Every regime in Chicago Bears history seemed to gravitate towards certain position groups in the draft. Jerry Angelo was always going after defensive linemen, Phil Emery had a thing for safeties, and Ryan Pace liked going after interior offensive linemen. For Ryan Poles, it is apparent he loves stacking cornerbacks. He has already selected three of them across his first two drafts. Most people talk about the two 2nd round picks, Kyler Gordon and Tyrique Stevenson. That is understandable. They’re high selections and both are starters. However, one other name is in that mix. Former 5th round pick Terell Smith.
Many inside Halas Hall are big fans of the Minnesota standout. When thrust into the lineup as a rookie last season, he showcased a lot of capability. His run defense stood out and he was far from a weak link in coverage. So it shouldn’t be a huge surprise the Bears would be interested in another player who reminds them of him. Multiple insiders revealed Chicago is meeting with Kentucky standout Andru Phillips this week. Draft analyst Chris Trapasso believes he is a carbon copy of Smith.
Phillips would be a bigger project than Terell Smith.
He only has two years of legitimate game experience playing cornerback, so it isn’t surprising that his instincts and awareness for the position are lacking at this point. That said, he’s a good athlete with the mental and physical toughness the Bears prefer in their players. He’s a willing run supporter and flashes lots of promise in coverage. He can play man well. The core issue is learning the intricacies of zone. That is why coming to Chicago would actually be great for him. Head coach Matt Eberflus has taught that style most of his career.
If the Bears do take him and he ends up like Terell Smith, that secondary may have one of the deepest and most talented cornerback groups in the NFL. Not a bad advantage to have in a division loaded with talented quarterbacks and wide receivers. Perhaps Poles deserves more credit for understanding where it’s important to be strong on defense. They have an All-Pro on one side in Jaylon Johnson, with two ascending talents flanking him. You’re in great shape if you have Smith and Phillips as the fourth and fifth guys.
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TGena, you’re giving me fits today. So I reread your posts here. Not on other articles. Specifically, when, where, how, and to what degree did your favorite article author convince YOU that Poles is a OL expert? Us, did you run a secret poll to determine if we are convinced? No again. So, now you’re speaking for the masses with no knowledge beyond your own. References, specifics, no. Generalized buffoonery. So, you find the article a contradiction previous assertions of Poles prowess as an O-line expert. Wow, I just said what I think you meant without sounding like an asshat.… Read more »
@TGena Handling truth is something I’m good at. I’m an old man who once lived a horrible life and thought I was the smartest man on the planet. Then I lost my family because of greed and the need to be the center of attention. It’s debatable if I’ve changed, but I do know I’m not afraid of the truth when I hear it now. Darkness and self-loathing, taught me I needed to try to change. Today, I tell myself everyday to look for more of it. You, my unfriendly fellow, are not a source of truth in my world.… Read more »
@TGena See there is your problem. It’s not my job to prove or disprove the truthfulness, veracity, or intellectual composition of the “facts” you present. It is your job to present them in a way that makes the reader want to believe what you say by either presented evidence, a history of proven ideas and facts, or by toning down the comment to a more “I believe or It’s my opinion” type answer. You present things as though Zeus and his like proclaimed them to be true. Mixed metaphor aside, your use of Seneca’s quote on time proving all things… Read more »
@Veece In direct reply to the last line in your post. No. When a comment is formulated in the air of a debating point, the game is on. I love the tactic of not addressing the point directly and focusing on some other aspect of the poster’s comment. Some people make it easy when they use contemptuous terms for the subject of the article for no other reason than to color the object of their ire in a light suitable for their purposes. “perpetual rookie” (by the way, a rookie could be Rookie of the Year, perpetually even), “clown”, etc.… Read more »
@timgjerde56 —
Point to one thing that I have written which is untrue.
Your opinions and emotions may not align with the facts that I present — but that’s your issue. not mine.
You’re former military, you can handle the truth.