Player Spotlight: Safety Major Wright

by Dominique Blanton on May 12, 2011 6:48 PM CDT in Roster Analysis

A lot of praise gets thrown towards the Bears defensive line and linebackers, and its quite understandable considering some of those guys (Julius Peppers, Brian Urlacher, and Lance Briggs) could be future Hall of Famers. You can make a case that the secondary, specifically the safety position, was one of the main reasons why the defense rose back to one of the top-10 in the league in 2010. Fans had their concerns about Danieal Manning and Chris Harris being the last line of defense, but they ended up being a solid tandem. Manning ended up settling on a position at SS and winded up becoming the Bears best secondary player on the team. There was questions about whether Harris had the range to play the FS position, but his instincts and experience in the system proved valuable, as he had his best statistical season as a pro and helped raise Manning's game to another level. Despite the Safety position being a strength on the defense, it hasn't stop General Manager Jerry Angelo from addressing the position with this year's 3^rd round draft pick Chris Conte, and last year's 3^rd rounder Major Wright. There's a possibility that if a new CBA is reached, Daniel Manning might find a better offer with another club.

That's why today player spotlight series features possibly the Bears new starting SS Major Wright. Wright did an alright job rotating in and out with Harris and Manning, but is he ready to fulfill Angelo and Lovie Smith expectations of being a full time starter at one of the safety spots?

Who is Major Wright?

At 5-11 206 pounds, Wright was notoriously known as an athletic hard hitting safety that displayed very good instincts and range at Florida FS position. He's a liability if he's force to come down and cover the slot receiver which is why his best position in the NFL might be at SS. His ability to come down and the box and effectively make tackles on the RB, blitz the QB, or come down and cover the TE makes him almost a perfect match at SS.

College Transaction courtesy of chicagobears.com

Appeared in all 41 games in his three-year career at the University of Florida (2007-09), with 33 career starts at free safety... Collected 165 career tackles (111 solo), 10 PBUs, 4 forced fumbles and 1 fumble recovery... Added 8 INTs, returning them for 69 yards including 1 TD... Recovered a blocked field goal... National champion as a sophomore with the Gators.

JUNIOR: Appeared in all 14 games, making 12 starts at safety... Finished with 32 tackles (28 solos)...Posted 3 INTs and 2 PBUs... Recorded 4 solo tackles and 1 PBU in the Sugar Bowl win against Cincinnati...Tied for third among teammates after collecting 8 tackles (7 solo) in the SEC Championship versus Alabama... Pre-season all-SEC third-team selection.

SOPHOMORE: Started all 14 contests at free safety and was third on the team with 66 total tackles (36 solo)... Tied for second on the team with 4 INTs... Earned honorable mention all-sophomore recognition from College Football News... Collected 9 tackles and an INT in the BCS National Championship Game victory against Oklahoma... Recorded 4 tackles in the SEC Championship Game versus Alabama... Returned a blocked field goal 37 yards against Florida State... A member of the 2008 UF Football Leadership Committee.

FRESHMAN: Appeared in all 13 games at free safety (7 starts) and on special teams... Ranked third on the team and first among freshmen in total tackles with 67 (47 solo)... The 67 tackles were the fifth-most by any freshman in the SEC and his 47 solo stops were the second-highest total among freshmen in the SEC... Led the team and tied for first in the SEC in forced fumbles with 4, which were the most by a Florida player since Guss Scott had 5 in 2003 and the most by any Florida freshman since the statistic began being kept in 1982... Named to the coaches' freshman all-SEC and as a second-team freshman All-American by Rivals.com... Also garnered first-team All-American honors from CollegeFootballNews.com and the Sporting News' freshman All-American honorable mention... Played the Kentucky game with a cast on his hand due to a broken thumb... Selected to the SEC Freshman Academic Honor Roll.

Realistic Expectations for Major Wright

Fans should expect Wright to be a heavy favorite to get one of the safety spots by the end of training camp. There's a reason why Wright was being rotated in much last season and it's because Angelo and Lovie want to desperately see Wright succeed. The most interesting question is who do Wright replace in the secondary if he's most certainly prime to be a starter next season. Do you bench arguably your best secondary player from last season Manning or do you replace Harris who's knowledge of the scheme is valuable for this defense? I honestly don't know, but what I do know is the Bears are very deep at the safety position with Wright, Manning, Harris, and the rookie Conte.

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Comments

He showed flashes of solid play as a FS last season

He did commit rookie errors, but again those were rookie errors.

Personally I feel he would be a better fit as a FS rather than a SS, his talents and range are what we want in a FS. Slide him into FS and bump Chris Harris back to SS and we may have a solid tandem for the next few years.

Either way, especially if Daniel Manning becomes a FA, I expect Major Wright to be a starter at Safety.

Jay Cutler is our QB, and I for one am proud of that

by Erik Christopher Duerrwaechter on May 12, 2011 6:57 PM CDT reply actions

I know everyone finally fell in love with Manning, especially after that hit he layed on the Dolphins.
I’m still not sold on him, I think he’s decent in the box, but like they always express the SS/FS position both need to be able to play either position. and IMO Manning is never going to be an All-Pro Safety in coverage. Plus he wants a big pay day, and now we have Conte waiting for a shot also.

Wright should be a good player given time to shine

Superman wears an Urlacher Jersey under his costume

by BearNecessities on May 13, 2011 7:04 AM CDT up reply actions

Id like to see Manning come back, but I dont see it happening

I think between holding out last year on signing his tender, and turning down a contract extension after this last season it looks like he wants a fresh start elsewhere, and I dont blame him.

by IndyBearsFan88 on May 12, 2011 6:58 PM CDT reply actions

reading this article set me to wondering.

Is there a conspiracy here? A plot involving Angelo & Smith regarding the Wright player to start at safety?

. "Most football teams are temperamental. That's 90% temper and 10% mental."
--Doug Plank

by ed_brown on May 12, 2011 8:05 PM CDT reply actions

Just my opinion on how they played him last season

Manning and Harris was very solid last season yet they still rotated him in the line-up.

by Dominique Blanton on May 12, 2011 8:19 PM CDT up reply actions

just my attempt at levity

I just thought it was amusing how you used the word desperately.
and yes Neanderthal’s a sense of humor, not good ones but…

. "Most football teams are temperamental. That's 90% temper and 10% mental."
--Doug Plank

by ed_brown on May 12, 2011 9:17 PM CDT up reply actions

As Long As He Does Better Than Steltz and Bullocks

I’ll be happy.

by Gaak on May 12, 2011 9:44 PM CDT reply actions

Lets see if Wright can do two things assuming we have a season

First is stay somewhat healthly, second is figuring out the mental aspects of the position which he seemed to struggle with a a rookie, not unexpected for a rookie otherwise his natural football instincts looked really good. If he really buckles down and spends many hours watching film and figuring out the position the sky is the limit for Wright, he has the athletic ability, everything else is teachable.

White Sox fans need not apply.

by Bears-Cubs Bulls on May 12, 2011 11:49 PM CDT reply actions

I was just talking about this today.

I always noticed that Wright was VERY hungry to record his first NFL interception, and by hungry I mean actually getting in the way of another Bear player who had a better position on the ball so he could potentially grab it. He’ll get over that. I like his speed to the ball and his physicality but I would very much prefer if we re-sign Manning. I like the tandem of Chris and Manning, especially coming into their 2nd year together in simultaneous seasons so I’m hoping they resign Manning and he get’s the spot. I’m intrigued with Conte and I think he’ll be the FS of the future with Major our SS but I wouldn’t be comfortable with expecting Wright to lock down one of the positions comfortably this season.

by PolishSausage.Ditka.Bears. on May 12, 2011 11:52 PM CDT reply actions

They should only get better this year

Right now, the safety spots are Manning and Harris’ jobs to lose. They were definitely one of the better tandems in the NFL last year. Wright should be rotated in, when possible – and be ready to go if someone gets injured. I guess Conte will be groomed to eventually be teamed with Wright.

by JimmyMack on May 13, 2011 5:46 AM CDT up reply actions