Chicago Bears 2017 draft position profiles: Offensive linemen

Dion Dawkins, Temple (6-foot-5, 320 pounds)

Scoring points is all the rage at the lower level. The spread offense is everything. When players in that system get to the pro level, however, there may be a difficult transition.

In Dawkins’ case, he’s played four seasons in a pro-style offense. Instead of having to learn to fire off from the three-point stance, he’s already comfortable in it. He has forty starts at left tackle.

With his size and athletic ability, Dawkins is a coach’s dream. HIs surprising quickness helps him keep in step with pass rushers. He uses his long arms to steer rushers away. He is balanced, and he fires off the snap well.

Dawkins sports a mean streak in his personality. He loves crunching the defender, and once he gets that initial punch, he drives his man out of the play. Running backs will love running behind him.

Dawkins is a team leader. Coaches and teammates rave about him. The team named him the toughest player on multiple occasions.

Dawkins needs to clean his technique. He sometimes drops his hands in pass protection. He sometimes bends at the waist also. These are things that are correctable with proper coaching.

The Chicago Bears need toughness again. They are in the black and blue division, but it seems that other teams are beating up on them. They need to establish that meanness again and opponents need to know that they are in for a fight when they play Chicago. Dion Dawkins can do that.