Jarrett calls Joe Thuney the ultimate practice test

Ariana Pensy · Correspondent · 7 hours ago

CHICAGO - In his over 10 years in the NFL, defensive lineman Grady Jarrett has participated in a lot of joint practices.

However, Friday’s joint practice with the Miami Dolphins was his first since joining the Chicago Bears. From his years in the NFL, Jarrett sees a lot of value in these joint practices.

“What I like about joint practices is having the opportunity to compete against somebody else. As you can see when we get a real chippy practice like we had the other day, we can be tired of seeing each other for a little while. So, you get to beat up on somebody else and just see where you stand and it’s really not that much game planning that goes into a joint practice,” Jarrett said. “So, it’s really fundamentals on other fundamentals, but with people you’re unfamiliar with. So, it gets you going and it also gives players more opportunities to show what they can do, especially with one less preseason game to help younger players be able to show what they can do against other competition and guys like myself always striving to get better, to see how we stack up against somebody else. So, it’s fun.”

His years of experience also mean he has approached the preseason in different ways. There are some seasons he has played in the preseason and others he has not.

While he is not sure how often he will play in the preseason this season or if he will at all, Jarrett is prepared for whatever the coaching staff decides.

“However it got to go, I’m always ready. I’ve been a part of it where I haven’t participated. I’ve been a part of it when I have. However the coach (wants) to do it, I’m down to do it,” Jarrett said. My thought is, whenever you get the opportunity to play football, it’s a blessing. So, whenever you step on that field, you never know it’s going to be your last. You got to put your best foot forward everyday and I’m (just) the type to go with how I go and I’m going to do my best.”

By playing on the defensive line, Jarrett also gets the opportunity to see how the offensive line is growing. There are a lot of new pieces. Chicago has a new center, two new guards and possibly a new left tackle depending on who wins the battle for that position.

Nonetheless, Jarrett has seen progress from the line in how they are working together.

“I think the guys (are) gelling together pretty well. They actually do a lot and (are) really presenting us a lot of challenges as a defense. But, when you got guys that are top of the game by (individually), you put them together, it takes a while to gel it up and put everybody to fill certain roles to where it could be the most optimal,” Jarrett said. “But, I think they’re getting better every practice and I think it’s helping us as a defense and us being violent and hustle to the ball and trying to strike the line of scrimmage is helping them as well. So, it just works together. But, just like anything, it’s going to take work because they ain’t all been perfect with us either. So, (their) mistakes can be a little more loud when some of the things we may mess up on, you might not see … Trust both sides are working diligently each week to get better and get this thing rolling the right way.”

While the Bears acquired multiple talented offensive linemen this offseason, guard Joe Thuney is someone who really sticks out. He is a four-time Super Bowl champion who has been to three Pro Bowls and has been selected as a first-team All-Pro twice and as a second-team All-Pro twice.

Jarrett gets to face off against Thuney all the time in practice and believes this helps make him a better player.

“I couldn’t be in a better position right now working against a Hall of Fame guard every week whether it’s in the pass rush, run game. Thuney’s somebody I played against a lot of times. So, the respect that I have for him as a competitor is through the roof. But, the best gift that I can have since probably joining this team is probably being able to have the opportunity to work against Joe Thuney everyday. It gives me extreme confidence going against both our guards to whenever the time to go against another opponent and be fully ready, (I’m) not going to see much of a bigger challenge than I got to face everyday and that’s definitely a credit to our interior three. They work really, really well together and they’re getting better every week (and) also with Thuney putting in the work everyday, it shows the younger guys (and) younger players that you never have to figure it out.

"Him showing up to work everyday, bringing it everyday, set the tempo for (not) only the offensive line, but for the whole team and that’s something that I pick up off too. So, him just being here elevates us (in) every way. So, I definitely couldn’t be more grateful to have somebody (like him) to go against everyday.”