Matt Eberflus Impressed by These DBs at Scouting Combine
Matt Eberflus, an experienced football coach with a successful track record, believes that a specific type of athlete is needed for NFL success: someone who is athletic, long, and physical. He looks for these qualities in players at the scouting combine, where the best prospects in every draft come to be tested. On March 3rd, the defensive back group had their day, and some impressive feats were accomplished.
The question that arises is, which of these prospects meets the Eberflus prototype? By analyzing data from every defensive back that was drafted during his time as a defensive coordinator in Indianapolis through his first year in Chicago, a few trends emerged. The player must have a 40-yard dash time in the low 4.5s or faster and demonstrate lower body explosion with a vertical leap of at least 39.5 inches and a broad jump of 10 feet flat (120 inches).
This year, five prospects checked those boxes for the Chicago Bears: Darrell Luter Jr. (CB, South Alabama), Jakorian Bennett (CB, Maryland), Christian Gonzalez (CB, Oregon), Julius Brents (CB, Kansas State), and Deonte Banks (CB, Maryland).
Luter had impressive stats with five interceptions and 17 passes defended in two seasons, but there are concerns about his ability to read and react in zone coverage. Bennett is an athletic freak but had difficulty creating turnovers and struggled with penalties. Banks, Bennett's teammate, is a better athlete and can blanket almost anyone despite not being known for takeaways. Brents is the pre-draft star this year, showcasing his length and physicality at the Senior Bowl, and now his athleticism at the combine. Gonzalez may be the best of the bunch, drawing comparisons to Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and likely to be a first-round pick.
Eberflus knows the qualities he's looking for in players, and it's up to the Chicago Bears to decide which prospects best fit that prototype.
| POLL | ||
4 MARS | 62 ANSWERS Matt Eberflus Impressed by These DBs at Scouting Combine Should defensive back be a priority for the Bears this off-season? | ||
| Yes | 27 | 43.5 % |
| No | 35 | 56.5 % |
| List of polls | ||
