Cubs News: Stevenson wants to show he is "one of the top corners in the league" |
CHICAGO - Cornerback Tyrique Stevenson is coming off of an impressive rookie campaign where he tied Pro-Bowler Jaylon Johnson with four interceptions to lead Chicago’s defense.
Now that he has a season under his belt, Stevenson has been able to use this training camp to work on some of the smaller details so he can continue to improve and be another lockdown corner for the Bears. “Definitely feel like I can come out there and just show I’m one of the top corners in the league. So, I would say my dedication to my small details like getting in and out of breaks and just figuring out where the ball (is) at, figuring out how they (are) going to throw it is just what I’ve been focused on this camp,” Stevenson said. “Last camp, it was (to) show the guys on the team that (I’m) here to play hard, just show the coaching staff that (I’m) here. Now, it’s like, ‘Let’s ball. Let’s run it.’” Johnson is Chicago's top cornerback and just got paid like one, receiving a four-year, $76 million contract. He has been a mentor to Stevenson in various ways, including how to keep his composure on the field and how to keep improving as a player. “I feel like he taught me to keep my composure. He’s always, stick to the bases, stick to the rule guy. I have a good play, I’m up. Have a bad play, I’m down. So, I feel like he’s just teaching me how to keep my composure in the NFL knowing that it’s a long season, knowing that you (are) going to go against good receivers as well,” Stevenson said. “He wants to prove it to himself that he’s the number one corner and I feel like just him working that hard and doing what he (has) been doing this offseason is just going to show him why he’s the number one and just the rest of the world just going to follow.” Stevenson, along with other starters in the secondary, have gotten some play time during the preseason. However, with head coach Matt Eberflus announcing that most of the starters will not play in the final preseason game on Thurs. Aug. 22 (7:20 p.m. / FOX 32 or NFL Network) against the Kansas City Chiefs, it appears Stevenson and the rest of the starters in the secondary will not be playing in a game until the regular season opener against the Tennessee Titans on Sun. Sept. 8 (Noon / FOX). There have been some injuries on the defensive side of the ball, including with cornerback Kyler Gordon, who missed some time in training camp. That has led to some concern that the defense will start slow because they have not been able to build chemistry, especially if they do not see more preseason action. Stevenson is not concerned, however, because everyone has bought into Eberflus’ plan for the defense and have worked through the injuries. “I feel like all the guys that’s on this defense right now actually bought into Flus’s plan, our plan, our goals, who we are as a defense and what we come to establish everyday. So, I don’t think it’s going to take time. I just think everything happens for a reason,” Stevenson said. “It’s camp. You’re going to have bumps. You (are) going to have bruises. Guys going to go down. Guys going to be up and I just feel like the guys they brought on the team and on this defense, everybody (is) just willing to come in and do their part. So, I feel like it’s not going to be a slow start. We want to hit the league running and we want to start the season off running. So, I feel like we’re ready.” Besides having a year under his belt and a mentor like Johnson, Stevenson is also more prepared for this season because of the wide receiver talent he is going against. Last season, Chicago’s top receiver was DJ Moore. Now, Moore is accompanied by six-time Pro-Bowler Keenan Allen and rookie Rome Odunze. Allen has been one of the most consistent receivers in the league, in part because his shifty route running makes him hard to cover. “I feel like if you play him too close, he’s good enough to make that incredible catch. So, you have to give him space to see which way he (is) going,” Stevenson said. “If you sell on the route too hard, he can take it back the other way, and if you play him low, he’s definitely taking it over the top. So, it’s just figuring out how to take him out (of) his groove and all that. So, I just feel like his (ability) to create separation when he (needs) to, (that) pretty much (makes) him hard to cover.” Odunze is still developing his craft, but he has the ability to make impressive plays, as he demonstrated with his 45-yard reception against the Cincinnati Bengals. Stevenson has noticed that Odunze is noticing Allen’s shiftiness and elusiveness and is starting to incorporate that into his game as well. “Rome is just more of, he (is) going to give you what he (is) going to give, and he (gets) into his route, and then with Keenan, you just have to watch for everything - the quick stops, the in and out (of his breaks). For him to be in the game so long and still be able to create the small separation that he needs in a route. It’s just the difference between them right now, and I just see Rome picking up some things, too. As a bigger guy, taller guy, cornerbacks don’t expect you to come in and out your breaks, to stop on a dime. So, just seeing Rome (incorporate) that in his game, too.”
