Chicago Bears: Danny Trevathan an important key for 2018 defense
With the Chicago Bears depending on young linebackers, having a healthy Danny Trevathan is important for the defense to get even better.
With the 8th pick of the 2018 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears selected linebacker Roquan Smith. Also in the draft, they selected Joel Iyiegbuniwe and Kylie Fitts who could see some significant time as linebackers. They also have Leonard Floyd and Aaron Lynch on the outside.
With all these new and young players infused into the defense, there is a player on the linebacker corps who is crucial for the continued success: Danny Trevathan.
Trevathan can help the players learn the system quickly. Also, he can mentor the young ones, showing them what is expected of them on the next level. He’s already been helping Floyd. This is why it is important to have a healthy Trevathan.
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Trevathan is the elder statesman of the defense. The younger players look up to him. He’s had success in the NFL and is the player they want to become.
Take Smith, for example. There are high hopes weighing down on his shoulders. If Trevathan takes him under his wing Smith can prosper. That, in turn, helps the defense. Smith has the ability to be another in the long line of great Chicago Bears linebackers, but we all know it’s more than just talent alone. There are plenty of stories about talented players who never made it. Trevathan can help Smith navigate the waters and break through.
When Trevathan is in there, things seem to be more stable. In 2017, the defense allowed 307 yards per game when he played. When he didn’t, that number jumped to 353.7 per game. Additionally, they allowed 18.25 points per game when he played, but 25.25 when he didn’t.
In 2016, the Bears allowed 24.3 points per game and 340.5 yards per game when Trevathan played. When he didn’t, those numbers went up to 25.7 and 354.7 when he didn’t play. It’s important to note that last season, all five victories the Bears had in 2017 came with Trevathan on the field (5-7 record).
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Hopefully, Trevathan stays healthy in 2018. With him playing a higher number of snaps, the Chicago Bears defense can rise even more. He’ll settle things down and help the defense go from a top-ten defense to one in the top five.