Draft evaluators put Gervon Dexter in an instant box. They felt he was a big, strong guy that would be a good run defender in the NFL. He wasn't worth much beyond that. The Chicago Bears didn't see it that way. They saw the size and strength but also some freakish athleticism that went largely untapped in Florida's defensive scheme. Well-respected tape analysts admitted he flashed glimpses of Kansas City Chiefs superstar Chris Jones. Hearing that made it easier to understand the Bears' interest.
Training camp hasn't even arrived yet, and people have started to notice Dexter more and more. He's making plays in the backfield, showing off tweaked mechanics that make him more menacing as an interior pass rusher. Veteran teammate Justin Jones admitted he hasn't seen anything quite like it.
"He’s going to be a force in this league. I really do believe that. I haven’t seen anything like him in a very long time, and I don’t want to put anything in a box with him but the closest person I can see him as is like a leaner Linval Joseph. Just the fact that he’s a big, strong guy who can move. If you’ve ever seen him run in a straight line, and just like run, I’m pretty sure he’s probably beating a lot of people on our team. That’ll surprise you."
Big guys with strength are one thing.
Big guys with strength who can also run really fast are terrifying. Head coach Matt Eberflus took it a step further. Of all the positive traits Dexter has, there was one that stood out the most in practice.
"What I like most about him is his hustle. Man he hustles. He’s got his track shoes on and he is running out there, which is great to see from a guy who is [6-foot-6, 313 pounds]."
Gervon Dexter is eager to show how wrong people are about him.
While he didn't throw anybody under the bus, he explained that his lacking production in college was partly due to how he was used. Florida employed him in a two-gap system. That meant his primary responsibility was to read and react to what the offensive line did. It didn't let him attack up the field too often. That will change in Chicago. They run a one-gap system where the defensive tackles are allowed to shoot up the field more often. Eberflus has worked to elongate his stride and improve his lower body flexibility.
Results are already showing up. It will be interesting to see if Gervon Dexter can carry that early success into training camp when the pads go on. Offensive linemen will be allowed to get more physical with him. That is often the true test of where a defensive tackle is at. If things persist, the Bears may have found the disruptor this defense needs to reach the next level. Dexter has the ability to be almost anything he wants. If his work ethic matches that, there is nobody that can stop him.
