I don't know if anyone knew, but the Chicago Bears had a rough season in 2021. They finished with a poor record. Bears fans are used to double-digit loss seasons, so it will anger them, but it is not new territory. They do not have a first-round pick. This season was just a bad one.
The season ended on Sunday in Minnesota after the Vikings lost to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 1 at So Fi Stadium. The song "Fire Nagy" was sung by fans at the United Center as the Chicago Bulls were getting off to an outstanding start to the season.
The press conference after Matt Nagy and Ryan Pace were relieved of their duties did the opposite of presenting competence to the current players, fans, media, ex players, and anyone breathing that doesn't have the name McCaskey. Please help the fans of one of your most storied franchises have a good time this summer. Give Roquan Smith some recognition.
He did not make the Pro Bowl. The fan votes, coach votes, and player votes are all weighted equally in the Pro Bowl selection process. With the Dallas Cowboys having a stellar season, and with his fame as a pass-rusher, the fan vote for one of the two inside linebacker spots in the NFC was going to be his, even if he was listed as an inside linebacker.
Smith needs to be an All-Pro this year, and a first-team selection might be in order. He is sixth in the NFL in combined tackles and fourth in tackles for loss.
Some interesting numbers on Smith were posted by Football Outsiders. Smith is a top performer in two advanced statistical categories: defeats and pass tackle stops. tackles for loss, forced turnovers, and 1/2th down stops are combined in defeats. The only other traditional linebacker in that category is Matt Milano of the Buffalo Bills. Pass tackle stops are when a player tackles a pass catcher short of the first down marker on the next play, at least 60 percent short of the marker on the second play, and at least 45 percent short on the first play. Smith is the leader in that stat.
Smith is one of the best defensive players in the league. The defense's job is not to prevent the other offense from scoring, but to get their offense back on the field as quickly as possible. An assistant coach would stop the tape, run the play back several times, and commend a player if Smith were to make these types of plays. If you want to assure yourself of playing time on defense, you need to make these types of plays, because your coach will keep you on the field.
Smith was considered a can't-miss defensive prospect after the Georgia vs. Alabama national championship game. Smith isn't enjoying the same winning that he did at Georgia, but he is making the same plays in the NFL that he did there. He is going to become the highest-paid inside linebacker in the league when he is rewarded financially. For his sake, and for the sake of Bears fans, the man should be an All-Pro. Anyone that votes for him will get free Italian beefs.
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