Chicago Bears: Roquan Smith getting acclimated to calling plays

While Roquan Smith is not running with the starters yet, he has been able to get experience play calling in his first couple of practice with the Chicago Bears

The second Roquan Smith signed his contract the clock was ticking to get him ready to be in the starting lineup by Week One. Of course, that would take proving that he is a safer bet than Nick Kwiatkoski.

We all know Smith is going to be faster than Kwiatkoski and that he is going to have a much higher NFL ceiling. However, the nuances and the adjustments to understanding all of the motion, and confusion of the NFL has the upper hand going to Kwiatkoski.

So, when the Chicago Bears trekked out to Denver for a week of joint practices against the Denver Broncos, it was Kwiatkoski next to Danny Trevathan with the first team.

What was worth noting was that Roquan Smith typically would run with the second and third team linebacker to get as many snaps as possible. When you look at the depth of this unit, the idea is pretty understandable as well.

Still, that is an excellent way to get him acclimated to the adjustments of the NFL. Even more important than that is that he is getting repetitions with two different units as the play caller. He is running with players such as John Timu, and Joel Iyiegbuniwe. Neither of those two are going to call the plays. So, these have become valuable play calling snaps.

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Before the holdout began, we wondered how quickly Smith would be able to prove that he is the play caller of the unit. If you remember, all intentions were for Jerrell Freeman to call plays when paired next to Trevathan, and Trevathan only has been due to the lack of talent around him.

The team wants Roquan Smith to be their play caller moving forward. Of course, before he can unseat Trevathan as the play caller, he has to unseat Kwiatkoski as the wingman.

Still, getting him those valuable repetitions as the play caller is arguably just as useful as him seeing this early time with Trevathan. Trevathan and Smith are going to get the time next to each other. Heck, it could come as early as next week.

However, to hear that Smith is easing in, and has been comfortable as the play caller for two different units is exceptionally encouraging news, and shows just how little this holdout has impacted him.