The Chicago Bears defense didn’t perform at the level they’ve grown customary to for the past few years. Part of that is the scheme, part is injuries, and part is some players simply being in a funk. One guy who pushed through all of that to have his best season yet was Roquan Smith. The former 8th overall pick was dazzling in 2020. He made plays all over the field and was around the football constantly.
How good was he? The linebacker finished with 139 tackles, 18 of them for a loss, four sacks, and two interceptions. A superstar stat line if ever there was one. Yet for whatever reason people have continued to ignore him. Smith wasn’t voted into the Pro Bowl this year. While that alone is a bad slight, there was still hope that he’d receive the necessary votes to become an All-Pro. Those hopes were dashed as didn’t even come close to getting the number necessary.
It appears Smith didn’t take the news well and posted as much on Twitter.
I have never been one to debate opinions but great field performance & stats are earned. Extra fuel for my fire is always appreciated. https://t.co/Au4jGLrANd
— Quan (@RoquanSmith1) January 8, 2021
Smith was eventually announced as a Second-Team All-Pro but that does nothing to diminish the snub. It still means people view him as second-class compared to the other names listed like Fred Warner and Bobby Wagner. This despite clear evidence he’d outperformed both of them. This is another reminder that the Pro Bowl and All-Pro systems remain an imperfect science for determining the best players in the game.
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Not that the Bears are complaining. Whatever motivates him to play even better can only be good for the team moving forward.
Roquan Smith is officially the future of the Bears defense
His ascent couldn’t be timelier. A number of key fixtures on the defense have started to show signs of slowing down. Danny Trevathan is one and Akiem Hicks another. Khalil Mack is still great but he’s approaching 30-years old too. The Bears need young guys to start stepping up if they’re going to maintain respectability moving forward. Smith emerging is great news. Not only is he playing like a star. He’s only 23-years old. There is a long career of greatness ahead of him if this keeps up.
The key will be surrounding him with capable talent and also health. Smith has encountered a number of injuries the past two years. First was tearing his pectoral after 12 games last season. Now he’s dealing with an elbow injury that likely could leave him out of the playoffs. There is no denying his talent. It’ll come down to whether he can stay on the field and showcase it over an extended period of time.
Presuming he wants to be remembered like Urlacher, Singletary, and Butkus.
Roquan Smith has every right to be upset. He deserves recognition. It’s long overdue. The guy is playing like a star. He’s playing in a major market for a team with a defensive legacy miles long. How in the world do people not talk about him more? Maybe it’s because he’s soft-spoken. Maybe it’s because he is surrounded by high-profile teammates. Either way, it doesn’t excuse the lack of respect he continues to receive.
