When Ryan Poles traded Roquan Smith halfway through the 2022 season, it left an already weak linebacking corps completely devoid of talent. Nicholas Morrow, a 2021 free-agent acquisition, found himself surrounded by journeymen and career special teamers in the Chicago Bears' linebacker room.
Enter Jack Sanborn .
An undrafted free agent out of Wisconsin, Sanborn made an immediate impact for the Bears. In the games he logged over 80% of the defensive snaps (Weeks 9 through 13), the first-year linebacker recorded 64 total tackles, two sacks, and one fumble recovery. Unfortunately, Sanborn's ascension was cut short when he suffered an ankle injury in Week 14 against the Eagles, causing him to miss the remaining three games of the season.
Following the 2021 season, Noah Sewell looked like one of the best linebacking prospects in the entire country. He led the Oregon Ducks in nearly every defensive category, but following a coaching change prior to the 2022 season, Sewell's individual statistics were cut nearly in half.
"Sewell was considered a can’t-miss prospect, especially after his tremendous freshman season, but now the once sure-fire first-round pick could pretty much go anywhere in the draft. With all players going in the draft, it all depends on which team takes the former Oregon linebacker and how they intend on using him."
- Don Smalley, DraftWire
Sewell dropped all the way to the fifth round of the 2023 draft, and Ryan Poles selected him with the 148th overall pick.
Importance of the SAM Linebacker
With the Bears signing former Bill Tremaine Edmunds and former Eagle TJ Edwards to occupy the roles made famous by Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs, it leaves the strong-side linebacker (called Sam Linebacker or sometimes just SAM/SLB) open for competition. Sanborn and Sewell are the likely suitors entering training camp, so who has the upper edge?
Both players boast positional flexibility despite being cut from the traditional middle linebacker cloth. Whilst the MLB and WLB have clear responsibilities in this defense, the SLB is tasked with needing to have versatility in every facet of the game.
Hunter Hillenmeyer manned this position for the majority of Lovie Smith's tenure with the Bears. Though unheralded, Hillenmeyer's versatility and consistency at the SAM spot allowed both Urlacher and Briggs to focus on disrupting opposing offenses. Most importantly, the SAM linebacker needs to be smart.
Sanborn vs. Sewell
Both Sanborn and Sewell have above-average football intelligence. With several games of experience already under his belt (and performing admirably in said games), it would appear that Sanborn should be the early favorite to win the spot. He plays faster than his 40 time might indicate, and he ingratiated himself early with the Bears coaching staff. When asked in June about the upcoming SLB battle, Eberflus commended both players on their intelligence:
"We'll see where he goes," coach Matt Eberflus said about Sewell. "With rookies, it's always 'know what to do first.' So [Sewell] knows his assignment so he can do it fast. He's getting better at it. We love his instincts. He's a very instinctual player. "And so is Jack. Jack is a very instinctual player, plays multiple positions for us. But Jack will be the starter there going into it (training camp) and then we'll see what Noah can do to press him."
So what can Sewell do to push Sanborn to a backup role in 2023? If Sewell can recapture the magic that was his 2021 season, then the athletically gifted brother of division rival Penei may be too much for Sanborn to stave off. Sewell is bigger (6-foot-3 and 253 pounds vs. 6-foot-2 and 234 for Sanborn), stronger (27 bench-press reps vs. 20 for Sanborn), and faster (4.64 40-time vs. 4.73 for Sanborn), so if he is able to put together an impressive camp it may push the coaches to consider a timeshare going into the season between the two players.
I will also be paying close attention to what each player does in coverage. The SAM linebacker will need to be able to cover tight ends as well as play downhill. In his four years at Wisconsin, Sanborn was only targeted 70 times (allowing 50 receptions for 445 yards, 1 TD, and grabbing 4 INTs). Last season Sanborn was targeted 22 times, allowing 18 receptions for 189 yards and 0 TDs.
In the weeks that Sanborn was starting for the Bears (9-13), he logged a PFF coverage grade of 64.5, good for 31st of 72 qualifiers (20% of 178 coverage snaps). Sanborn was far from a liability in coverage last season, but it is also a facet of his game he has never really had to focus on thus far.
Sewell played roughly 100 fewer snaps than Sanborn across their college careers (1,849 vs. 1,936) and their coverage output was similar. Sewell had 78 targets and allowed 58 receptions, 510 yards, and 2 TDs (with 2 INTs). Sewell did struggle in space last season, and for a position predicated on operating in a bubble that may hinder his bid.
"That lack of spatial awareness is ultimately what drags Sewell down the most. Some prospects have an innate feel in coverage, but the Oregon LB is not one of them. The Ducks did their best to take Sewell out of coverage-first situations, and NFL defenses will likely need to do the same, at least early on."
- James Fragoza, Pro Football Network
Both players were used almost exclusively at middle linebacker in college (and Sanborn in his one year with Chicago), so the winner of the SLB battle will likely go to whoever can supplement their game with the ability to cover both downfield and close to the line of scrimmage.
Prediction
I think Sanborn enters the season as the Bears' starting SLB. His natural instincts will trump Sewell's athletic advantage, in my opinion. The Bears asked a lot of Sanborn last season and the Wisconsin product exceeded expectations. I think Sewell will have a role on the team, but his development will take at least a year as he'll be entering his third defensive scheme (and a new position) in as many years.
Other Training Camp Battles: Running Back | Defensive Tackle
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