Gervon Dexter's Former Coach Reveals A Secret Bears Fans Will Love

Chicago Bears fans weren't sure what to make of Gervon Dexter when the team drafted him 53rd overall in the 2nd round. He wasn't one of the more popular names among defensive tackles in the 2023 class. That likely had much to do with his minimal sack production at Florida. However, GM Ryan Poles stated that the team loved his immense athletic upside and firmly established running defender ability. It made some degree of sense. The Bears' defense was awful against the run last season. He could help with that.

Shortly after the draft, two prominent draft analysts, Greg Cosell and Dane Brugler, came out around the same time and said something noteworthy. While it didn't always appear, there were instances on ta[e where Dexter looked exactly like Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro Chris Jones. Hearing it from one person can be called interesting. From two, it's notable. Once it comes from a third source, that is when you have to stop and take notice. It is especially true since Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune got it from David Turner, Dexter's former defensive line coach.

And also Jones' former defensive line coach.

"Gervon was a big, athletic kid and you saw a whole lot of potential. He wasn’t a whole lot different from Chris Jones. I had him at Mississippi State. Really very similar. Chris didn’t play football until his junior year (of high school) and thought he was a basketball player. So there were a lot of similarities. Gervon is a kid that wanted to be coached. He’s a great kid: “Yes, sir. No, sir.” I was excited to have a chance to work with him. The good thing about it, there were not a whole lot of bad habits he had to break. You just had to coach him up. He wanted to be great and it was a natural progression."

Turner was quick to point out the two had their differences. Jones was slightly more fluid as an athlete. Dexter has all the tools, but he lacks one critical trait. Patience.

"They’re alike in terms of size, but they’re a little bit different guys, little bit different skill sets. But there are some similarities. Chris was probably a little bit more fluid athlete than G. Both of them have natural strength. Both of them wanted to learn, wanted to be great. The biggest problem with G is he wanted to be great right now. He had to understand there is a process to this. Being new to it, he was learning everything for the first time. It’s hard when you’re gifted with size and strength to comprehend things are going to take time to be where you want to be."

Gervon Dexter has to trust the process.

That is what Turner is saying. He has more than enough talent to be successful in the NFL. It comes down to whether he embraces the step-by-step approach to becoming great. People forget Jones wasn't a superstar in college. There were flashes of brilliance, but his sack production was low too. It wasn't until his second season in 2017 that people began to see the monster he would become. Dexter can get there. He must accept help from Matt Eberflus and his coaching staff to guide the way.

Remember, this head coach worked with DeForest Buckner. He knows how the great ones operate to reach their full potential. He will relay those lessons to Gervon Dexter. From there, it falls on the young defensive tackle to do the work. The player must take control of his own destiny. That is what the great ones do. Dexter claims he wants to be great. Sacrifices will be required to get there. If he does, the Bears' defense found an anchor for the next ten years.