Chicago Bears Organized Team Activities (OTAs) are around the corner. This is when veterans and rookies come together for the first time in practice. It’s an excellent opportunity to ramp up before training camp this summer. It also allows the coaching staff to see how the new arrival fare against the more experienced competition. Sometimes it might lead to surprising roster decisions. Last season, everybody thought the Bears had their tackle situations settled with Teven Jenkins and Larry Borom. The shock was considerable when Jenkins got demoted by the end of OTAs in favor of Braxton Jones, a 5th round pick out of Southern Utah.
That was the first indication this Bears coaching staff doesn’t play favorites. Their objective is to get the best players on the field, regardless of experience or draft status. Jones played every snap at left tackle last season and performed admirably. His success leads to the inevitable question. Who among the team’s rookie class could follow in his footsteps to become an unexpected starter?
There are some worthy candidates. Running back Roschon Johnson is one. Linebacker Noah Sewell is another. However, both wouldn’t be huge surprises. No, the man to watch in this instance is Terell Smith, their 5th round cornerback from Minnesota.
Smith has the same profile as Braxton Jones.
What helped Jones ascend quickly was his excellent athletic capability. He stood out immediately in practice and convinced the Bears he deserved a look with the first-team offense. The rest is history. Smith is similar. He’s an outstanding athlete at 6’0, 200 lbs and 32-inch arms with 4.41 speed. Some evaluators worried about his production in college, but he saved his best season for last with two interceptions, two sacks, and a forced fumble. He has good coverage instincts and is a willing tackler in run support. Word is he also had a crazy interception during rookie minicamps, so coaches are already aware of him.
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What would make him such a surprise is, like Braxton Jones, there are already people ahead of him on the depth chart everybody assumes will be starting. Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon are already locked in. That leaves one starting spot left open. Most believe it will go to 2nd round pick Tyrique Stevenson, especially after the Bears traded up to get him. Imagine the shock if Smith ends up stealing the job out from under him. Make no mistake. It’s possible. He has the ability. We should know more by the end of OTAs.
Ask people who know. . . Braxton Jones (24) Bears: $944,888 avg. 1,023 snaps; 542 pass; 12 penalties; 7 sacks; PFF grades (Ovrall/Pblk/Rblk): 75.4; 70.5, 79.4 — 40 pressures.– 7.38%. 5th Rd (#168) 2022 — 1,033 career NFL snaps Larry Borom (24) Bears: $1,023,270 cap hit 528 snaps; 264 pass; 4 penalties; 5 sacks; PFF grades (Ovrall/Pblk/Rblk): 64.7; 69.9, 62.1 — 14 pressures — 5.30%. 5th Rd (#152) 2021 — 1,161 career NFL snaps. Braxton Jones is “a favorite” of Ryan Poles — and that’s okay. He’s going to be a good OT (once he stops being run over). But,… Read more »
Great video and shows us that the Bears scouting department and Poles can recognize good secondary talent. Smith looks to be a good one and the secondary maybe the strongest unit on the Bears now. Whoever wins the battle between Stevenson and Smith maybe the one who will more than likely take Eddie’s place in the not to distant future and if he doesn’t heal quickly he may lose his position this season but not likely
That’s a helluva funny YouTube clip- cornerback porn as he puts it. Smith has some skills- hope they play him.
Lambert, the majority of your video clips are great…but this one on Smith was putrid because of the guy narrating the video. Disgusting profane language and vocabulary of a street thug with a 4th grade education. You could have found the same video clips of Smith by a number of analysts who would have been better than this guy.
C’mon man!
Tommy G, you probably are a politician.