One consistent thing about the Chicago Bears over their many years isn’t just defense. They’ve also been so good at finding quality players on special teams. Everybody knows about the great Devin Hester or kickers like Robbie Gould and now Cairo Santos. Yet they’ve also found Pro Bowl gunners for their coverage units. Tarik Cohen made the Pro Bowl as a punt returner. After watching for the past few weeks, it’s fair to start wondering if Dazz Newsome might be their latest big find.
The 6th round receiver out of North Carolina didn’t have the best start to 2021. After a strong spring in minicamps and OTAs, he broke his collarbone at the start of training camp. This set him back weeks and he was never able to recover his momentum. The Bears eventually cut him in late August and he would settle on the practice squad. There he stayed for the next three months, unable to get an opportunity.
That changed in late December.
Injuries and COVID outbreak left the Bears shorthanded at wide receiver. So Newsome was elevated to the main roster. After a quiet first game against Minnesota, he made noise the next week in Seattle with a nice 28-yard punt return to help set up a touchdown. He also had an assisted tackle in coverage. That seemed to give the rookie confidence because Newsome ended up delivering his best performance to date in the season finale against the Vikings.
It started with a nifty 17-yard punt return in the first quarter. Sadly the good field position was wasted by an Andy Dalton sack on 4th down but it was a positive play regardless.
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The best moment though came late in the 2nd quarter. The Bears had built their lead to 6-0 on a Cairo Santos field goal. Then on the ensuing kickoff, Newsome streaked through the Vikings coverage to blast their return at the 14-yard line. It was easily one of the best individual special teams tackles of the season.
Dazz Newsome has so much potential to explore
A lot of people still want to see what he can do on offense. For whatever reason Matt Nagy and the coaching staff refused to give him more opportunities. This despite a productive career at North Carolina. His mix of quickness and versatility should’ve made him a nice weapon they could’ve moved around. Hence why he’s such a productive punt returner. He understands how to make things happen with the ball in his hands.
Despite this, if the Bears did land themselves a special teams ace with that 6th round pick, it absolutely should be considered a big win. It is one-third of the game, as the saying goes. Having somebody like Dazz Newsome that not only can return kicks but also cover them is incredibly valuable in the right hands.
It is another exciting subplot for this draft class.
The Bears already seem to have other talents to work with. Justin Fields of course at quarterback. Teven Jenkins and Larry Borom both showed flashes at tackle. Khalil Herbert looks like he could be a major contributor at running back. Thomas Graham had four pass deflections in his only two appearances. Oh and Khyiris Tonga emerged as a quality rotational piece at nose tackle. Not a bad group.
