When Matt Eberflus and Ryan Poles spoke for the first time in January, they said things clicked immediately. The two shared a similar philosophy on how a successful football team must look and operate. They must practice hard and play with high intensity, effort, and intelligence. It was also obvious they both agreed that the team needed to be fast. Speed is often the deciding factor in so many games. Teams that had the most tended to win more often.
However, it appears the details go somewhat deeper for Eberflus. He revealed as much during an interview with Adam Jahns of The Athletic. The discussion centered on how he and Poles aligned on so many things. Then he dropped a seemingly minuscule comment about the types of players he plans to acquire in the future. Yet when stopping to think about it, the words represent a clear idea of where the Bears might go in the coming 2023 draft and beyond.
“That’s how we fell in line together, and why we were so attracted to each other as partners to run an organization because of that vision of the effort, the intensity of which you play, the tempo, the speed, the long athletic players that we want to acquire,” Eberflus said. “We’re right in line with that.”
My goodness DeForest Buckner 😤😤
(🎥: Colts) pic.twitter.com/kOsyC8xd7R
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) September 23, 2020
Matt Eberflus is a big believer in player length.
People talk about speed and strength in the NFL all the time. Casual fans make it part of their usual discussions. Yet the real experts often reference arm length as a critical factor that isn’t discussed enough. They say football is a game of inches. So every inch gained matters. Arm length can be crucial for defensive linemen because the added reach allows them to keep blockers off their bodies during a pass rush or get their hands up to deflect passes. It matters for defensive backs because it can aid in their efforts to reach for interceptions.
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Here is a list of every 1st and 2nd round defender Indianapolis drafted from 2018 through 2021 when Matt Eberflus was the defensive coordinator. The pattern becomes pretty apparent right away.
- DL Dayo Odeyingbo – 35.25 inches
- EDGE Kwity Paye – 33 inches
- EDGE Tyquan Lewis – 33.75 inches
- EDGE Kemoko Turay – 33.40 inches
- EDGE Ben Banogu – 33.60 inches
- OLB Shaquille Leonard – 34.40 inches
- OLB Bobby Okereke – 34.50 inches
- CB Rock Ya-Sin – 32 inches
Defensive linemen never went below 33 inches. Defensive backs never went below 31.
This held true in the Bears’ first draft with him as head coach. Kyler Gordon and Jaquan Brisker both had 31-inch arms. Fifth round defensive end Dominique Robinson had 33.25. The offensive side was no different. Fifth round pick and starting left tackle Braxton Jones has 35-inch arms. This trend is real and figures to guide the Bears moving forward. So when discussions begin a few months from now about what they might do in the 2023 off-season, be sure to keep arm length at the top of the list of things to monitor.
