The Chicago Bears draft class has shined for much of the preseason. Excitement is building each week. Colston Loveland has looked great in training camp and had his best performance yet with two catches for 26 yards in his limited work against Buffalo. Luther Burden has been even better, catching three passes for 49 yards and delivering two monster blocks for rushing touchdowns. This doesn’t include Kyle Monangai, who sat the game out but looked good last week against Miami.
In all the buzz about those guys, one other might be getting overlooked.
At least that is what legendary Bears center Olin Kreutz thinks. Being the offensive line specialist he is, that is the area he watches every game. After seeing the starting offense operate in the first quarter, one name kept jumping out at him on the screen.
People didn’t react much when the Bears took Luke Newman in the 6th round of the draft. He’d been a steady and dependable blocker at Michigan State. Most viewed him as a smart player and a good athlete who was undersized. Perhaps they may have misjudged him a little.
Subscribe to the BFR Youtube channel and ride shotgun with Dave and Ficky as they break down Bears football like nobody else.
Newman keeps showcasing his versatility for the Chicago Bears.
He started the game at left guard in place of Joe Thuney, who didn’t suit up. Later in the contest, he shifted to right guard. Throughout the action, he routinely made strong blocks. Though he was called for a holding penalty at one point, reviews showed it was a weak call, as his technique was sound. This comes after a strong debut last week against Miami, where he didn’t allow a single quarterback pressure. Kreutz would know more than most. If he says this kid has something, it would be wise to pay attention. Newman is that classic case of a player with 6/10 ability but manages to maximize it through hard work and discipline. He should make for a valuable backup this season with room to grow. If you get that from a 6th rounder, it’s a big win.
