to the team’s one-gap scheme. Things started slowly. Dexter only had 11 pressures and no sacks in his first 10 games.
Then, in week eleven, the switch seemed to flip. Over his past nine games, Dexter now has 24 pressures and four sacks.
Ryan Poles’ calculated risk is paying off.
His presence in the middle is already being felt. Thanks to his ability to squeeze the pocket, Montez Sweat, DeMarcus Walker, and Darrell Taylor have combined for 17 quarterback pressures in two games. It is only a matter of time before those pressures start turning into sacks. That is why the interior pass rush is so impactful. When quarterbacks can’t step up into the pocket, they’re at the mercy of the edge rushers. If the front four can create this kind of havoc, it leads to turnovers.
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Everything happens for a reason. Credit must go to Ryan Poles for his evaluation of Dexter. A lot of teams weren’t willing to take that risk, feeling he wasn’t quick enough off the ball to excel as a rusher. However, other respected evaluators admitted they saw flashes of Chris Jones when they watched his tape. Whether somebody could coach him to play at that level consistently was always a question. Dexter isn’t there yet, but it sure looks like he is closing the gap.
Dex is flexing talent that many scouts didn’t believe he had due to Florida’s system that chained him down. Give Poles credit for taking a chance on a kid who is on his way to becoming a top 3-tech guy. Gervon just had to unleashed!
And yes, give Billings some love. He’s the anchor on the DL that helps stop the run while also collapsing the pocket and penetrating on passing situations.
But Eberflus can COACH! And more importantly, he recognizes both the coaching, and people who CAN coach on the defensive side.
What about the other side?
While Dexter has taken another step and is playing well, lifting the whole DL some, let’s also not forget that Billings has had two very solid games at NT, stopping the run up the middle and delivering well more than expected in the passing game.
I think Eberflus has a good eye for defensive talent and obviously does well at coaching them up.
Good luck, on Sunday , Gervon.
2 sacks (in 2 games) is a start