The Chicago Bears knew they had to make sure they got their 1st round pick this year right. Not only because it was critical to the future of the franchise, but also because the previous three were unknowns at that point. Rather than do his usual thing by taking a calculated risk on talent with high upside, GM Ryan Pace elected to go with a “safe” pick by grabbing Georgia linebacker Roquan Smith.
Nobody batted an eye at the move. It made perfect sense. Smith was the reigning Dick Butkus Award winner. He’d been the best player on the field for a Georgia defense that led the program to the national championship game. Barring health problems, his future in the NFL was likely to be bright once he absorbed the speed and complexity of it.
Optimism began to waver by June though as it became apparent the young man planned to hold out on his rookie contract. June to July and July to August. Still no deal. Only after training camp was over and the preseason was winding down did he finally sign. Then promptly after joining the team, he suffered a hamstring injury.
Expectations at that point fizzled away. He likely wouldn’t be a factor now until 2019. Except great players don’t abide by normal timelines.
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Roquan Smith is nine tackles away from Bears history
Nobody had seen anything like Brian Urlacher when he arrived in 2000. He was a freak of nature with a mix of 6’4 size and defensive back speed that allowed him to fly all over the field making plays. By the time the dust had settled that year, he held the franchise record for tackles by a rookie with 124. It was the first sign that greatness was ahead.
It was also a mark most people felt might never be touched again because specimens like Urlacher don’t come around often. Much less to the same team. Yet here things stand. With his nine tackles against San Francisco, Smith has pushed his season total to 116. As the Bears prepare for the season finale in Minnesota, he is just eight more from tying Urlacher’s mark and nine from breaking it.
It’s worth noting that the guy has had at least nine tackles in six of the past eight games. He’s been all over the field and the Bears defense is reaping the rewards just like they did 18 years ago when #54 was patrolling the field. Regardless of whether he breaks it or not though, Pace can feel safely assured that he positively nailed that pick.
