I do my best not to go overboard when stuff goes down during spring/summer OTAs. But there are certain things that pop up and catch my eye as something to keep tabs on as we march toward training camp. For example: A position switch.
And while cornerback Kyler Gordon moving into the slot isn’t some groundbreaking development, Defensive Coordinator Alan Williams’ acknowledgment of the slide inside is certainly noteworthy:
Before we dive into the ramifications of the move into the nickel position, let’s underscore one thing. Gordon will still get reps outside. Those boundary corner reps are important for someone like Gordon. His versatility, flexibility, and general ability to play outside in a pinch makes Gordon a valuable member of this secondary. Having Gordon to turn to in a pinch isn’t something we should overlook. What if Jaylon Johnson gets hurt again? Or if Tyrique Stevenson isn’t quite ready to take on the challenges of being a rookie CB? Gordon’s positional flexibility makes him a much better fallback option as a boundary corner than the alternatives. Besides, we don’t want to be scraping guys off the bench or diving for a street free agent.
As for Gordon’s move inside, it makes the Bears’ secondary look something like this when Week 1 rolls around:
That collection of secondary talent looks solid. Moreover, I’d go as far as to suggest that group should be seen as a strength for the Bears defense. And they’re mostly on the “young” side of the age equation. Jackson, 29, is the oldest of the bunch. But he certainly didn’t look old last year when he was having a bounce-back campaign in Year 1 in the Matt Eberflus-Alan Williams scheme. Everyone else mentioned above is 24 or younger. Brisker, Gordon, and Stevenson have at least three years left on their rookie deals. This means we should see this group grow together. If all goes well, the Bears could have tough decisions to make in terms of inking extensions. But we can cross that bridge when we get to it in a few years. And, frankly, I’m in no rush to get to it.
Training camp won’t open until late next month. When Halas Hall opens its doors, I’ll be keeping tabs on that defensive backfield. As a collective, this group showed it has a high floor last year. Adding Stevenson (and depth in fellow rookie Terell Smith) tacks on a sprinkle of upside. I can’t wait to see how these guys go about establishing themselves as a position group. And with Aaron Rodgers out of the picture, there isn’t a QB in the division who scares me into wanting to hide a young corner. Isn’t that refreshing?