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After showing much promise in his rookie season, Chicago Bears second-year cornerback Kyle Fuller is primed to take major strides in 2015. Fuller had the fourth-most total tackles for the Bears last season, and his four interceptions not only tied for first on the team, but also tops among all rookies in the NFL in 2014.
Despite struggling in midseason, Fuller was without a doubt the best cornerback for Chicago last year, even outplaying his two-time Pro Bowl teammate Tim Jennings.
The arrival of head coach John Fox and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio should definitely help Fuller in his sophomore campaign in the Windy City. The Bears’ implementation of the 3-4 alignment and Fangio’s style of defense will allow Fuller to play more press coverage rather than playing off receivers from the line of scrimmage.
Even with the departure of veteran wide receiver Brandon Marshall, Fuller will still have much practice during training camp going up against big, physical receivers, such as Alshon Jeffery and rookie Kevin White. This will be much-needed, knowing that the Virginia Tech product will have to line up across receivers like the Detroit Lions’ Calvin Johnson and the Green Bay Packers’ Jordy Nelson twice in 2015.
Unlike last year, Fuller will be inserted into the starting lineup at the very beginning of the regular season and shouldn’t have any worries of anyone else unseating him. As of right now, it looks like Jennings will start opposite Fuller at the other cornerback spot. And fellow cornerbacks Alan Ball, Demontre Hurst, Al Louis-Jean, Sherrick McManis and Tracy Porter will be too busy battling for the nickel position.
Players entering their second year in the NFL sometimes find themselves having a sophomore slump. In Fuller’s case, his second season in the league just might be way better than his first.
Clyde A. Speller is an NFL writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @ClydeASpeller.
