The Chicago Bears‘ defense didn’t have the best evening in Cincinnati. For most of the game, the Bengals found holes everywhere, mostly through the air. It was a frustrating game. However, there were bright spots on that side of the ball. None came close to Jordan Van Den Berg. If you looked at the box score, you would say the rookie didn’t do much with three tackles. That completely overlooks how disruptive the defensive tackle was. He gave the Bengals’ offensive line fits most of the time he was on the field.
From the first snap, it was evident Van Den Berg wasn’t taking any prisoners. His mix of upper-body strength and explosiveness created havoc in Cincinnati’s backfield and also led to some nice run stops. He was a wrecking ball.
It is unbelievable to think that a 6th-round pick is doing that. When you watch Van Den Berg play, it feels like he’s moving at a different speed compared to everybody else. Granted, some of that is playing against backups, but even then, it’s incredibly noticeable. Don’t forget that this is his rawest form. Most of this is happening based on Van Den Berg’s instincts and talent.
Jordan Van Den Berg checks all of the boxes.
Sure, the power and explosiveness are great. Those are the building blocks to something bigger. Yet what really stands out about the rookie is his effort. This was not somebody who went half-speed whenever the play went a different direction from him. Van Den Berg flew to the football at 100 mph, even diving at the sideline late in the game when the score was pretty much decided. No plays off. That is what the Bears preach, and few have taken it to heart more than their young draft pick.
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Some may think this excitement is overblown. It isn’t. Bears fans aren’t blind. They know what good football players are supposed to look like. Sure, Jordan Van Den Berg is hardly a finished project. He has lots of work to do. Still, his toolbox is loaded. Players with this skill set tend to become a problem for offensive lines as they mature. The Bears haven’t had somebody like this in years. Henry Melton and Akiem Hicks are the only ones who come to mind, and Van Den Berg might be scarier.
We can finally see why Bears coaches were so excited.
General manager Ryan Poles admitted months ago that constant pestering from the coaching staff is what led him to make the trade up in the draft for Van Den Berg. They loved his raw athletic tools and his mental makeup. With the right development, he could become something much bigger than his draft status would suggest. It has been a long time since the Bears got significant value from a 6th round pick. You’d have to go all the way back to 2005 with Chris Harris to find anybody on the defensive side.
If Van Den Berg becomes what the Bears envision, their defense is about to get so much better. Nothing is more devastating to an offensive attack than pressure up the middle. Chicago hasn’t had anybody like that since Hicks left. Yet this young man displays an ability closer to what they had with Tommie Harris in the 2000s. Everybody remembers how deadly the defense was when he was at his peak.
