When the Chicago Bears last ran the Tampa-2 defense, it was under Lovie Smith. When the system ran at its best, it came with Pro Bowl defensive tackle Tommie Harris in the middle. The Bears drafted him 14th overall in 2004. From the outset, it was clear he was a problem. Guards and centers couldn’t handle his mixture of power, quickness, and ferocity. In his first four seasons, he collected 19.5 sacks and 24 quarterback hits, making three Pro Bowls. Bears fans will always wonder how great he might’ve been if knee and hamstring injuries hadn’t sapped his explosiveness.
Former Bears scouting director Greg Gabriel played a central role in helping draft Harris all those years ago. He has a deep familiarity with the Tampa-2 defense Matt Eberflus and his staff want to run. It requires a three-technique defensive tackle that can get up the field, shooting gaps and creating havoc. After watching the 2023 draft class, there was one name that caught his attention immediately. It is somebody that gave him immediate memories of Harris at his peak.
“Tuli Tuipulotu – DT – USC: You don’t hear much about this name, but I love his play. He played mostly outside or as a 5-tech at USC but would be a 3-Tech for the Bears. At 6’4 – 290 with speed, his play reminds me of Tommie Harris. He had 13 sacks this past season at USC. By the end of this week, the secret will be out.”
Another Tommie Harris would be ideal.
Tuipulotu was one of the breakout stars in the Pac-12 this past season. He had a solid 2021 as a sophomore, then exploded as a junior with 13 sacks and 22 tackles for a loss. Go watch his game against Washington State. They couldn’t block him. His mixture of power, athleticism, and non-stop motor made him a nightmare. Even worse, he showed the ability to play both inside and outside. Trojan coaches moved him around the line of scrimmage, seeking matchups he could exploit.
Eberflus loves those types of players. It allows a coach to create maximum confusion. Not even Tommie Harris himself could do that. The question is how high Tuipulotu goes. Initial projections had him somewhere in the 2nd round. That could change if he shines at the scouting combine. A strong showing will convince teams he might be worth the risk despite being somewhat of a one-year wonder. He’s not #1 pick worthy, but if the Bears move down to the bottom of the top 10, it’s worth keeping his name in mind.
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