Roquan Smith is in a position to set the Chicago Bears’ all-time record for tackles in a season. With three games left, he has 140. Brian Urlacher holds the record with 153. Combine this with Smith’s three sacks and pick-six touchdown that sealed a win over Cincinnati? It’s incredible to fathom that the young linebacker still couldn’t crack the Pro Bowl lineup. An annual result that is beginning to enrage Bears fans. As it turns out, the same can be said for his defensive coordinator.
Sean Desai has overseen Smith’s best all-around season as a pro. Nobody has a better appreciation for how good the linebacker has been than the first-year coordinator. So when he found out Smith again didn’t make the Pro Bowl? He was upset. He admitted as much during his press conference ahead of the Seattle Seahawks game, calling it a “travesty.”
The reverence he speaks with is so evident.
Desai isn’t one to show emotion to the cameras much but it’s obvious how much he loves Roquan Smith as both a player and a person. One can hold wonder if the Bears had a slightly better record whether he’d get the recognition he richly deserves To his credit, the linebacker himself isn’t whining about it. He is using it as fuel to make himself better. That will only help the team.
Moving forward, the goal is obvious for the Bears. Make sure Smith remains on the roster long-term. That means a contract extension. One that is certain to make him among the highest-paid linebackers in football. The tricky part is negotiations since the 24-year old has no agent. He is representing himself. After that? It will be determining who coaches Smith moving forward. There is a real possibility Desai may not be around next year. That means a new staff and maybe a new defense too.
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