Fuller 'ahead of the curve'

BOURBONNAIS — The worst way to get information about Bears cornerback Kyle Fuller is to ask him.

Fuller doesn't say much, especially about himself.

Fortunately, teammates and coaches are more than happy to talk about the 2014 first-round draft pick who was identified early on by new coach John Fox as a building block for the future.

“He's got size, speed and the toughness,” Fox said. “He'll perform both skills of his job, which is to cover and tackle.”

The 14th overall selection in the draft led all rookies with 4 interceptions, which also tied for the team lead.

Fuller also tied for the league lead among rookies with 3 forced fumbles, and he was fifth on the Bears with 73 tackles.

Despite a long list of injuries, Fuller didn't miss a game and started 14 times, showing an elite level of toughness. A broken hand, along with injuries to his hip, ankle and knee slowed him but never stopped him.

Now, healthy and with a higher comfort level, Fuller says he's ready for bigger and better things.

“As far as just getting started with camp, it's a lot (different),” he said. “You know what's going on, you know what to expect. Coming in as a rookie, you don't know what to expect.

“I look forward to coming in and continuing to get better.”

Veteran cornerback Tim Jennings, a two-time Pro Bowler, says he already has noticed improvement in Fuller's game, which was pretty good from the get-go.

“He's ahead of the curve,” Jennings said. “He's grown more mature as a player and as a man. And he already had everything.

“It's just (the way he) carries himself as he goes about his business, the way he comes to work, and the way he sits in the meeting room. He approaches the game like he's already been playing four or five years.”

While the Bears' secondary is still taking shape, Fuller already is a fixture. He's following in the footsteps of his older brothers but is quickly making a name for himself.

Oldest brother Vincent played safety for seven years in the league (2005-11), and Corey is a Detroit Lions wide receiver. Youngest brother Kendall is a cornerback at Virginia Tech.

It's telling that Bears veterans who have been around the block a time or two are most impressed with Fuller's play.

“He's a class-act guy, that's first and foremost,” said 11th-year safety Antrel Rolle. “He's a (heck) of a competitor. He wants to be great. He comes from a good bloodline; I know his brothers. He's definitely going to be one of our studs on defense.”

Eighth-year veteran wide receiver Eddie Royal, who sees Fuller on the other side of the ball every day in practice, heaps on the praise.

“He's a great young player,” Royal said. “He's scrappy, he's got long arms, he's good with jamming (receivers). He's got all the intangibles in the world.

“Last year, just (look at) all the fumbles that he caused. That's key. It's not about just coverage all the time. It's about tackling and creating turnovers, and he did a great job with that last year.”

At 5-feet-11 and 190 pounds, Fuller has enough size to compete with the growing legion of jumbo wide receivers around the league.

He's not yet in the select company of the NFL's lockdown corners, players who can handle the other team's best wideout 1-one-1, but it wouldn't be a surprise this year if Fuller goes mano-a-mano with some of the best.

“I don't know how many ‘lockdown' corners there are,” Fox said. “Part of being a coach is changing that up and not leaving a guy on an island all day by himself. But I've liked what I've seen so far. I think he has the skill set to do that.”

Bears Pro Bowl wide receiver Alshon Jeffery sees Fuller up close and personal every day at practice, so he can provide an accurate scouting report.

“We have our battles,” said the 6-3, 216-pound Jeffery. “Kyle has looked great out there. He's a lot better, a lot more confident. He's not a rookie no more.”

• Follow Bob's Bears and NFL reports on Twitter@BobLeGere.