Fuller’s play is drawing attention
That includes from some flag-throwing officials
It seemingly is becoming an every-other-week occurrence— Kyle Fuller zeroing in on a receiver, taking aim and laying the boom. ‘
It’s attention-grabbing every time, jarring for the receiver.
The biggest problem? Sometimes Fuller’s shots produce a game-changing defensive play. Other times they’re deemed illegal, a free first down for the opposing offense.
Take a look at Fuller’s shot last week on Panthers receiver Keith Kirkwood, a perfectly timed and absolutely nasty blow as the Bears cornerback peeled off his coverage assignment, found Kirkwood immediately after Teddy Bridgewater’s pass arrived and
buried the receiver, causing an incompletion.
Out came a yellow hankie. Unnecessary roughness.
Fox Sports rules analyst Mike Pereira defended the penalty call on the broadcast, noting Kirk wood was a defenseless receiver and thus entitled to protection to his head and neck area. But as Pereira was explaining his reasoning, slow-motion video showed Fuller’s left shoulder connecting squarely with Kirkwood’s left shoulder. Truth be told, it appeared to be a clean hit and easily could have been ruled a Bears takeaway with fellow corner back Jaylon Johnson quickly scooping up the loose football.
“It’s a bang-bang play,” Bears coach Matt Nagy said.
Ten days earlier, Fuller delivered a nearly identical bang-bang shot on Buccaneers running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn. That play, too, initially was ruled an incomplete pass with a flag thrown. But officials discussed the hit and dismissed the penalty, and a subsequent replay review turned the incompletion into a fumble and a Bears recovery. That changed the complexion of the game. The Bears turned the takeaway into a short-field touchdown drive and a 14-13 lead in a game they eventually won 20-19.
When Bears defensive backs coach Deshea Townsend saw Fuller’s hit on Vaughn, hewas thrilled.
“Thatwas textbook,” Townsend said. “That’s the thing we talk about — lowering to your target, removing your head fromthe situation and hitting the strike zone.
“He did everything properly in that play. And that’s why they picked the flag up. Thatwas a textbook proper way to physically play the game.”
In Charlotte, N.C., however, Fuller did the same thing and drew a personal foul.
“There is literally nothing you can do in his position,” Nagy said. “He’s just playing football. It’s unfortunate.”
In Week 1, Fuller’s apparently clean shot on Lions tight end T.J. Hockenson also produced a 15-yard penalty. A year ago against the Lions at Soldier Field, Fuller’s shoulder-toshoulder shot on quarterback Jeff Driskel drew a flag even with it being a bit of a gray area on when Driskel’s slide began.
So with the accumulation of penalties— warranted or not— is there any increased fear at HalasHall that Fuller might become hesitant to deliver such big hits with his aggressive edge eventually dulled?
“He won’t (become hesitant),” defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano said. “Because he’s doing everything by the letter of the law.
“They’re textbook (hits) when you slow them down. It’s impossible to officiate. It’s hard on them. It’s hard on us. It’s hard on the players. He’s just playing football.”
Besides, Johnson noted, even with the penalties, those hits send amessage.
“You are what you put on film,” he said. “At the end of the day, I feel like that’s what Kyle’s been putting out there— that he’s going to hit you.
“People definitely think twice coming across the middle or coming across on his side when they can’t necessarily see him. It definitely puts a little thought into their minds.”
Added safety Tashaun Gipson: “It’s refreshing to knowthat your corner is not scared to tackle but is laying boom-sticks on people.”
Fuller’s aggression and willingness as a tackler has left an impression on Pagano for most of the last two seasons.
“We’ve all seen corners who make business decisions when it comes to tackling,” Pagano said. “Some are just (playing) cat coverage. ‘I’ve got that cat, and you guys handle the rest of the stuff.’ But Kyle’s a physical dude.
“The expectations in the (defensive) roomand the expectations in Chicago for a long, long time are that when you come and be a part of this group, you understand what those expectations are. You’ve got to be a roughrider. He’s a roughrider.”
As luck would have it, the drive on which Fuller’s personal foul occurred ended with a Panthers field goal in big part because of the open-field tackle Fuller made on Bridgewater on a read-option run on second-and-goal fromthe 3.
Khalil Mack crashed down on the play and Bridgewater read it perfectly with an open lane toward the end zone. Fuller, however, read it even better, knifing in and upending the Panthers quarterback at the 2.
“Thatwas a game-changer,” Pagano said.
Itwas another reminder of how special Fuller can be.