The Chicago Bears defense is playing a rare breed of physical football in 2020, thanks in large part to cornerback Kyle Fuller’s power-packed shoulders. Fuller’s delivered soul-shaking hits to opposing ball-carriers in back-to-back weeks thanks to his technically sound yet ferocious hitting style.
In Week 5 against the Buccaneers, Fuller dislodged the football from rookie running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn with his shoulder strike, a play that initially drew a flag that was later dismissed by officials. In Week 6, Fuller packed another powerful punch, this time on Panthers receiver Keith Kirkwood, that did result in a 15-yard penalty.
Penalties for hits like Fuller’s should serve as a deterrent for future knockout blows, but according to Pro Football Talk’s Chris Simms, the Bears — and Fuller — should keep playing the way they have been over the first six weeks of the season.
“Just keep doing what you’re doing,” Simms told NBC Sports Chicago. “The pass interference with the interception, it’s ticky-tack… The Bears, they shouldn’t lose confidence. I’m sure that’s something Chuck Pagano, Matt Nagy, they’re telling the defense.
“The NFL is bullcrap that way right now. If you tackle too hard, they call a penalty on the defense, even though the offense lowers their head and tries to be the problem … That to me is so wrong, and they’ve taken that aspect away from great defenses in football: to make wide receivers fearful over the middle. Fearful of what now? There’s nothing to be feared of, and I hate football, that they’ve gone that route.”
The days of 49ers Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott knocking out opposing receivers like it was part of his job description are long gone from the NFL, but clean — yet hard — hits like Fuller’s should be allowed to remain part of the game’s foundation.