When Chicago Bears cornerback Kyler Gordon wrapped up a busy rookie season, one of many first issues he did was kind via his sport movie two or 3 times.
He examined the great performs and unhealthy ones and found out what he wanted to work on as he entered his second offseason program. The time to mirror was precious.
From the second the Bears drafted him within the second spherical final spring, Gordon had rather a lot on his plate. He discovered exterior cornerback and nickel within the Bears protection and began 14 video games, totaling three interceptions and 6 passes defended.
Now, with a yr of expertise and the improved research, he seems like he has a greater understanding of what’s occurring and the place he matches.
“I definitely feel way more comfortable in the situations I get put in,” Gordon stated Wednesday in the course of the second week of organized staff actions at Halas Hall. “I feel like I can be in the same spot I was in last year and have more knowledge in that area and not make the same mistake and set myself up for success.”
The Bears plan to have Gordon deal with taking part in nickel this season whereas getting sufficient reps exterior so he’s prepared if wanted, defensive coordinator Alan Williams stated.
The Bears drafted Miami cornerback Tyrique Stevenson with the No. 56 decide and are having him deal with taking part in exterior as he settles in along with his new staff, presumably competing for a spot reverse Jaylon Johnson. The Bears additionally added fifth-round decide Terell Smith to a gaggle that features Kindle Vildor, Jaylon Jones and Josh Blackwell.
Gordon stated he misses taking part in exterior extra but in addition sees how specializing in nickel can assist him.
“I love corner,” he stated. “But, yeah, it definitely is nice to focus on nickel and take in as much as I can there and perfect that spot.”
In Gordon’s movie research of a typically uneven rookie yr, he noticed communication errors, particularly early within the season, that he might right. And he recognized a basis for enjoying quicker.
“It started becoming easier when I read my keys right and saw the things I was supposed to see,” he stated. “Brought my imaginative and prescient in and targeted on what I used to be purported to see and never attempting to see every little thing.
“Once I did that and I was able to really read what I was supposed to read and not be worried about all this other stuff … I just felt like I got to play faster.”
Williams stated the most important distinction he sees in Gordon this yr is he’s extra relaxed, a product of the yr of expertise.
Gordon stated he felt calmer because the season wore on and he “would just see what I needed to see and not try to make every play and be everywhere.” Now he thinks he can channel his vitality to the best targets, and Williams thinks it exhibits.
“Last year everything was just in a frenzy because he wants to please, he wants to be so good, so it’s just, ‘Ah, ah, ah,’ all the time,” Williams stated. “And now he’s OK. He’s enjoyable. He’s taking part in inside himself. He’s obtained his ft up beneath him. He’s speaking greater than he did.
“We call it the RPMs. His RPMs are not always in the red all the time. So then, if they’re not in the red all the time, he is mentally alert but is physically relaxed in how he’s playing. That doesn’t mean that he’s not going fast and he’s not hustling and running to the ball. It just means that his RPMs aren’t super high.”
Coach Matt Eberflus additionally sees an elevated confidence in Gordon however stated consistency is the subsequent step. The Bears have a brand new cornerbacks coach in Jon Hoke to assist him obtain that.
Hoke turned conversant in Gordon via the draft course of final yr when Hoke was with the Atlanta Falcons and Gordon was popping out of Washington. Hoke known as Gordon versatile, athletic, bodily and instinctive with “a lot of upside” and likewise famous the abilities that make him notably efficient at nickel.
“He’s a good blitzer because he’s physical, understands the timing, understands how to beat a block,” Hoke stated. “In zone coverage, he understands how to route-match based on what he’s got. He understands the concepts that he’s being attacked with. Those things are all pluses with him.”
As Gordon grows much more snug with what he’s being requested to do after his busy rookie yr, he’s excited so as to add extra pluses to his analysis.
“That year is over and I learned what I needed to learn from it,” he stated. “It’s just going to get better and better.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com