The Bears will not wear pads in practice for some time, but second-year defensive tackle Gervon Dexter has already shown improvement. In fact, head coach Matt Eberflus saw a shift before the players even took the practice field.
“I noticed the body composition first,” Eberflus said on Thursday, as the club finished its first round of OTAs. “It was quite good. He transformed his body throughout his absence, and he is now lot leaner and faster.”
There isn’t much to evaluate in the trenches when players are practicing in shorts, but Eberflus did remark Dexter’s get off at the snap improved. Dexter’s ability to react quickly off the snap–or lack thereof–was one of the most criticized aspects of his game at this point last year. One major reason for this is that Dexter was required to read and react to the offensive line in college, whereas the Bears want him to attack a single gap immediately.
“That was one thing he had to work on and then pad level, because he’s such a big guy, tall guy,” stated Eberflus. “And he has worked on those things. But his movement and athletic abilities have improved since he worked hard on his body.”
Eric Washington, the new Bears defensive coordinator, has not seen Dexter work with pads on in person, but he may see changes after reviewing his 2023 footage.
“Just watching the footwork,” Washington remarked. “Some of those minor but extremely crucial details with him. “Watching his stance and pad level.”
Washington also commended Dexter’s ability to absorb information at this point in the summer, mentioning his “growing confidence” as he transitions from Year One to Year Two.
“He is assertive. He believes he belongs in the lineup and can contribute significantly.”
The Bears will need Dexter to play a significant role because former starting three-tech Justin Jones left in free agency and the Bears have yet to replace him. GM Ryan Poles signed Byron Cowart in the offseason, but he is not anticipated to play starter snaps. That leaves Dexter as the expected starter this season.
Dexter had a poor start to his first season, but improved significantly as the season continued. As a result, he saw more playing time in the second half. In the first nine games, Dexter averaged 23.5 snaps per game. This increased to 27.5 snaps during the last eight games.
His productivity also rose. Dexter has no sacks, nine tackles, and three quarterback hits from Weeks 1 to 9. However, from Week 10 on, he had 2.5 sacks, 11 tackles, and nine quarterback hits.
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