Gervon Dexter Seems to Be Taking a Massive Leap in Year Two
Gervon Dexter Sr. was a player the Bears were counting on to leap in year two, as they desperately needed someone on the defensive line to step up alongside Montez Sweat.
The University of Florida product seems to be coming through in a big way, as he already has three sacks through the first quarter of the year.
He has also been solid against the run and has already made several splash plays there throughout the early portion of the season.
Bears fans were upset when the team passed on Jalen Carter with the ninth pick last year. I wasn’t thrilled with the decision, but I understood the logic considering the necessity to improve the offensive line (sounds familiar, eh?) and the fact that there would be a massive drop-off at tackle in the second round. Meanwhile, I thought the depth was better at defensive tackle, and the Bears brass clearly agreed, as they grabbed Dexter with the 53rd pick and double-dipped by selecting Zacch Pickens with the 64th pick.
PHOTO: Troy Taormina/Imagn Images
Dexter’s talent was never questioned coming out of college. In fact, he often received comparisons to Chris Jones and was projected to be a first-round pick throughout much of the college football season before losing some ground during draft season. Besides the fact that he was seen as an extremely raw player, his dip in the rankings was at least partially due to a concerning (and honestly.. weird) weakness on tape: He was extremely slow off the line. Despite his athletic ability being one of his biggest calling cards, his slow get-off routinely put him at a disadvantage against opposing blockers.
While Dexter also struggled to get off the line consistently last season, that was to be expected for the rook. He still had an overall positive rookie season and was on an absolute tear down the stretch following the addition of Montez Sweat to the defense. The big man may have only finished the year with 2.5 sacks, but he also had an impressive 29 pressures.
So far this year, he seems to have eliminated the biggest weakness from his game, which has drastically helped him finish as a pass rusher. He has three sacks and nine QB pressures through the first four weeks, and those pressures have already resulted in seven QB hits. He also ranks sixth in the league in pass rush win rate amongst defensive tackles. Sacks are flashy, but his ability to quickly get into the face of opposing passers is arguably just as important. He has been able to impact the game well beyond the stat sheet massively.
While the Bears’ defense struggled to stop the run against the Titans and Colts, Dexter more than held his own in both of those games.
Many of their chunk gains came on outside runs, away from the quality run-stopping duo of Dexter and Andrew Billings in the middle.
His ability to stop the run has always been a strength of his game, and he should only get better in that regard as he gains more experience.
Matt Eberflus’ defense always needed a quality three-technique to maximize their potential, and Dexter appears to be filling that void. Speaking of Eberflus, he deserves credit for how well the defense has performed through the first four games. He has been able to get the most out of virtually everyone on the defensive side of the ball, and that is most evident with Chicago’s unheralded defensive line.
Many were worried about the Bears’ defensive line entering the year, but those concerns have since become illegitimate based on how they have played in each game this year. Dexter may have started strong, but the finish line is a long way away. He will have to keep his quick start going if he wants to become a household name by the end of the year.
Call me crazy, but I think he will get there.
PHOTO: Troy Taormina/Imagn Images
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Categorized:Bears