Coming off a 6-11 season, it was a fair assumption the Chicago Bears wouldn’t be getting many favorable nods from the Madden 23 ratings released this week. Sure enough, Darnell Mooney managed a pitiful 79 after topping 1,000 yards last season. Roquan Smith, a second-team All-Pro, mustered only an 89. Robert Quinn settled at 83. This after posting 18 sacks last season. So yeah, almost everybody got shortchanged by the ratings. However, there were one or two welcome developments. Trevis Gipson is one example.
The former 5th round pick was a non-entity going into 2021. He’d done nothing as a rookie, and the game creators shrugged him off as a 65 overall player. Gipson proceeded to have seven sacks last season with a team-high five forced fumbles. It was a significant step forward for the young pass rusher. To their credit, the Madden people gave him a nod of approval by jumping his rating to 75 overall. A spike of 10 points. Well-deserved for what he accomplished.
Trevis Gipson has a golden opportunity to ascend further.
With Khalil Mack out of the picture, the starting pass rusher spot opposite Quinn is Gipson’s to lose. That means more pass-rushing snaps, which should mean more sacks. If that weren’t enough, the Bears are also switching to a 4-3 defense. Gipson played defensive end in college. He knows it well and admitted that he prefers it to outside linebacker on multiple occasions. Everything points to him having an even better year.
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As always, it comes down to health. Trevis Gipson proved plenty durable last season. He played in 16 of 17 games. There is no reason to think that will change. It is exciting to wonder what Matt Eberflus and his coaching staff have in store for him. Given the coach’s track record, Gipson may get off to a hot start this year. It will be interesting to see if he’s added any new moves to his arsenal. Evolution is vital to sustained success in the NFL. Especially for pass rushers.
They also gave Mack a 92 rating. I wonder if he were still on the Bears what he’d be? Probably an 85.
Many are high on him but I doubt he has a great year eg double digit sacks. The jid just spent 2 years changing his body to be an OLB in a 3-4 defense. I am rooting for him