{"id":136418,"date":"2022-11-07T13:15:31","date_gmt":"2022-11-07T18:15:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=136418"},"modified":"2022-11-21T13:27:40","modified_gmt":"2022-11-21T18:27:40","slug":"former-bears-robert-quinn-roquan-smith","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2022\/11\/07\/former-bears-robert-quinn-roquan-smith\/","title":{"rendered":"Former Bears Star Sends Heartfelt Message Ahead of Debut"},"content":{"rendered":"

Everything is set for former Chicago Bears star linebacker Roquan Smith<\/a> to make his debut for the Baltimore Ravens. Smith was traded at the deadline for second and fifth-round draft picks. The move followed an offseason rife with contention as he sought a new lucrative contract from a newly-installed regime.<\/p>\n

After a holdout that lasted into training camp and after Smith appeared in every game in the regular season, the Bears made the trade at the dealing — roughly one week after trading Robert Quinn<\/a> to the Philadelphia Eagles.<\/p>\n

Smith was originally selected with the eighth-overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.<\/p>\n

Now he moves from a Bears team whose focus is on the future and quarterback to one in the Ravens where the immediate goal is the Super Bowl. Ahead of his debut against the New Orleans Saints, Smith sent out a heartfelt message to Bears Nation.<\/p>\n

Roquan Smith Sends Message to Bears Nation Ahead of Ravens Debut<\/h2>\n

Smith\u2019s Letter to Chicago<\/h3>\n

Smith posted the message in an Instagram story<\/a>. The note covers some individuals such as former Bears general manager Ryan Pace<\/a> who drafted Smith and Dick Butkus<\/a> because \u201che knows why\u201d, says Smith. But it mostly focuses on the fans, the city, and the opportunity he has ahead of him.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/twitter.com\/RapSheet\/status\/1589649035241361408<\/p>\n

The 25-year-old Smith enters the week with 83 combined tackles. That is seven off the league leader, Seattle Seahawks linebacker Jordyn Brooks, with Monday\u2019s game to go for Smith.<\/p>\n

His old team surely could have used his presence against the Miami Dolphins.<\/p>\n

They only rushed for 77 yards between Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr. But they racked up 255 passing yards in the second and third quarters alone on Sunday with plenty of it coming in one area of the field.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/twitter.com\/JoshGBuck\/status\/1589677812600156160<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was different,\u201d said linebacker Nicholas Morrow<\/a>. \u201cObviously on that, it was different.\u201d<\/p>\n

After four years and 607 career tackles, Smith now heads to the East Coast in hopes of helping sure up a once-stout Ravens defense.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a defense that has allowed 100 yards on the ground in half of its games this season.<\/p>\n

Whether or not Smith is the solution<\/a> to Baltimore\u2019s problems remains to be seen. But he is already missed in the locker room and in the city and the feeling seems to be mutual.<\/p>\n

Gipson on Quinn<\/h4>\n

One of the most maligned aspects of the Bears’ defense has been the pass rush or lack thereof. Through nine weeks, the Bears rank 21st in pressure rate and 29th in sacks and are roughly two weeks removed from shipping out their most accomplished sack artist.<\/p>\n

Quinn\u2019s trade to the Philadelphia Eagles benefits him in many of the same ways as Smith in Baltimore.<\/p>\n

Chase Claypool Gets Honest About Debut With the Chicago Bears<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n