Chicago Bears: 5 keys to beating Green Bay Packers

Get Roquan Smith on the field — a lot

The Bears’ first depth chart came out this week and, unfortunately, rookie first-round pick Roquan Smith was still behind Nick Kwiatkoski. I cannot imagine a world where the Bears invested a no. 8 overall pick in someone like Smith — a Dick Butkus Award winner — and don’t get him on the field early and often against their most bitter rival, opening weekend.

This would be just flat-out silly. Mack is brand new to the team and he’s already listed as a starter. He has one week of practice to learn the scheme, while Smith should know the playbook by now after having with him during his holdout.

Smith is a whole lot faster and can cover a whole lot more ground than Kwiatkoski. Don’t get me wrong, I love Kwiatkoski. He’s a very good football player and a luxury as a backup. But, if you’re in the business of winning football games in Chicago, you get Smith on the field and ensure he’s out there often.

One of the things Smith will offer the Bears defense against Green Bay is likely being the best candidate of all the linebackers to help out with tight end Jimmy Graham. He’s no longer the same guy he was four or five years ago, but Graham is still a physical specimen and a red zone threat. Having Smith on the field would make fans feel a whole lot better about tempering the play of Graham.