There has been a lot of talk about Chicago Bears rookie defensive lineman Jordan van den Berg throughout training camp so far. The sixth-round draft pick has already gotten first-team reps, including facing off against All-Pro guard Joe Thuney.
Many of Chicago’s veteran defenders have been impressed with van den Berg, including defensive lineman Neville Gallimore, who the Bears acquired in free agency. Gallimore is going into his seventh season in the league spending his first four years in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys, a year with the Los Angeles Rams and last season with the Indianapolis Colts.
“I think he’s gonna be a hell of a football player,” Gallimore said of van den Berg. “I think he’s growing. His understanding of the game is improving everyday. I just love his competitiveness. Great guy for the locker room. He does his job at a high level and, again, I think he’s only going to get better as he continues to be a part of the system.”
In addition to the talent van den Berg has already put on display, Gallimore believes that the culture head coach Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Dennis Allen have established is greatly beneficial for rookies to know exactly what is expected of them.
“I’ll say, man, the greatest thing that ever happened to him was coming to this team and being a part of this defense. I think he’s going to be a guy that surprises a lot of people this year,” Gallimore said. “For a rookie to come in and be a part of a system where there is no gray – this is how we play, this is our standard, this is what we’re trying to accomplish. You’re not going to come in and do your own thing and you’re going to do things according to what’s being asked. But then seeing the results of what happens when you do things the right way work out for you, I think that’s a great thing.”
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Neville Gallimore makes bold prediction about Bears rookie standout
Reporting by Ariana Pensy, Bears Wire / Bears Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Ariana Pensy, Bears Wire | USA TODAY Network
