| 10 June 2010
As is the case nearly every year fans get caught up in the hype of the new draft class and overlook the impact the draft class from the previous year is expected to have on the season. Each and every Bears fan became familiar with Johnny Knox during the first game of the season. Knox’s impact was immediate and the excitement level surrounding his potential in the Mike Martz offense are nearly as high as Matt Forte’s second year expectations nearly a year ago.
However Knox is at a new found position of promise, arguably a position of strength, so it’s debatable whether or not his impact will be as high as expected.
There are two players however that need to step forth and make their presence felt immediately to help avoid receiving the bust label. Jarron Gilbert and Henry Melton are the two players that need to take their games to another level in 2010 at least to save off the argument that the Bears would have been better off using the two draft picks in the third and fourth round on highly regarded offensive linemen.
As it stands right now Melton is being shifted inside to the three technique DT spot and Gilbert is seeing time at DE. A position flop of sorts that seems likely to most benefit Melton in the near term. Melton’s ability is getting off the ball and using his athleticism to win battles. He already has experience in this defense from his days playing at Texas. The Longhorns too prefer to play the one gap scheme and recruit quick twitch athletes who excel at getting off the ball. Their team speed on defense has been evident for years and it works so well for them because they can recruit the best players not only in the state of Texas but in the country.
With the current structure of the Bears’ roster Melton currently finds himself alone as the second team three-technique DT behind Tommie Harris. Israel Idonije has moved outside to the DE spot to compete with Alex Brown for a starting job and Toeaina is competing for the back up nose tackle spot in the battle for the DT rotation. Melton’s biggest improvement should come from year one to year two and he should find himself benefiting from the increased amount of reps he’ll get as the second team DT. Tommie Harris didn’t participate in two of the five mini-camp practices, but has been out there for all of the OTA workouts healthy and ready to go. Melton benefits from learning from Harris and getting the plays in he wouldn’t otherwise get with the over abundance of numbers at DE.
Melton needs to be the guy as the backup DT primarily because of the rotation Lovie Smith likes to use. In 2009 Smith used a rotation of five defensive tackles throughout the games. Harris, Adams, Idonije, Harrison, and Toeaina all saw time last year in almost all of the 16 games. Melton could have played last year, but the Bears used their red shirt injured reserve slot for Melton because he had a nagging knee problem.
In Jarron Gilbert’s case he struggled to get on the field in 2009. Gilbert was inactive for most of the season failing to be a part of the team’s active game day roster in 13 of 16 games. Not surprisingly the outlook for Gilbert to crack the three man rotation at DE in 2010 looks just as slim. Of all the players from the 2009 draft class, Gilbert is the most likely to lose his roster spot as we approach the start of the season.
He needs to show that he can play at this level and overcome the reputation that has dogged him, that being the guy who jumped out of the pool. Right now with Smith’s preference to use only three DE’s as part of his game day rotation Gilbert has to overcome Mark Anderson who is the likely starter, and Israel Idonije who is just as capable of starting as Anderson is. If Gilbert is unable to break through ahead of the veterans, he’ll likely face another season watching from the sidelines hoping that a veteran gets hurt so that he can crack through for some playing time.
2009 is the most critical time for Gilbert because the Bears need him to show that he can rush the quarterback. Any defense in the NFL is only as successful as it’s ability to pressure the quarterback in this pass happy league. This means that Gilbert has to show his value to the coaching staff, he has the talent and the ability but does he have the work ethic and the desire to succeed in the NFL?
If both Melton and Gilbert fail to make an impact in their second year then it will be a major indictment upon the coaching staff and front office for failing to find players who can impact the defense as much as they need to. One could argue that with the steady play from Harrison, as a three technique and Toeaina as a nose tackle that the Bears should have used the pick of either Melton or Gilbert on an offensive guard or an offensive tackle that they could have then developed and then plugged in as a possible left guard or right tackle starter in 2010.
The predicament and pressure that these two defensive lineman face to come in and be a part of the active playing roster is an indictment on the failures this franchise has had since 2006. Failing to meet the necessary goals of having a roster balanced with talent and youth on both sides of the ball, and especially in the trenches could be the ultimate reason the current front office and coaching staff are no longer a part of the storied franchise in the city by the lake.
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