Rookies on the Rise: Hyppolite II & Benedet making strides for Bears

Ariana Pensy · Correspondent · 6 hours ago

CHICAGO - Transitioning from college to the NFL is hard enough, but it is even more difficult when you have to learn a complicated defensive scheme like the one defensive coordinator Dennis Allen has implemented with the Chicago Bears.

Nonetheless, rookie linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II has been working hard since being drafted by Chicago in the fourth round of the NFL Draft back in April.

According to Hyppolite II, the hardest part has been ensuring everything is perfectly executed as the margin for error is much smaller in the NFL.

“Every step matters. You have to be efficient, even more efficient than college. One wrong step and you’ll be out-leveraged or out of a gap or whatever the case may be,” Hyppolite II said. “So, the efficiency is on an even higher level because in college, I could take a wrong step and still make a play and be in position. But, at this level, you have to be on time with everything.”

In Chicago’s first preseason game against the Miami Dolphins, Hyppolite II felt he underperformed, particularly on special teams.

Against Buffalo, he made that right by being more physical and getting to the ball faster.

“Just made more plays (and) was more of a factor, just being more physical, setting the tone, just being around the ball more, just those things,” Hyppolite II said. “I just felt like I underperformed when we played Miami. So, I just wanted to come out against Buffalo and change that. So, I feel like I did that.”

Now, he will have the opportunity to play MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes II when the Bears take on the Kansas City Chiefs on Fri. Aug. 22 (7:20 p.m. / FOX) as the Chiefs will be playing their starters, at least at the beginning of the game.

“Obviously, it’s a great opportunity for me as a rookie playing against starting guys (for) however long they play. But, just another football game,” Hyppolite II said. “So, just looking forward to the opportunity and looking forward to taking advantage of that.”

Another player who will be looking to take advantage of all of his preseason snaps is offensive lineman Theo Benedet. Although this is technically his second season in the NFL, Benedet is essentially a rookie after he suffered a hamstring injury during training camp last year, which caused him to miss a significant amount of time and ultimately resulted in him not playing in a regular-season game.

When Chicago took on the Buffalo Bills in their final home preseason game this year, Benedet got some playing time with the starters as well as the second string.

His getting some first-team reps in that game shows Benedet is in the race to become Chicago’s starting left tackle this season.

“I think I’ve known since the start of camp that I had a shot at (the starting left tackle spot). I took their word for it when they said that to the group that that job was to be won and then when we got out to practice, obviously, they just kind of go through the group things and they told me that I’d be taking snaps both with the ones and the twos that day. So, it just kind of happened naturally,” Benedet said. “I think I’ve improved for sure. I think the Miami game, there was times when I felt like I was getting my feet under me for a little bit for a first game and I think the Buffalo game was a little bit more solid, cleaner. Definitely a couple plays I want back. So, I think I’ve put myself in contention for sure.”

One thing Benedet has this year that was sorely lacking on Chicago’s offensive line last season is talented and experienced players to learn from. During the offseason, the Bears traded for two-time All-Pro left guard Joe Thuney, who is now going into his tenth season in the NFL.

Even though the season has not started yet, Benedet has already learned a lot from Thuney.

“Joe is just such a great leader in our room. Obviously, he’s seen so much in his career. Technically, there’s a ton of stuff he’s taught me. He does some really unique stuff with his hands I think, which doesn’t always translate to tackle,” Benedet said. “But, certainly in terms of learning about how you use leverage, it has helped and then just as a leader, he does a great job, I think, when guys are down on themselves or maybe had a bad rep, helping them get their chin back up, helping them get back into things and probably the perspective of playing 10 years helps you do that.”