It’s funny that some people are slamming GM Ryan Pace for the “failure” of his 2015 draft class. For one it’s not entirely set in stone yet that the class is a bust. Kevin White and Eddie Goldman are still starters and have significant upside. Hroniss Grasu seems to have become a dependable backup. Adrian Amos remains a serviceable, if uninspiring safety. So it can’t be called a failure. At least not yet. Of course the 2016 class was outstanding and is getting better. So what about this Bears 2017 draft class?
Turns out for the second-straight week they were front and center for a strong preseason performance. Pace got a lot of flak for putting together this group. There were only five picks to start with. He traded up for one that had 13 games of college experience. He traded up for another that had a broken leg. The other three players came from Division II schools and one barely stood 5’6″.
What a disaster, right? Apparently not.
The Bears 2017 draft class was central to Arizona victory
As it turns out the group is showing up much faster than anybody could’ve predicted. All five of them had a hand in the 24-23 victory against the Cardinals. Sure it’s preseason but to have so many draft picks flashing positive plays is undoubtedly a welcome sign. Let us run down each one and explain the contribution they made to the effort.
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Mitch Trubisky
People will be quick to cool their jets on Trubisky this week. Much in part due to his taking a couple sacks and throwing one pass that probably should’ve been intercepted. While it’s fair to point out those criticisms, they weren’t entirely on him. Bears receivers struggled to gain separation the entire night, forcing Trubisky to throw into tight windows.
His protection was also spotty, suffering a couple breakdowns that led to him getting hit. Regardless it didn’t seem to alter his mindset at all. Nursing a 17-14 lead late in the fourth quarter, the Bears knew they needed some sort of points to come out of their latest drive. Trubisky ran some impressive bootleg fakes including one that resulted in the game-winning touchdown. Rough patches aside, he did the job.
Adam Shaheen
Through two weeks it’s plainly obvious that Adam Shaheen is still adjusting to just how big of scope the NFL is. Remember this is a young man who played on fields that were fit for high school teams most of his college career. So for him to go from that to Soldier Field and University of Phoenix Stadium? It can be somewhat intimidating at first.
That’s perfectly understandable. Shaheen still managed to make an impact in spite of his obvious nerves. He was a solid contributor on the blocking end, helping to open up a couple nice runs. Also he caught a pass for nine yards that resulted in a first down. As he gains greater familiarity with playing in those settings, his productivity is bound to spike.
Eddie Jackson
The safety discussion has been ongoing for a decade in Chicago. When are the Bears finally going to get that position solved? Well it seems like they might have something cooking for the first time in years. Much of that optimism centers on fourth round pick Eddie Jackson. Chicago traded up for the Alabama product despite his recovering from a busted leg, as mentioned earlier. So there were plenty of skeptics off the bat.
At the same time many felt if he healed well, his range and instinct on the back end would prove to be exactly what this secondary has missed. He had a positive play in the opener against Denver, but he topped himself against Arizona. Though the Cardinals would eventually score, Jackson made an outstanding individual play to prevent one from happening earlier.
This is the reason Eddie Jackson should be starting! #Bears pic.twitter.com/noK32HDjZT
— Jeffery L Carter (@jcarter54) August 20, 2017
If Jackson doesn’t make that play, it’s likely a touchdown. Yet he was in perfect position and almost picked it off. How many others on this roster or in recent years could’ve made that play?
Tarik Cohen
Easily the star of week two for the Bears. When he was drafted the 5’6″ Tarik Cohen was viewed as nothing more than a gadget running back. Somebody who could be utilized in creative ways as a runner and receiver. A third down specialist to compliment Jordan Howard. Throughout training camp though, the buzz began to build. People were starting to think this kid was about much more than special packages.
He’s got game.
The Cardinals starting defense, which finished second overall last season, found that out the hard way. Cohen, in place of the injured Jordan Howard, was sensational. He ran the ball 11 times for 77 yards. Not only was his quickness and speed on displayed, he also showed a degree of power many didn’t think he had.
Unfortunately Jordan Morgan only played one snap in the game. The fifth round rookie offensive lineman never got the chance to contribute. This does not automatically means he’s good or bad. He was decent in the opener. It’s possible the Bears aren’t sold that he’s transitioned from tackle to guard quite yet.
Either way the entire draft class deserves high marks. They went into a loud stadium against a talented, well-coached opponent and didn’t blink. Imagine how much better they’ll get when the game starts to slow down for them.
