The Chicago Bears defense has been consistently good for the past several years. When the 2022 off-season began, most people predicted they’d take a step back. That isn’t hard to envision after letting Akiem Hicks and Eddie Goldman walk while trading Khalil Mack. Those three were stalwarts a few years ago. Losing them was going to hurt. Except not everybody thinks the dip will be that bad. Robert Quinn, Roquan Smith, and Jaylon Johnson are still there. GM Ryan Poles quickly added talented rookies Kyler Gordon and Jaquan Brisker via the 2nd round.
It is a solid group that should be able to keep the Bears respectable if everybody stays healthy. Much of it depends on the rookies. There is no telling how fast either of them will develop. However, some experts have strong convictions on that subject. ESPN analyst Matt Bowen is one of the best tape gurus in the business. He was asked to give a bold prediction about the Bears for the 2022 season. He certainly didn’t disappoint.
“Safety Jaquan Brisker will lead all rookies in interceptions.
In Eberflus’ system, Brisker can play top down on the ball and create disruption in the middle of the field. The second-round pick out of Penn State brings a playmaking element to Chicago.”
Jaquan Brisker didn’t need much preseason time to make a point.
He made three big plays on one drive against the Kansas City Chiefs to illustrate how impactful he can be. It started with a big hit on a receiver to set the tone. Then he grabbed a tackle for a loss. Finally, he nearly intercepted a 3rd down pass to force a punt. Rookies aren’t supposed to be around the football that much in such a short span. It was a reminder of how dangerous Brisker was at Penn State. Everybody called him a box safety since he spent lots of time around the line of scrimmage.
That was never true. He is every bit as dangerous in coverage. The mixture of his size, speed, and instincts made him a nightmare for offenses to deal with. Now the Bears are putting him in a defense with a long-standing tradition of elevating safeties. Think John Lynch, Robert Griffith, Mike Brown, and Bob Sanders. Jaquan Brisker has all the abilities necessary to thrive in that system. Bowen’s prediction is bold, but it’s also not crazy.
Subscribe to the BFR podcast and ride shotgun with Dave and Ficky as they break down Bears football like nobody else.
All of the online services call them “bold” predictions. I don’t know what’s so bold about them. Ten minutes after they make them, people forget they made them. Maybe they’d be bold if they were brought back up at the end of the year. Probably should be called WAGs.
I’m sorry, but I keep seeing this phrase misused for Eddie Goldman and its driving me crazy: the Bears DID NOT “let Eddie Goldman walk”. They CUT him. There is a difference. He was under contract like Roquan Smith. They packed his bags and kicked him off the team. The Bears let Akiem Hicks walk. They let James Daniels walk. They let Bilal Nichols walk. They let Allen Robinson walk. These players were all free agents and the Bears made little to no attempt to resign them. They “let them walk” and find employment with other teams. That was NOT… Read more »
That is bold but possible. He looks like a Mike Brown Type so far even with the health issues…hopefully he will have better luck in regular season
Akiem Hicks and Khalil Mack were great players. When healthy they were unbelievable. Then age came into the equation, and the injuries piled up. When they could play they still played at a high level, but they didnt play enough. Eddie Goldman is another story not worth going into and he should never have been in the same sentence as the other two.
Football is a young mans game. I think the youth movement on the Bears will surprise a lot of people.