Bears Questions: Who is the 2nd starting OLB?
Sam Acho – If Acho is going to make the team it is probably going to be due to his contributions on special teams. Acho just isn’t the speed rusher that Floyd is and at 6’3, 257, he doesn’t have the size or more importantly the power of McPhee, Houston, or Young.
He has a better chance of being released than making the starting lineup, but Acho plays smart, with a non-stop motor, and is an above-average special teams player. With all the talent the Bears added on special teams during the draft, Acho is going to have to fight for his spot.
Roy Robertson-Harris – Who? I get it, I wasn’t sure who Robertson-Harris was until the Bears had two private workouts with him during the pre-draft period. You will notice “RRH” once you see him on the field, as he’s 6’7, 255 and is built like a statue.
Can he play though? That has yet to be seen, as he had just 6.5 sacks over the last two seasons in college. He’s also a bit of a tweener with the length to be an ideal edge rusher, but not quite enough sand in his pants to be a down linemen consistently. RHH will most likely start the season on the practice squad but could end up being a versatile weapon on passing downs.
He’s not going to be the type of defensive end who sets the edge against the run, but has the speed to beat most tackles of edge as a pass rusher. He also won’t be covering many tight ends or running backs as an OLB, but if his job is simplified enough to just going after passer or at least getting his long arms in passing lanes, then he has the ability for that.
RHH has an unusual blend of ideal size (6’7, 255) and athleticism (4.70 40-time, 35″ vertical, 9’11” broad jump, and 23 bench reps of 225 pounds). There is no doubt that he has the necessary size and athletic ability to thrive in the NFL at either position, but he’s raw and needs to improve both the use of his hands to shed blocks and his play recognition.
Most sites had RHH has a 5th-6th round pick, so the Bears getting him as an undrafted free agent is just one of many draft weekend steals the Bears pulled off this season. After a year or two under the tutelage of DC Vic Fangio, the Bears could have a gem in Robertson-Harris.