Bears Camp Update: Stevenson leads at CB2, Bagent impressive in backup QB battle |
Ariana Pensy
· · 4 hours ago
CHICAGO - The Chicago Bears’ first depth chart provided insight into some key position competitions in training camp.
One of those was the No. 2 cornerback position, where Tyrique Stevenson is currently listed ahead of Terell Smith. “I think (Stevenson’s) an awesome person. I think that’s what stands out first and foremost. He’s got quite a personality. He’s good to talk to. I think he works hard. Sometimes he talks a little bit too much and you got to tell him to be a little bit quiet, but he’s a guy that you want on your side. Like I said, he understands this is a big year for him. It really is,” Johnson said. “Going into year three is kind of a make-it or break-it for a lot of guys and he understands that. I think he’s approaching this the right way. The competition that we’ve had in that room has been really good for not only him, but the rest of the guys and I’m excited for the direction he’s headed right now.” Saying this is a big year for him may be an understatement. Stevenson lost the trust of the fanbase last season with his episode against the Washington Commanders that cost Chicago the game. In addition, after this season, he will be on the last year of his rookie contract. This is typically the time players renegotiate their contracts. So, Stevenson has a lot at stake. Another player with a lot at stake is quarterback Tyson Bagent. He is also entering his third year in the league and will become a restricted free agent after this season. Bagent’s success in the NFL is already a unique one. However, he made it clear on Hard Knocks that he wants to be a starting quarterback and that is not something that will happen in Chicago. Based on the depth chart, it appears he has the edge in the backup quarterback competition. “He’s been phenomenal. He’s smart as a whip. Appreciate the seriousness and intent that he brings every time he walks into a room. Meeting room, walkthrough, it doesn’t matter,” Johnson said. “He’s locked in. He’s focused. I think his teammates feel that from him. Love the fact, he’ll throw the ball and he keeps working through his progressions just so it goes home with exactly where everyone’s going to be in case he had to move on. I think he’s taking this seriously. He’s preparing the right way and I couldn’t be more thrilled that he’s here with us.” Since arriving in Chicago, Johnson has preached the value of perfection and building a championship team with the Bears. His intensity and energy is directed at ensuring Chicago executes as much of a perfect operation as possible. That is why knowing the playbook is so crucial in Johnson’s offense, because knowing the plays perfectly leads to playing faster, which in turn leads to being a good team with proper execution. “The good teams, when they have mistakes, their buddies cover it up for them. So, if a lineman happened to do the wrong (thing or) miss a block, then the back is going to make the guy miss and end up still springing a big run or protection breaks down and the quarterback can break the pocket and extend the play and we can still have positive results and so, that’s where you talk about the perfection part of it. I don’t quite see it that way,” Johnson said. “I think we need to complement each other better as a unit right now and so, that’s what we’re learning from and guys are still thinking a lot. They’re not playing maybe as fast as they can and over the course of camp, we’ll see that play speed pick up.”
