Someone in the Bears org made sure this got out before camp starts

Pro Football Rumors

Bears CBs Tyrique Stevenson, Malik Muhammad Competing For...

Tyrique Stevenson is set to compete for a starting cornerback spot with Malik Muhammad during the Bears' training camp.

Good, lights a fire under Stephenson's butt, and motivates Muhammad that he can go as far as his performance takes him.

This is great coaching all the way around.

Stevenson is going into Year 4, I don't know how much more he can improve from here on out. Typically, a player is who he is at this point. Only 1 INT last year, when the Bears led the league in takeaways, is not a good look. Outside of the forced fumble, which was a big play, there was very little from him last year.

The only thing that may make him improve is that he is in a contract year.

44 minutes ago, adam said:

Stevenson is going into Year 4, I don't know how much more he can improve from here on out. Typically, a player is who he is at this point. Only 1 INT last year, when the Bears led the league in takeaways, is not a good look. Outside of the forced fumble, which was a big play, there was very little from him last year.

The only thing that may make him improve is that he is in a contract year.

I'm happy we are in a position to move on from his "potential" with players who are more reliable. I hope he has a killer year, and the Bears use his "contract year" success to get a better return when we trade him. Saying that he will probably have another year of mixed-bag production and be cut without getting any return on investment.

2 hours ago, Pixote said:

I'm happy we are in a position to move on from his "potential" with players who are more reliable. I hope he has a killer year, and the Bears use his "contract year" success to get a better return when we trade him. Saying that he will probably have another year of mixed-bag production and be cut without getting any return on investment.

If they trade him, it would have to be in-season. If they don't extend him, which is unlikely, then I assume he becomes a free agent and hopefully a comp pick for the Bears in the future.

The Bears are trying to maximize this team. Stevenson in a contract year is a good scenario. It would be great if the rookie excels but he is still a rookie, and Dillion will be starting so is having two rookies starting in the back of the defense a good idea? If Terrell Smith can stay healthy, he could be in the mix. I think having the competition will be a great motivation . In trying to be on a SB run, I think they keep depth than choose to trade players. Injuries happens every year, so what's wrong with having quality depth.

We are a week away from real football, I cant wait.

2 hours ago, Stinger226 said:

The Bears are trying to maximize this team. Stevenson in a contract year is a good scenario. It would be great if the rookie excels but he is still a rookie, and Dillion will be starting so is having two rookies starting in the back of the defense a good idea? If Terrell Smith can stay healthy, he could be in the mix. I think having the competition will be a great motivation . In trying to be on a SB run, I think they keep depth than choose to trade players. Injuries happens every year, so what's wrong with having quality depth.

We are a week away from real football, I cant wait.

If the rookies are better players put then on the field. Stevenson did nothing last year to earn anyone’s trust just because he’s a vet. If we make it to the playoffs again those rookies will then have a full season of experience.

5 hours ago, AZ54 said:

If the rookies are better players put then on the field. Stevenson did nothing last year to earn anyone’s trust just because he’s a vet. If we make it to the playoffs again those rookies will then have a full season of experience.

yes, increasingly the NFL is a "right now" league. players get injured, fall off, poached in free agency etc. No player is fully ready when they are called on at first. You have to let your players grow.

And we see this every year even with the Bears, even under bad coaches. And especially in the secondary. Rookies play.

I think when people try to look at attributes and stats, "rookie" "bad in the pocket" "runs a 4.3 forty" etc, it brings them to make the wrong decisions on whats going to happen. Johnson wont have that problem of course, so it's just noise.

All this to say, I fully agree with you, the best player will play regardless of any other facts about them.

5 hours ago, BearFan PHX said:

yes, increasingly the NFL is a "right now" league. players get injured, fall off, poached in free agency etc. No player is fully ready when they are called on at first. You have to let your players grow.

And we see this every year even with the Bears, even under bad coaches. And especially in the secondary. Rookies play.

I think when people try to look at attributes and stats, "rookie" "bad in the pocket" "runs a 4.3 forty" etc, it brings them to make the wrong decisions on whats going to happen. Johnson wont have that problem of course, so it's just noise.

All this to say, I fully agree with you, the best player will play regardless of any other facts about them.

Yup!

I agree with you guys. I could never understand a coach who refuses to play a rookie just because he might make "rookie mistakes."

As an example, I'd prefer to have a rookie with the potential to be great as my starter, making a few mistakes as expected, over a veteran who makes stupid mistakes (like not paying attention and allowing a Hail Mary completion by Jayden Daniels).