Chicago Bears: 5 early predictions for training camp
By Ryan Heckman
Adrian Amos shuts the door on Deon Bush hype
Here we go. More people out there discrediting Adrian Amos. Take a look.
That's a player you replace at a replaceable position. The Bears are pushing Deon Bush this offseason to see if they can plug him in and let Amos walk. I would be shocked if they extended. And if 11 Amoses make the defense the best in the league then they absolutely should.
— Bill Zimmerman (@BillTZimmerman) June 18, 2018
I could go in a hundred different directions here. First off, I will state the obvious and probably one of the most well-respected opinions. Pro Football Focus ranked Amos as the second-best safety in all of football last year, next to Harrison Smith. Amos’ grade was a 92.0 flat.
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Second, if you watch any games, you’ll notice a common thread when opposing teams go across the middle of the field: Receivers know where Amos is, or at least they certainly make an effort to keep tabs on him. That’s the last guy you want to get hit by if you’re a wideout going up against the Bears secondary.
Third, he’s an efficient tackler. Obviously in the passing game you like to see him make plays. But, he is also very solid in the run game at reading the gaps and anticipating where a ball carrier will try to expose. Amos represents the last line of defense against a big play, and he doesn’t give many of those a chance.
I am thrilled Deon Bush is making a strong impression on his coaches this offseason. The Bears need depth at safety — dependable depth. That’s what Bush represents. He is no where near the level of player Amos is, and I think Amos knows he’s being disrespected as much as he is. Come time for training camp, I anticipate we see the best Adrian Amos we have ever seen and that he shuts down any foolish talk about being supplanted as a starter.