Some pretty lofty comparisons have been thrown around regarding Gervon Dexter since the Chicago Bears drafted him. A couple of top experts saw glimpses of Chris Jones. His own teammate Justin Jones said he sees a slimmer version of Linval Joseph. The Bears themselves didn’t give any comparisons. They loved his size, power, length, and athleticism. It’s felt like he hasn’t tapped into his full potential yet. Still, the team brass must’ve had somebody pictured in their heads when Dexter played on tape.
Robert Schmitz of Da Bears Blog may have provided an answer. He didn’t an excellent breakdown of the 2nd round pick on his YouTube channel, discussing the strengths and weaknesses that appear from snap to snap. He acknowledged Dexter has clear deficiencies as a pass rusher. His get-off is below average and he doesn’t know how to use his hands or arms to disengage from blocks. However, he is a completely different animal against the run. Blockers struggle to move him, and his presence makes life much easier for linebackers.
Schmitz believes he knows exactly who the Bears pictured once they decided to draft him.
Matt Eberflus likely knows what Gervon Dexter can offer.
Grover Stewart was a 4th round pick for the Indianapolis Colts in 2017. Eberflus arrived as defensive coordinator a year later. Through those first two years, the defensive tackle was a rotational player. In 2019, he was promoted to the team’s starting nose tackle spot. As a result, the Colts’ run defense went from 8th to 7th to 2nd by 2020. Stewart’s presence was a primary reason for this success. It reached a point where running up the middle was almost pointless. Once that happened, everything became easier defensively for the Colts.
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That is what Gervon Dexter can offer. He is more naturally gifted than Stewart. He’s bigger, longer, and more athletic. The two also seem to share that same violent mentality. While this may not be the elusive interior pass rusher the scheme needs, it’s easier to understand why the Bears drafted him. Rushing the passer is important, but it matters little if you can’t stop the run. That is especially true in a division marked by strong ground attacks. If Dexter is another Stewart, this team got a lot better.
