Chicago Bears: Why Kyle Fuller could improve upon All-Pro season

Is it possible for the Chicago Bears to expect more out of Kyle Fuller than he produced in 2018?

Last season was a breakout one for cornerback Kyle Fuller of the Chicago Bears. It was actually quite remarkable. In his fifth season, Fuller recorded seven interceptions, nearly matching his total of eight from the previous four years combined!

For his efforts, he was selected to his first Pro Bowl and also named First-Team All-Pro. He had the kind of season that made Ryan Pace look like a genius for matching Green Bay’s offer-sheet during last year’s offseason. Had he not done so, and Fuller went on to have that kind of year for the Bears’ arch nemesis, Pace would have been feeling the heat. No doubt, he has breathed a sigh of relief.

In retrospect, matching the offer was a no-brainer. However, it wasn’t always such a foregone conclusion. In fact, there were times prior to last season, when the 14th overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft was not guaranteed to return to Chicago. Specifically, in his third year in the league when Fuller sat out the entire year with a leg injury. You may recall stories written that questioned whether he was healthy enough to return. As a result, the public was quick to write him off.

Good thing the public doesn’t make personnel decisions — at least in this case — as Fuller was an integral part of the Bears’ success last season. By now you have most certainly heard the narrative that the Bears’ defense will regress next season. While I think that is a misguided and misplaced narrative, it is even more nonsensical as applied to Fuller.

In fact, not only do I think Fuller won’t regress, but there are reasons to believe he can actual;y improve upon his breakout season.

Why? Well primarily because things seemed to have started to click for Fuller. It may have taken him a few years to get there, but he is at a point where the game is slowing down for him. He is not purely relying on athleticism and instincts alone to get him through. Rather, he is combining those skills with his tireless preparation and immense wealth of knowledge accumulated over five years in the league. He’s using and trusting what he sees on the field to make plays, much the same way Akiem Hicks described in his film breakdown with Brian Baldinger.

Take the interception in the video above for example. Fuller jumps the route beautifully. In fact, Odell Beckham Jr. isn’t even thinking about getting into his break yet and Fuller starts to jump the route. He can only do that if he sees something; is confident in what he sees based on film study; and trusts his instincts to make a play on the ball.

Many of Fuller’s interceptions were a result of this formula. They weren’t just being in the right place at the right time or taking advantage of an errant throw. They were a result of Fuller putting himself in a position to make the interception because of the hard work and preparation he put in leading up to the game.

Now take Chuck Pagano’s aggressive defense, which should give him more opportunities to make plays, and add it to his level of preparedness and awareness. The results could be off the charts. For those reasons, it is not unreasonable to think Fuller could have an even better year than he did in 2018.