Chicago Bears Week 3: Rookie Report

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For the second consecutive week, Bears rookies played a big part in a tough road victory. It was Kyle Fuller with a clutch interception again, but the rookie DTs (Fuller, Ferguson) were instrumental in a couple of red zone stops, recently added rookie Ahmad Dixon recovered a fumble on special teams that led to a TD, and rookie safety Brock Vereen sealed the game with excellent coverage on the Jets last offensive play. GM Phil Emery should be feeling pretty good about his 2014 draft class. Here is a breakdown of each rookies performance on Monday night:

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CB Kyle Fuller – He’s been the Bears defensive MVP so far and it’s not really close. Fuller followed up his 2 INT performance last week with an interception in the end zone and 2 forced fumbles. You know Charles Tillman was proud when Fuller executed a textbook “Peanut Punch” to force a fumble. On Monday night Fuller had the highest individual grade of any Bear this season from Pro Football Focus (5.0). He’s improved the Bears coverage, but also had 7 tackles for the second consecutive week and he’s improved the run defense as well. Fuller leads the NFL with 3 INTs and is the front-runner for defensive rookie of the year.

DT Will Sutton – With normal starter Jeremiah Ratliff out with a concussion, Sutton got his first start of the season on Monday. Sutton was only credited with 2 QB hurries, but I counted 5 and he also came close to getting his first sack but Geno Smith slipped away only to be sacked by fellow rookie DT Ego Ferguson. Sutton has been generating pressure inside but has also been solid against the run (1.3 grade) which was a question mark pre-draft. I’m not sure when Ratliff will be back, but the Bears run defense has actually improved since Sutton took over.

DT Ego Ferguson – Ego has averaged 21 snaps the last two weeks, giving starter Stephen Paea occasional breathers. Paea played his best game of the season Monday, so Ferguson will probably be stuck in the backup role for the immediate future. Ferguson teamed up with Sutton to get his first career on Monday and he also played pretty well against the run. Ferguson has held his own so far this season which is a promising sign for a guy who was supposedly too raw to make an impact as a rookie. The Bears held the Jets to just 1 TD in 6 red zone appearances and Ego did a good job clogging up the middle on a couple of Chris Ivory red zone runs. Ferguson is developing ahead of schedule and should see an increase in snaps as the season goes on.

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S Brock Vereen – Played about half the game (34/75 defensive snaps) and did an admirable job (0.9 grade) filling in for an injured Chris Conte at free safety. Vereen played slot corner last week and it shows well for his versatility that he held his own at both positions in two nationally televised road matchups. Vereen made one of the most important plays of the game on the Jets last play, smothering WR Jeremy Kerley in the end zone and forcing him about a foot past the back end-zone line. There was some contact and it may have been interference, but it wasn’t called and the play sealed the win for the Bears. With Conte questionable for week 4’s matchup, Vereen could find himself in the starting lineup against Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. Considering how badly Rodgers has abused Chris Conte, the Bears might be better off giving Vereen a shot regardless of Conte’s health.

G Michael Ola – Talk about throwing a rookie to the wolves, Ola had to block Justin Smith and a tough Niners d-line in his first start and then Mohammed Wilkerson in his 2nd start. That’s a tough stretch for even an experience veteran and Ola has struggled a bit, but he was better on Monday than he was in his first start. Ola didn’t get any push in the run game but didn’t give up much ground either. In the passing game, Ola was actually pretty solid with a 0.9 grade which tied Kyle Long for tops on the team. Ola would have had a positive grade overall if not for a hands to the face penalty that negated a Brandon Marshall touchdown catch.

P Pat O’Donnell – It’s been a mixed bag for O’Donnell so far. He was bad in week 1, great in week 2, and mediocre in week 3 (42.6 average). O’Donnell punted 5 times and two were very good, 2 were just ok, and one was terrible. Punting from his own 9 yard line he couldn’t get the ball out of Bears territory and combined with an awful penalty on Terrell Manning, it gave the Jets the ball at the Bears 28 yard line and resulted in an easy FG.

SS Ahmad Dixon – In just his second week with the Bears, Dixon made a huge play on special teams. Jets punt returner Jalen Saunders (also a rookie) muffed a punt and Dixon was the first man on it. He laid a nice hit on Saunders, dislodging the ball which he then recovered. It was a big play for a struggling special teams unit and led to a Bears TD. Dixon also got one snap on defense and put a big hit on a Jets receiver after a short catch. It was a good night for Dixon and should solidify his spot on the active roster moving forward. If starting strong safety Ryan Mundy is out this week, Dixon may have a chance to get some defensive snaps as Danny McCray’s backup. Dixon had the highest special teams grade on the team Monday at 2.0.

LB Christian Jones – Didn’t get any defensive snaps and had a costly holding penalty on special teams that negated a 29 yard punt return by Santonio Holmes.

RB Ka’Deem Carey – Got 2 snaps on offense including a carry, but there was no room to run and he was stopped for no gain.

RB Senorise Perry – Was on the active roster, but didn’t see the field. Recently signed WR Rashad Ross took over Perry’s kick return duties but finished the game with the same return average (21 yards) as Perry had the last two weeks. I think Ross will get one more week to prove himself, but if he doesn’t improve Perry could be back as the kick returner.

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