Chicago Bears: Comparing the 1985 defense to 2019 group

Roquan Smith comparison: Mike Singletary

Roquan Smith‘s ceiling is extremely high, and Bears fans got to see a good bit of this in 2018. Much like Mike Singletary, Smith is a very well-rounded inside linebacker capable of being the glue that keeps the front seven together. With 5 sacks in his rookie season, Smith shows the ability to be an even better pass rusher than Singletary was. However, the 21-year-old still has a lot to accomplish before being in the same realm of an all-time great Chicago Bear.

Singletary’s abilities on the football field were not only limited to phenomenal all-around defensive ability, but perhaps his most valuable skill was his leadership. The relationship Singletary had with defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan taught him to be the voice of the greatest defense of all time. Hopefully Chuck Pagano can not only develop Smith’s physical game, but also help him to become a leader as Ryan did with Singletary.

Danny Trevathan comparison: Wilber Marshall

Much like Wilber Marshall was for the 1985 Chicago Bears, Danny Trevathan can be the forgotten man in the mix of elite defenders, despite seemingly always playing solid football. When the Bears won the Super Bowl, Wilber Marshall was a very young player. While Trevathan is still in his prime at 28 years of age, he is unlikely to develop into any more of a player than he already is, which is not necessarily a bad thing.

Trevathan has always been all over the field for the Bears, covering massive amounts of ground and serving as a tackling machine. Marshall was a very similar-type player for Buddy Ryan, although Marshall was a significantly better pass rusher. Marshall was a Pro Bowl linebacker, while Trevathan never has been, although it is not too late for Trevathan to sneak a few in while he is still in his prime.