Chicago Bears: 5 players whose stock rose after preseason Game 1
By Ryan Heckman
Chicago Bears whose stock rose in win over Miami: DL Angelo Blackson
Another guy who improved his stock on defense was newcomer Angelo Blackson. Like Quinn, Blackson seemed to be in the back field more often than not. On both pass plays and run plays, Blackson was highly effective.
Make no mistake about it, Akiem Hicks looked great too. But, at one point the Bears weren’t sure if Hicks was going to be sticking around. Many believe that is why the team went out and signed Blackson. However, Hicks is still here and now the Bears have the luxury of a former starter coming off the bench in Blackson.
If you looked at the box score, like Quinn, you would see just a single tackle from Blackson. However, that number is far from representing his true impact. Blackson manhandled the Dolphins’ defensive line and pushed them far back on almost every single snap he played. He either created pressure on the quarterback or made it impossible for a running back to carry the ball his way.
Speaking of both Blackson and Quinn, the Bears’ defensive front was absolutely dominant all game long. It was a beautiful sight to behold. It didn’t matter who was on the field for the Bears, they were dominant up front. It appears as though Chicago might have one of the deepest front sevens in all of football this year.