It was only a matter of time before the Chicago Bears finally started getting Dennis Allen some help on defense in the draft. Maybe it took longer than expected, but they made it count when the time came. The team selected Texas A&M defensive tackle Shemar Turner 62nd overall in the 2nd round. Though teammates Nic Scourton and Shemar Stewart got most of the limelight, they never would’ve had as much success without his constant presence as an interior pass rusher. He had six sacks in 2023. Sadly, a scheme change robbed him of momentum last year, but make no mistake. This guy can collapse pockets in a hurry.
What stands out immediately is his quick first step, his excellent array of pass rush moves, and an unrelenting motor with tons of aggression. The Bears wanted guys who brought more violence to the table. Turner embodies that to the fullest. He does tend to get penalized a bit too often, but that is coachable. If he plays up to his potential, this guy has the capacity to be a fixture of the defensive line for ten years. The talent and mentality are there. It falls on the coaches to maximize him.
Dennis Allen should know precisely how to utilize Turner.
After all, he’s no stranger to coaching good defensive tackles. It started with Sheldon Rankins in New Orleans before moving to Bryan Bresee. When he has an interior pass rusher capable of squeezing the pocket, everything in his defensive scheme functions at the highest level. Now the Bears have a rotation of Gervon Dexter, Grady Jarrett, and Turner. There couldn’t be a better mentor for the rookie than Jarrett, a two-time Pro Bowler with renowned leadership skills. If Turner is willing to learn, he’ll be getting lessons from one of the best. Chicago may have waited a long time to get Dennis Allen some help, but they got it right when the time came.
