With Super Bowl expectations heavy on their minds, the Chicago Bears will begin preparations in earnest for the 2019 season this week when they report to Bourbonnais for training camp.
As the team arrives in the Chicago suburb, we’re taking a look at 10 of the players that will have the biggest impact on the Bears’ fortunes in the coming year, and today we’re focusing on cornerback Kyle Fuller.
How 2018 Went for Fuller:
After having a contract offer from the Green Bay Packers matched by the Bears prior to last season, Fuller went on to have his best year ever, intercepting seven passes, defending a total of 21 balls thrown his way, and registering 55 combined tackles as he started all 16 games for the team.
For the first time in his career, Fuller was not only a Pro Bowler but also an All-Pro at the cornerback position, solidifying himself as one of the top up-and-coming corners in the game.
The Biggest Question He’ll Face:
The Bears have invested a lot of time and now money into Fuller’s development, and a big part of the reason for his success was his work with former defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.
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With Fangio now gone for the head coaching job with the Denver Broncos, it will be fascinating to see this season whether Fuller can continue the progress that he displayed during his fifth season with the Bears, where he was strong fundamentally in the coverage game and became a tremendous ballhawk in a defense that encouraged turnovers.
Our Prediction:
While it seems unlikely that Fuller will register seven interceptions again, there is little reason to think that he will have a big-time regression season in this Bears’ defense. With players like Eddie Jackson and Prince Amukamara helping out in coverage, the Bears’ secondary is a tough group, and will give the pass rushers plenty of time to get to opposing quarterbacks in the coming year.
While we’re projecting a slight dip in his interception rate, Fuller’s coverage skills will get more attention in 2019 as he enters the second year of his contract.
