Bears have high expectations for former Georgia LB Roquan Smith entering Year 2 in NFL
By Adam Spencer
Published:
Former Georgia LB Roquan Smith was the No. 8 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, and he became an immediate impact player for the Chicago Bears last fall.
While playing in all 16 games and making 14 starts, Smith recorded 121 tackles (eight for a loss) and five sacks. He also had an interception and five pass breakups.
Now, heading into Year 2 in the NFL, Smith will be counted on to be even more important to the defense. Per NBCSports.com, Smith’s new position coach loves the way he plays the game and thinks he can do more in 2019:
“I think there are guys that have a feel, a natural feel. Roquan’s definitely one of those guys,” inside linebackers coach Mark DeLeone said. “He plays very fast. I think he’s unbelievable at seeing it pre-snap, understanding formations, understanding splits, mastering his technique and then playing fast after the ball is snapped.”
The Bears’ defense should be formidable once again in 2019, so if Smith continues to stay healthy, he could be in line for another big year.
Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.
