Chicago Bears pass rusher
The new backup nose guard for the Chicago Bears is Khyiris Tonga of BYU. This past season was a year for BYU. They wouldn’t have had the season they had if it wasn’t for lots of components. One of those components includes the large defensive tackle, Khyiris Tonga.
Tonga, like Dazz Newsome, just plays. Both players average a 71 or above PFF score throughout their three years in college. Tonga is an older prospect due to a mission, but that should not stop Chicago Bear fans from knowing who he is today. I will continue to call Tango a nose tackle, but in my opinion, he is a defensive end, Akeim Hicks roll. Tonga is a large man, listed at 6’2″ and 322 pounds. Most of the Chicago Media will tell you that he is the backup for Eddie Goldman.
Tonga will likely start his career as Goldman’s backup. But Tonga does not play like Goldman, and he plays like Hicks. Most are clapping that the Chicago Bears acquired a run-stuffing defensive tackle, but that is his worst trait. Tonga repped 225 35 times during his pro-day, which would have been the third most at the combine.
Tonga rushes from the nose tackle position, wreckless-like and aggressive, all to get his hands on the quarterback. Tonga is compared to Leki Fotu, but I believe that is a lazy comparison. Fotu was a dominating interior defensive lineman that knew how to shed blocks and stuff running backs for a loss. If you watch Tonga play, he lacks the peak trait and moves blockers to tackle running backs in the backfield. Tonga uses his strength to drive the linemen back into the quarterback.
Tonga had a PFF run-stopping grade of 67 while achieving a 76 in pass rushing. Tonga can spend the time working with Goldman and Hicks to get the best out of him. Suppose the two veteran players teach Tonga properly. In that case, he could turn into a decent nose tackle who can rush the passer, thus keeping him on the field longer and allowing Bilal Nichols to focus solely on his defensive edge position.
Nichols did well filling in for Goldman but lacked size when it came to stopping the run. It could be a reach to hope that Nichols and Tonga reach a Goldman and Hicks level of play, but that should be the end goal. If anything else, at least the Chicago Bears can get the two big tackles off the field more to give them a breather and not have to fear about their replacements.