Everyone who loves NFL content, including Chicago Bears fans, most likely knows Brian Baldinger.
He’s an NFL Network analyst who loves to watch and break down game film. His “Baldy’s Breakdowns” that he posts on social media are must-watch, regardless of the team that you root for on Sundays.
In an exclusive interview with Betway, Baldinger highlighted some lesser-known players who have impressed him on film during the preseason. One player who impressed Baldinger was the Bears' sixth-round draft pick Jordan van den Berg from Georgia Tech.
Jordan van den Berg is starting to catch everyone's eye with Bears
One of the reasons the Bears traded veteran defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr. was because of van den Berg’s rise on the defensive line.
“He had a legitimate preseason,” Baldinger said. “He’s undersized, but he was like that player at Georgia Tech. I went to watch him practice and in all three preseason games, he played very well.”
Van den Berg flashed this summer and worked his way up from being on the third-team defense all the way to receiving starter's reps. After the Bears’ second preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Bears head coach Ben Johnson called van den Berg “a beast” for the effort he showed on a diving tackle attempt on backup quarterback Josh Johnson.
Van den Berg plays with consistent effort, which is one of the many reasons he has stood out on the Bears’ defensive line.
Another player who impressed Baldinger throughout training camp and the preseason is the Bengals' seventh-round draft pick, Landon Robinson. Cincinnati’s defensive tackle is from the Naval Academy, but he made the team’s 53-man roster.
In the interview with Betway, Baldinger said both defensive tackles are undersized. Although a lot of teams want big players like the Eagles’ Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis, sometimes players who play with “good leverage, know how to get off blocks, get to the football, and make good things happen” are another trait that teams should look for in their players.
Van den Berg may be a sixth-round draft pick, but he's definitely in the mix to become a key contributor for defensive coordinator Dennis Allen's defense this season. The Bears' defense struggled in many key areas last year, especially rushing the quarterback and stopping the run.
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General manager Ryan Poles made it a priority to revamp the interior defensive line room, and van den Berg is one of those new additions who will be asked to contribute. The rookie has caught the eye of many people throughout the summer. Now, it's time to see what he can truly do in the regular season.
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