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The Defense’s First Splash, Finding Roschon’s Role, Szmyt Kicks, and Other Bears Bullets

Luis C. Medina Luis C. Medina
May 07, 2023
Chicago Bears

I sang. I vibed. I cried. But most importantly, I had a good time at Saturday’s Blink-182 show. It wasn’t what I was envisioning when I first got serious about buying tickets in November. However, it felt like an important part of the healing process. And it was exactly what I was needing. Party on!

  • It’s always nice to see rookies making splash plays:

  • For all the talk about the new guys on offense around Justin Fields, I’m also looking forward to seeing fresh faces on defense. That group will have at least four new starters when the year begins. But let it be known that number could balloon depending on how rookies Gervon Dexter Sr. and Zacch Pickens develop. I don’t think Travis Bell is going to go from seventh-round pick to starting DT, but we’ve seen stranger things happen. Plus, I feel as if Head Coach Matt Eberflus will allow rookies to play their way into roles. In other words, I’m keeping my mind open to any and all possibilities.

  • This is an interesting bit of framing by Mark Potash (Sun-Times), who sees the Dexter and Pickens picks as an organizational litmus test. Seeing how these two D-tackles develop could give us an inkling on how Eberflus and his staff are as developmental coaches. And I suppose it’ll give us a better idea as to GM Ryan Poles’ assessment of his coaches. Plus, it’ll give us something of a feel for Poles’ scouting eye. Don’t get me wrong. It’s not all hingeing on those picks. But following these prospects will give us a window into things.

  • Rookie running back Roschon Johnson had big leadership energy as a rookie. And I’m digging the vibes:

  • It doesn’t take much imagination to envision Roschon thriving in a multitude of roles early. His blocking and receiving skills as a back were solid at the collegiate level. If Johnson can prove he can do it at the pro level, he’ll get ample opportunities in that kind of role. Johnson could also be an asset in the return game. He’ll need to battle with Velus Jones Jr., Dante Pettis, Tyler Scott, and others to snag that role. No, watching a return specialist battle won’t be everyone’s cup of tea this summer. But I’m very much here for it.

  • More Roschon from our friends over at BN’s NFL wing, where Patrick Flowers sees Johnson as one of the seven biggest steals of this draft class:

    • Even though he played behind Bijan Robinson at Texas, his 4.28 yards after contact per attempt were second in the nation. While he doesn’t have much burst speed, he’s a big strong runner who has improved as a receiver year-over-year and shines in the pass-blocking game, which will have him as Chicago’s lead back before the season is over.

  • For a look at the other six sleepers, I strongly recommend reading this:

    • Seven Biggest Steals of the 2023 NFL Draft

  • There is a real chance that Johnson ends season as RB1 in Chicago. And that speaks volumes for what we believe about his potential when you consider he is starting this cycle as RB3 behind D’Onta Foreman and Khalil Herbert. That the Bears have three starting-caliber running backs also says something about Poles’ roster construction capabilities. Chicago has one of the league’s most talented running back rooms while not spending a ton in terms of cash or draft capital. That means the team should be comfortable spending elsewhere.

  • Among the notes Nicholas Moreano (CHGO) takes from Day 2 of Bears rookie minicamp is that kicker Andrew Szmyt hit a 40-yard field goal that “had plenty of leg left.” The Syracuse product will start the spring as an extra camp leg. Even still … I want to see where things go from here. Maybe Szmyt can hang around as a security net on the practice squad. Can Szmyt kick his way into a place-kicker competition with incumbent Cairo Santos? I love that pretty much every position has potential battles for roles on the squad. There will be so much to watch this summer.

  • Hey, now! Congrats to Justin Fields, who graduates this weekend with a degree (h/t Bears Nation) in consumer and family financial services from the Ohio State University. It’s always nice to read about an athlete going back to school to finish what they started. Way to go, QB1.

  • This is what the Cubs lineup looks like as they go for the sweep of the Marlins.

  • Only one more day until the Blackhawks will get a better idea of what their future will look like:

    • Read More

    written by

    Luis C. Medina

    Luis C. Medina, who you can find on Twitter at lcm1986, has been covering the Chicago Bears at Bleacher Nation since 2017. Since then, he has written about 3 head coaches, 5 play-callers, and 11 starting quarterbacks. Previously, Luis wrote about the Cubs and MLB at BN (2015-16) and worked in the Chicago Tribune sports department (2011-16). He also co-hosted a Cubs postgame show, Outside the Ivy, in 2019.

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