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Tag: Tyrique
Bears Urged to Bench Tyrique Stevenson for Terell Smith
GettyTerell Smith of the Chicago Bears intercepts a pass.
With three games left in what can only be described as a colossal disappointment of a season, the Chicago Bears have endless questions to answer.
One of them is whether they should continue to give second year cornerback Tyrique Stevenson playing time.
Stevenson’s season has been full of learning experiences, to be sure, but the second-year DB hasn’t seemed to have matured much as the year has progressed. Bleacher Report’s Matt Holder compiled a list of every move each NFC squad should make right now, and for the Bears, he believes they should start Terrell Smith over Stevenson.
“Tyrique Stevenson has had a disappointing season and recently began splitting reps with fellow 2023 draftee Terell Smith, who has taken advantage of the opportunities,” Holder wrote on December 17.
“Heading into this weekend, the fifth-round pick had just a 66.7 passer rating when targeted and earned a 79.8 grade from Pro Football Focus in 2024,” Holder added. “With the Bears playing for the future over the next several weeks, it’s time to see what Smith can do in the CB2 role full-time.”
There’s a Compelling Case to Be Made for Benching Tyrique Stevenson & Starting Terell Smith
Benching Stevenson, a 2023 second-round pick, in favor of Smith, a 2023 fifth-rounder out of the University of Minnesota, might raise a few eyebrows. But Smith has done relatively well in limited opportunities, and could benefit from increased playing time.
Smith has played just 27% of Chicago’s defensive snaps this season after playing 50% of them last year, largely because he missed time earlier in the season with a hip injury.
So far this season, Smith has 16 total tackles and three passes defensed, also snagging the first interception of his career Week 11 against the rival Green Bay Packers. Considering Stevenson’s recent struggles coupled with his issues earlier in the season, it’s fair to wonder what starting Smith would look like.
According to PFF, Stevenson has a coverage grade of 57.4, whereas Smith’s is better at 72.9. Stevenson has also given up for touchdowns in coverage, while Smith has yet to give up a score. Chicago might benefit from seeing more of what Smith can do with increased opportunities.
Tyrique Stevenson Had Lapses vs. 49ers, Vikings
Stevenson’s issues this season — from the Fail Mary to his $19,697 fine for unsportsmanlike conduct after he tripped Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams — have raised legit concerns about his discipline and decision-making. So has his play art times.
Early in Chicago’s Week 14 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, Stevenson was involved in a critical defensive lapse, losing coverage on wide receiver Jauan Jennings, which resulted in a 7-yard touchdown pass that set the tone for the 49ers’ offense.
This misstep was part of a broader defensive struggle, as the Bears allowed multiple big plays, contributing to a 38-13 defeat.
A week later, on the road against the Minnesota Vikings, Stevenson hauled in his second interception of the year. The Bears were down 10-0 at the time, and he proceeded to mock the home crowd after the pick. Chicago lost, 30-12, with Stevenson also getting flagged for pass interference later in the game.
The Bears’ coaching staff now faces some huge decisions on how to address Stevenson’s maturity issues, and with Smith currently available, the writing may already be on the wall. We’ll see how it goes over the next three weeks.
In a shocking turn of events, fans and analysts are calling for the Chicago Bears to bench star cornerback Tyrique Stevenson in favor of Terell Smith. Stevenson, who has been a key player for the Bears defense, has been struggling in recent games, allowing big plays and missing crucial tackles.On the other hand, Smith has been patiently waiting for his chance to shine and has been impressing coaches with his performance in practice. Fans believe that Smith’s speed, agility, and coverage skills could provide a much-needed boost to the Bears’ struggling defense.
While benching Stevenson may be a tough decision, it could be the shake-up that the team needs to turn their season around. With playoff hopes hanging in the balance, the Bears may have to make some bold moves in order to salvage their season.
Will the Bears take the risk and bench Stevenson in favor of Smith? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure – fans are eager to see a change in the lineup. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
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Bears Should Start Terrell Smith Over Struggling Tyrique Stevenson
The Chicago Bears are at a crossroads as their disappointing season winds down, leading to discussions about benching second-year cornerback Tyrique Stevenson. With three games left, analysts suggest starting fifth-round pick Terrell Smith instead, following Smith’s impressive play in limited opportunities. Stevenson, a second-round selection, has struggled this season, displaying inconsistent performance and decision-making, while Smith has posted better stats and showed potential as the future CB2.
By the Numbers
- Tyrique Stevenson has a coverage grade of 57.4; Terrell Smith has a grade of 72.9.
- Stevenson has allowed four touchdowns in coverage, while Smith has yet to allow a score.
- Smith has played 27% of defensive snaps this season, compared to 50% last season.
Yes, But
Despite the push for change, some may argue that Stevenson, as a high draft pick, deserves more time to develop and learn from his mistakes, given the investment made in him. Additionally, changing starters could disrupt team chemistry as they seek to finish strong this season.
State of Play
- The Bears’ defense has struggled, allowing big plays and suffering recent losses, including a 38-13 defeat to the 49ers.
- Stevenson has faced criticism for both on-field performance and disciplinary issues throughout the season.
What’s Next
If Terrell Smith is given a full-time starting position, it may showcase his potential and signal a shift in the Bears’ strategy toward evaluating younger talent as they aim for future improvement.
Bottom Line
As the Bears look to the future, prioritizing player development may necessitate starting Terrell Smith over Tyrique Stevenson, who has not performed up to expectations. This decision could provide insights into the team’s potential defensive lineup going forward.
The Chicago Bears are facing a tough decision at the cornerback position as Tyrique Stevenson continues to struggle on the field. With his performance declining week after week, it may be time for the Bears to make a change and start Terrell Smith in his place.Smith has shown flashes of potential in limited playing time this season, and his aggressive style of play could provide a much-needed spark for the struggling Bears defense. With Stevenson’s confidence clearly shaken and his performance suffering as a result, it may be in the team’s best interest to give Smith a shot as the starter.
While it’s never easy to bench a player who has been a key part of the team’s defense, sometimes tough decisions need to be made in order to give the team the best chance to win. With the Bears in desperate need of a turnaround, starting Terrell Smith over Tyrique Stevenson could be the move that helps get them back on track.
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Bears are giving CB Tyrique Stevenson opportunity to prove he’s worth the trouble next year
The Bears never really benched cornerback Tyrique Stevenson after his ‘‘Fail Mary’’ gaffe against the Commanders, but they turned him into a platoon player.
Stevenson didn’t start the next game against the Cardinals but wound up playing 79% of the Bears’ defensive snaps because fellow cornerback Terell Smith got hurt. He then shared time with Smith in the next five games, playing 58%, 59%, 35%, 60% and 48% of the snaps.
That arrangement appeared to end last week. Stevenson played 77% of the Bears’ defensive snaps against the Vikings. On Sunday against the Lions, he played every down for the first time since Week 5.
The Bears are giving Stevenson every chance to atone for his Week 7 mistake — or are showcasing him to potential trade partners this offseason. If he can’t prove to the Bears he’s worth the trouble, a trade seems likely.
Either way, they need Stevenson to play better. He intercepted a pass against the Vikings but was complicit in the Bears allowing an 82-yard touchdown pass Sunday, the longest they have allowed this season and the longest of Lions quarterback Jared Goff’s career.
On Monday, interim coach Thomas Brown blamed ‘‘poor eyes’’ by Stevenson and safety Jonathan Owens for the coverage error that gave the Lions a 20-0 lead in the second quarter of a game they eventually would win 34-17.
Stevenson ran with speedy wide receiver Jameson Williams but expected help over the top from Owens. But Williams zoomed past Owens — whom Williams and Brown described as being flat-footed because of the play-fake — and already was behind him when he caught the pass.
Stevenson said he needed to communicate with Owens better during the play-action touchdown.
‘‘Gotta realize that he’s pushing down the field,’’ Stevenson told the Sun-Times on Monday. ‘‘Could do a better job at making sure I stay on top of him, looking at him, and give my safety a heads-up call that the post is actually moving toward him. But definitely gotta keep my eyes in the right place and realize that he’s running faster than you expect.’’
Even if Owens was probably more to blame, it was another head-scratching play from Stevenson in a season full of them. He disputed the notion of a rivalry with Williams, who flipped the ball at him on Thanksgiving Day in Detroit after Stevenson tripped him on the sideline. Williams was flagged, and Stevenson was fined almost $20,000.
‘‘They’re all regular receivers, just like I’m a regular CB to them,’’ he said. ‘‘They don’t feel like I’m special, and I don’t feel like I’m special. They line up and run routes just like any other receiver in the league. The name don’t mean nothing. You just have to come out and show who you are.’’
Stevenson famously allowed the man he was supposed to cover to catch a Hail Mary pass as time expired in the Commanders’ victory Oct. 27. The Bears haven’t won since.
‘‘We still want to end the season with a win because we’re not the team that’s pretty much been displayed with some of the incidents and some of the games that we’ve been having,’’ Stevenson said. ‘‘Definitely want to get out with a win before the season ends, just to at least have the guys and everybody feel like our hard work is actually paying off.’’
The precipitating ‘‘incident,’’ of course, was Stevenson’s gaffe, which began with him gesturing toward fans while the Commanders were snapping the ball and ended with him leaping to bat a pass instead of defending wide receiver Noah Brown, who caught the tipped pass for a 52-yard touchdown.
Stevenson said his desire to snap the losing streak isn’t rooted in the fact that his mistake started it.
‘‘I feel like everybody is pushing for the same thing,’’ he said. ‘‘To put a ‘W’ in the win column and move forward.’’
Caleb Williams’ most impressive throw of the game — a would-be 17-yard touchdown pass to Rome Odunze on third down — was negated by a holding penalty.
The timing might not be right for a 73-year-old defensive-minded coach. But Carroll’s candidacy is a reminder of how much the Bears need someone like him — an energetic, aggressive personality who would shake things up at Halas Hall.
At 4-11, the Bears are in danger of finishing with the fourth-worst record in franchise history.
The Chicago Bears are taking a chance on cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, giving him the opportunity to prove he’s worth the trouble next year. Stevenson, a talented but troubled player, has faced off-field issues in the past that have raised questions about his character and commitment to the game.But the Bears see potential in Stevenson and believe that with the right guidance and support, he can become a valuable asset to the team. By offering him a chance to showcase his skills on the field and demonstrate his dedication to the game, the Bears are giving Stevenson the opportunity to show that he’s worth the investment.
It’s a gamble for the Bears, but one that could pay off big if Stevenson can stay out of trouble and focus on his development as a player. Only time will tell if he can rise to the challenge and prove his worth next year. But for now, the Bears are willing to take a chance on Stevenson and see where it leads.
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