Safety Adrian Amos garners first-rookie-starter honors for Bears

Share

The hope every year is that rookies can come in and help immediately. That was certainly the now-frustrated hope for wide receiver Kevin White, but in the meantime, the honor of first-rookie-starter will go to the fifth-round safety out of Penn State.

Positions are far, far from set, but Adrian Amos becomes the first member of the 2015 draft class to crack the starting lineup based on the latest depth chart, promoted to starting safety paired with veteran Antrel Rolle while Brock Vereen, who started vs. the Miami Dolphins, moves back one step in the lineups. Amos also gets the start over veteran Ryan Mundy, who has been given look with the No. 1’s, started all 16 games last season, but is working more behind Rolle as a strong safety.

Amos and Vereen each were credited with 2 solo tackles in the initial stat report, though Amos played 27 snaps to Vereen's 17. But Vereen had a costly recognition breakdown on the Miami touchdown at the end of the Dolphins’ first drive, and Amos has been solid through the past handful of practices after acquitting himself well in the game.

[NBC SHOP: Gear up, Bears fans!]

The last time a rookie started at safety Week 1 for the Bears was 2009 (Al Afalava).

“I like the scheme. At Penn State I had four different schemes, so it’s a little bit of each one I can bring into this,” Amos said. “The defenses match up for what we did at Penn State… . I’m learning more and more about the safety position, and I’m getting better every single day playing safety.”

Given that last year was Amos’ first ever playing at safety, “upside” seems an appropriate descriptor.

Contact Us