Kyler Gordon would’ve been the #1 corner on almost every other college team in the country. He was that good in Washington. However, that program has become a defensive back factory in recent years, so he had to spend his time living in the shadow of teammate Trent McDuffie who went in the 1st round to Kansas City. Gordon may not have liked that, but the Chicago Bears were thrilled. They knew that rare hierarchy would enable them to land the young corner much later than usual.
GM Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus couldn’t believe their good fortune when Gordon fell in their laps at 39th overall. They feel the team had secured a plug-and-play starter at cornerback. His mixture of size, speed, agility, intelligence, and instincts made for a player that could be a star at the NFL level. However, many things beyond his natural ability made him a success. Gordon developed a strong work ethic when he was young and tirelessly hones his craft.
There is one other advantage he believes he has. It came from an unlikely place too. One that not only improved him physically for playing cornerback but mentally as well. He explained during his “Meet The Rookies” episode on YouTube.
Kyle Gordon doesn’t fear the big stage. That matters.
Being in dance competitions during his youth made it easier for him to handle big crowds. Having all eyes on him like that got him used to performing under pressure. It is one thing to do this as part of a team. It is another when doing it as an individual. That is likely what cornerback became such an easy position for him to pick up. Being left alone on the perimeter wasn’t intimidating for him. It was just another stage for him to perform.
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That might explain why he always seemed to show up in big games. He had two interceptions to help beat rival Cal in overtime last season. The year prior, he had a big forced fumble to help upset Utah. He often delivered every time his team needed a big play in a big spot. That is why the Bears gravitated to him. They want more players like that. One can only hope fans see him put those dance routines on camera when the games begin.
I was encouraged by his dance experience from a physical standpoint. Body control, leaping ability, etc. would help him cover well and contort as necessary to get some interceptions. But, I hadn’t thought about how the dance experience can help a CB from a mental perspective. This is pretty insightful and I agree that it translates from being alone on stage to being on an island as a CB. Of course, this defense will feature more zone coverage than man coverage but it’s still relevant.