It wasn’t easy for veteran linebacker Jerrell Freeman last season. Not only did he endure his first career losing season as an NFL pro. He also suffered the humiliation of being suspended four games for PED violations. So no doubt he enters 2017 with a burning desire to get things back on draft. Both for himself as a player and for his new teammates. One in particular he sees great things from? Fellow linebacker Leonard Floyd.
The crazy thing with Freeman is he missed four games last year but still led the team with 110 tackles. He’s a good player in his own right and has played with some great ones. So it means something when he gives a shout out to a young kid like Floyd. He sat down with CBS Chicago to discuss the expectations on defense in 2017. Without much prompting, the admiration and expectations came out.
“The defense could be pretty good,” Freeman said. “I know for a lot of the season, we were top-10, top-five in a lot of categories, then the injuries happened. But that’s a part of the NFL. You know how that goes. If you’re not hurt or don’t have a little injury happening, you’re not playing. Everybody plays through things.
The defense could be pretty good. I like the draft pick from last year (Leonard Floyd), especially. He’s going to be good for a while. With our linebacking core, our front seven and the new additions we have, we’re getting out there in OTAs now and seeing what guys can do, how savvy guys are. I think we can be pretty good.”
Linebacker Leonard Floyd ready for his ascent?
Floyd had a weird rookie season filled with high highs and low lows. He missed time early in the year with nagging injuries and also suffered two concussions that slowed his progress. Then for a five-game stretch following the bye week he was one of the most unstoppable pass rushers in the league. In that span he delivered 6.5 of his seven sacks for 2016 and just seemed to be all over the field.
Word from the teams’ outside linebackers coach is Floyd arrived for Organized Team Activities is he’s added a considerable amount of weight. The good kind too. Mostly muscle. He arrived as a rookie last year at around 225 lbs. He has since increased that to just shy of 250. Floyd was already a cat quick player with tremendous length and speed. So try to imagine how pass blockers will feel knowing he’s stronger than last season.
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Freeman might be onto something. If Floyd and the rest of that front seven can stay reasonably healthy, it could be a huge year for the Bears defense.
