First impressions are always important once you reach the NFL. It’s a great way to endear yourself to the coaching staff and find a quicker path to playing time. While May practices don’t involve pads, it’s still an important step in preparation for the season. That is why Matt Eberflus and his staff take them seriously. They wanted to see what the new influx of Chicago Bears rookies had in the first minicamp on May 5th. They weren’t disappointed based on early reports.
Every Bears draft pick was in attendance for action. Darnell Wright showcased his athleticism with several demonstrations of his ability in space. Gervon Dexter seemed to control the line of scrimmage with his size and power. However, it was two other names that seemed to steal the show. They were cornerbacks Tyrique Stevenson and Terell Smith. Stevenson had a good day all around but seemed to take extra pleasure in bullying fellow draft pick Tyler Scott according to Josh Schrock of NBC Sports Chicago.
“Cornerback Tyrique Stevenson was billed as a tall, long, and physical press-man corner coming out of Miami. He lived up to the billing on Day 1.
Stevenson lined up against speedy fourth-round rookie Tyler Scott several times on Friday and blanketed the Cincinnati product…
…Stevenson lined up against Scott four times (by my count). If it were a boxing match, Stevenson would have won by knockout.”
He wasn’t alone.
Smith was active as well, according to Nicholas Moreano, making one of the biggest plays of the afternoon.
“Fifth-round draft pick Terell Smith made a few nice plays in today’s practice. First, he elevated and intercepted a pass in team drills. Then Smith was in position to deliver a big hit over the middle of the field when he recognized the underneath crossing route.”
The Chicago Bears secondary was already looking pretty good.
They had Jaylon Johnson and Eddie Jackson as two established starters. Jaquan Brisker was a big hit as a rookie at safety. Kyler Gordon had three interceptions. It was a young and opportunistic group. If Stevenson and Smith step up to become contributors immediately, the Bears may have one of the better secondaries in the league. Stevenson isn’t a big surprise. GM Ryan Poles traded up for him in the 2nd round. That was a clear indication the team liked him. Smith was viewed as somewhat of a steal in the 5th round too.
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Both fit what this Chicago Bears defense wants to do. They want physical coverage, good tackling, and takeaways. It is too early to take much away from practices in shorts, but this at least shows the two draft picks are as advertised. They’re athletic, aggressive, and play with confidence. It is even better that they’re in the hands of Jon Hoke, one of the most experienced cornerbacks coaches in the NFL. If they follow his directions, they’ll be making plays on Sunday in no time.
