Gipson fitting in nicely with Bears secondary
Tashaun Gipson did his homework.
On 2nd-and-4 with the game clock ticking under two minutes, the Bears safety knew Atlanta Falcons receiver Calvin Ridley was going to give him one of two looks. Ridley was either going to fake toward the sideline and cut back to the middle of the field, or he was going to run a corner route to the sideline.
Given the limited time remaining in the game, Gipson guessed Ridley was going to the sideline.
"Once he gave me shoulders, kind of stood me up and gave me shoulders, I knew he was breaking out [to the sideline]," Gipson said. "And it just was about judging the ball because I break with him, but the same time I had my eye on the ball when [quarterback Matt Ryan] threw it. And it just happened to fall right there. I just went ahead and made a play."
Gipson picked off Ryan's pass to all but cement a Bears victory Sunday. It was the type of play a veteran is expected to make. It's why the Bears brought Gipson to Chicago.
The ninth-year veteran and one-time Pro Bowl selection came to Chicago expecting to compete with Jordan Lucas for a starting safety spot. Instead, Lucas opted out before the season, leaving Gipson easily the most experienced option to fill the spot vacated when Ha Ha Clinton-Dix signed with Dallas.
Bears defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano said Gipson's depth on that play allowed him to see what was happening and make a play.
"A lot of film study and preparation went into that," Pagano said. "So as soon as he saw the underneath route, he kind of knew what was coming."
Gipson's interception against the Falcons was the 24th of his career.
With a rookie coming in at cornerback in Jaylon Johnson, the Bears needed some veteran experience to fill the other open secondary spot. So far, Gipson has been a solid addition.
In Week 1, Gipson's coverage deep allowed Akiem Hicks to break through for a crucial sack of Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford.
"He's a savvy vet," Pagano said. "He's tough, he's smart, does a good job communicating - he's been a heck of an asset for us."
The Bears secondary has been good through the first three weeks. Mistakes have happened - like Ridley's big play to start the Week 3 contest - but the Bears have buckled down when they needed to most.
Interceptions against the Lions and Falcons happened at key moments late in games. Cornerback Kyle Fuller has been as good as advertised. Johnson has lived up to his rookie hype.
"With [Gipson], I just love his presence," safety Eddie Jackson said last week. "He's a vet guy. He's been around. He's been a starter in the league for a very long time. We kind of feel off each other."
The Bears have another experienced quarterback up next with Philip Rivers and the Indianapolis Colts coming to town. With one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, the Colts will pound the ball on the ground and protect Rivers well.
It will be another challenge for the Bears secondary.
"He's just the Philip Rivers of old," Gipson said. "I think that he's definitely a guy that can make every throw. He's confident. He'll get the ball out fast."