Matt Eberflus isn’t going to divulge information on specific players the Chicago Bears may or may not target moving forward. That would be irresponsible. However, the head coach continues to make his parameters for what he covets every time he’s been asked. That continued on Friday ahead of the team’s 14th game of the season against the league-leading Philadelphia Eagles. Obviously, every team looks at them as the new template for how to build a Super Bowl contender. Eberflus is no different.
He has connections to that franchise. Nick Sirianni, their head coach, was his colleague with the Indianapolis Colts. Bears assistant GM Ian Cunningham also had a significant hand in building that roster as their former director of player personnel before coming to Chicago in January. Their players embody three key traits that Eberflus plans to prioritize as well. Adam Hoge of CHGO picked up on it.
Eberflus and GM Ryan Poles have harped on physicality from the second they arrived. Speed as well. They see both as essential to success in the NFL. The most interesting characteristic is length. This marks the second time the Bears head coach has mentioned it. That seems important.
Matt Eberflus has history on his side in this argument.
His defenses in Indianapolis were the primary reason he got hired in Chicago. All one has to do is look at their best players to understand why the head coach holds this viewpoint. Star linebacker Shaq Leonard stood 6’2 with 34-inch arms. All-Pro defensive tackle DeForest Buckner is 6’6 with 34-inch arms. Pro Bowl cornerback Kenny Moore, despite being only 5’9, had arms almost 33 inches long. All three were highly athletic for their positions too. So yeah. It is easy to see why Eberflus is a big proponent of those characteristics.
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That should make the upcoming off-season interesting when putting those factors into play. Chicago is expected to target a defensive lineman in the 1st round, depending on where they pick. With the margins between names like Will Anderson and Jalen Carter so slim, it’s crazy to think something like arm length could determine who the Bears ultimately go with. For what it’s worth, Anderson is expected to measure over 33 inches. So it may come down to where Carter lands.
Either way, Matt Eberflus made it clear that length is a big focal point of the Bears’ future. Keep that in mind as you set your off-season boards.
@Thomas Gena–if you interpreted this article to mean “Bears are looking for the longest arms possible and that is all they care about,” you are incredibly stupid.
Sanborn gas none of those measurables,but he is a football player.
The current regime values football players above measurable.
What the coach is saying is when there is a choice between two football players they will choose the longer faster of the two BUT they choose football plars over measurable.
Looks like Tarzan plays like Jane guys are no longer welcome.
So Erik, now it’s “length” huh?
There are a few names familiar to Bears fans in the list of “The 58 Longest Arms in NFL History.”
1. Jon Harris (38.50 in.)
2. Clifton Geathers. (37.75 n.)
3. Alex Barron. (37.75 in.)
4. Antonio Anderson (37.75 in.)
5. Stephon Heyer (36.88 in.)
6. ALONZO SPELLMAN (36.88 in.)
16. JULIEN DAVENPORT (36.50 in.)
54. GERMAIN IFEDI (36.00 in.)
57. FRANK OMIYALE (36.00 in.)
But there are not enough All-Pro players here, to support any of the excitement your silly article suggests.
Rumor has it that Nagy was so enamored with Foles because of of his length…….in a certain region below the waste area.
Not until next season, and even then….the second half of next season, can you judge what he has don for the Bears.