While it was just the minicamps and OTAs, these programs are designed to get a good first look at how the rookies are adapting to the NFL. The The early outlook for Chicago Bears safety Dillon Thieneman is that he is going to hit the ground running and make an immediate impact.
Chicago Bears rookie Dillon Thieneman gets glowing initial reviews
Courtney Cronin of ESPN attended OTAs and talked to safeties Coby Bryant and Elijah Hicks about Thieneman. The early takeaway is that Thieneman displayed speed and versatility.
"Thieneman worked his way into first-team reps during mandatory minicamp while spending the spring learning Dennis Allen's defense. Thieneman has been a sponge, particularly with his teammates in the secondary, and soaked up as much knowledge as he could from fellow safeties Coby Bryant and Elijah Hicks, the latter of whom will push him for playing time. The Bears were drawn to Thieneman for his speed and versatility, two attributes he displayed this spring"Courtney Cronin
Thieneman getting into the first-team mix before training camp starts is valuable. It means that he should have a role with the first team early in training camp, and it will be his job to lose as a Week 1 starter. The expectation was that he would be a plug-and-play starter, and so far, that appears to be what the team is getting.
That does not guarantee he will start Week 1, but it is exactly the type of start the Bears wanted to see. Every positive practice gives the coaching staff more confidence that he can handle a significant role early.
The only reason Thieneman fell to the 25th pick was positional value, so the thought is that they have a player who could outplay his draft slot by a good bit.
The versatility is an interesting touch as well. Early expectations are that Thieneman is going to play more in the box, where his size and ability to get downhill quickly can be deployed. Coby Bryant is typically the more instinctive player who can sit back in the free safety role and keep things in front of him.
However, Bryant can shift into the box, and the team is already excited about the versatility that Thieneman is bringing.
It is also good to see that Thieneman is learning from Elijah Hicks. Hicks would start if Thieneman is not ready to, but the veteran knows his role. His job is to get the rookie ready to get on the field. So, he is letting Thieneman soak in everything he knows, while preparing to hand the job off to the younger player.
Thieneman will still need to show himself in training camp. Then, the preseason is a completely different beast. However, everything we have seen shows that the ceiling is high and the floor is higher. So, rookie expectations continue to rise.
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