All Signs Point to Gervon Dexter Sr. Breakout
The Bears’ defense improved by leaps and bounds once Ryan Poles acquired Montez Sweat in a mid-season trade with the Commanders, but Sweat needs help to get to opposing teams’ quarterbacks. Most fans and analysts expected Chicago to sign a bookend DE during the offseason, but the assistance Sweat needs doesn’t necessarily have to come from the edge. DT Gervon Dexter Sr. could be just what the Bears need.
Sweat said as much earlier this year.
“You’re gonna see man. He’s pretty good,” Sweat said about Dexter. “I feel like he’s still just kind of unlocking himself and being himself. And I think that’s gonna really flourish this year, but he’s a really talented kid. He’s one of those quick [defensive] tackles and [he’s] strong as hell. It’s really a sight to see. But yeah, he’s gonna jump out on the scene for sure.”
Three second-year players that really look good thus far – DT Gervon Dexter, CB Tyrique Stevenson, and WR Tyler Scott. No pads yet, but looks like a sophomore jump may be happening. #DaBears
— Ben Devine (@Chicago_NFL) July 23, 2024
Poles and his staff also have a lot of confidence in Dexter. The GM didn’t pursue defensive line help in free agency after losing Justin Jones and Yannick Ngakoue, and the front office waited until the 4th round to draft Austin Booker. Booker is turning heads in camp, and if he continues, Chicago could have a very formidable pass rush. Sweat will draw double teams, freeing up one of Booker or Dexter to get in opposing teams’ backfields.
It also helps that Chicago is stacked at linebacker and in its defensive backfield. The defense remains a work in progress nonetheless. Still, it’s a good sign that Poles intends to see how things play out before pursuing additional help.
“In the front office, it’s our job to look at every option that’s out there to improve our football team,” Poles said last week at Halas Hall as veterans reported for training camp. “We feel really comfortable with the guys we have on our roster now, and I’m excited, we’re both excited, to see [defensive line coach Travis Smith] and [defensive coordinator Eric Washington] really put their hands on those guys and develop them as we go through the beginning of training camp. But we will always have our eyes on the list of players that we could potentially bring in.”
A dominant pass rush would allow Chicago to be more aggressive with its linebackers and defensive backs. The Bears haven’t been an annual defensive force since Love Smith coached. Matt Eberflus runs a similar scheme, and now he has the right pieces in place. Chicago’s defense should be among the league’s elite.
.@GervonDexter was locked in 🔒 pic.twitter.com/HtXEV3orFK
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) April 12, 2024
That said, the team lacks depth, so expect Poles to make another move or two as players become available. Ngakoue is still a free agent, and the NFL mandatory cut date is about a month away. As for Dexter, he fully understands the significance of his sophomore season. The 6-6, 312-pounder followed a strict offseason regimen that included running on hills, doing Pilates, and changing his eating habits. As a result, he reduced his body fat and added lean muscle mass.
Few can motivate teammates the way Sweat did, and his evaluation of Dexter certainly proved to be a motivating factor. His increased strength and quickness have been evident in practices, and he’s made his presence felt inside, batting down passes and getting into the backfield. The team will go to full pads on Friday, and that will give the staff a chance to see how much Dexter has improved.
Dexter said he watches everything [Sweat] does.
“Coming in early, hot tub, cold tub, all of those little things that he does. If I see him doing something, I’m going to do the same thing because he’s having the success that I want.”
Poles is willing to see if Dexter can provide the consistent push the defense needs to be dominant. Getting to the quarterback is all that matters. Where the pass rush comes from is less significant.
“I don’t really see it as a defensive end problem,” Poles said. “Our mindset’s always, how can we make a position group the best we can possibly make it and as deep as we possibly can make it. So it’s, like I said, just really leaning on Travis and Eric to continue to develop the players that we have in and see, especially when we get pads on, see how they do. We saw some really encouraging things during OTAs. But we all know this game is played in full pads, so we want to see that process through.”
Dexter is more familiar with Chicago’s defense now that he has a full year under his belt. He had to learn to play in a one-gap scheme after playing in a two-gap alignment at Florida.
“Words can’t describe it,” he said. “My body type, my style of play was a penetrator, disruptor. I was in a defense that I couldn’t do that. I kind of had chains on. Now they’re off.”
Poles has to consider the offseason a success if he is merely looking for depth pieces now that camp has opened. That hasn’t been the case in previous summers. The executive traded away Khalil Mack almost as soon as he arrived, and then jettisoned Roquan Smith and Robert Quinn a few months later. This unit is younger, faster, and leaner but other than Sweat, it lacks experience. That’s what the waiver wire is for.
Re-signing Ngakoue would also make a lot of sense for the Bears. The veteran will undoubtedly be a value signing this late into the offseason. Ngakoue knows Chicago’s system, doesn’t have to be an every-down player, and can help mentor Booker. The Bears’ athletic staff has been involved in his rehab. Most of all, Pole knows exactly what to expect from Ngakoue.
“Evaluation-wise, I think once we got Montez, you saw the sack rate go up for really everybody,” Poles said of Ngakoue’s impact last season. “So I think it enhanced everyone. But I really enjoyed our time with him. I thought he did a nice job. Brought some leadership. So it was positive.”
Still, a lot hinges on the potential of Dexter. If he makes the leap the staff expects him to, Chicago’s ascending defense should be one of the best in the league.
