| 20 April 2010
Free safety is probably the biggest question mark on the Chicago Bears 22-man depth chart heading into the last week of the 2010 draft. So naturally the Bears will likely be targeting the best safety available with the 75th overall pick and the hope amongst the windy city faithful is that the answer to their question mark will be Major Wright from the Florida Gators.
Wright is talked about as a potential sleeper prospect who doesn't have ideal athletic ability at the safety position, but is a smart and instinctual player and plays well in zone coverage. Translation he may be a solid fit as a free safety in the Bears' Cover-2 defensive scheme which relies less on man to man coverage, Wright's weakness.
What else makes Wright an appealing prospect? He's solid in run support and isn't afraid to come up and tackle, which is of monumental importance in the one gap scheme. Lovie Smith and Jerry Angelo both have often stated and restated the fact that in the Bears' one gap scheme that the free safety and strong safety are interchangeable and have the same basic responsibilities, which is true. The Bears need that one gap scheme defender that can come up and fill a gap on run defense but he still has to be able to make coverage reads and reactions in the Cover-2.
By most accounts throughout the scouting community this is what Wright can do well. His weakness is in one on one man to man coverage, but in the Bears' scheme he won't be asked to fulfill this role very often. In fact when the Bears go to their nickel package they most often bring in a nickel back specifically to take on that man to man coverage role.
Wright's skill set is very reminiscent of a another former Bears safety, arguably the last safety to be successful, Mike Brown. Brown didn't have ideal athletic skills, speed or size but he made up for it with brains and smarts. He was a quarterback on the field a leader that went out and competed every Sunday and because he put himself in position was able to make big plays (obviously considering when he was healthy.
Wright is the guy you hope that falls to the Bears because he has just enough skills by all accounts to make it in the NFL. A leader on the Gators' football team he was considered the toughest player pound for pound on the Gators' roster. At 5-foot-11 206-pounds with a 40-yard dash timed in the 4.46 range Wright has average size and speed for the position, not ideal but enough to get by with and be successful.
While it's obvious the Bears would prefer to find a big time ball hawk at the free safety position, finding a good solid safety with good play making ability is first and foremost the quality the Bears need. The center fielder spot has been a major sore spot for this team for quite a few years and that needs to taken care of.
The only question is does this safety have the Wright stuff to be the final starting player answer to the Bears Major weakness on defense?
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