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Bears Rookie Safety Adrian Amos Strives To Be Flawless

By Chris Emma—

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (CBS) – When the ball is handed off to an opposing running back, Adrian Amos's instincts kick in. It all seems so natural for him.

Amos reads the runner, evaluates his surrounding space and attacks. He presses forward with speed and aggression, seeming to sniff out the football. Then, his nickname of "Smash" is revealed. A rookie out of Penn State, Amos can pop an opposing player.

"His ceiling is tremendous – the things that he can do," Bears veteran cornerback Tracy Porter said.

Perhaps the greatest credit offered to Amos is to his preparation. Just a few games into his rookie season, he was tasked with the role of aligning the secondary, with Antrel Rolle sidelined. Porter felt comfortable, as did the other defensive backs.

Safeties in football are often the last line of defense. A simple mistake or misread results in potential catastrophe. Amos hasn't appeared out of place.

"It's not been too big for him," Bears coach John Fox said. "He studies the game hard. He's got a good skill set to play in this league. He gets better every week."

Drafted by the Bears in the fifth round of last spring's draft, Amos appears to be a steal for first-year general manager Ryan Pace. Chicago can work its way back in this attempt to restock the organization by hitting on late-round picks, something Phil Emery largely failed to do. At a position of need for the Bears – among so many others – Amos has shown he can stick at safety.

Amos was called upon amid instability at safety during training camp. As several other safeties showed inconsistency, Amos was a constant. He kept showing up with consistency, which was exactly what the Bears needed at the position. Lined up next to the savvy veteran Rolle, it's an ideal complement, because Amos is a tremendous athlete.

But the mindset of Amos isn't one of complacency, even with a starting job in his rookie season.

"I'm never comfortable with where I am, because I always know I can get better," Amos said.

Amos has 23 tackles in six games this season, including 10 tackles the past two starts. What stands out first and foremost to Bears teammates and coaches is how well Amos knows the game. That's even more impressive considering he only began playing safety in 2013, switching over from cornerback.

When the Bears entered a dire situation without Rolle in the secondary, Amos was lined up alongside fellow rookie safety Harold Jones-Quartey. It was Amos who carried the flag with leadership, simply because of his preparation.

"The game's not too big for him," Porter said. "He understands the game, knows what he has to do. He's just an all-around football player. I feel comfortable with him back there."

Added Fox: "He's done a real good job. He gets better every week."

Amos is still far from satisfied. When asked about his success as a run-stopping safety, he pointed to frustrations in the passing game. He has yet to break up a pass – though he hasn't been beaten for a touchdown – and the Bears secondary is still without an interception. Amos wants to change that.

For a rookie safety, being complimented by an established coach and veteran cornerback for knowledge of the game is considered a great respect. It's a testament to how Amos has worked to understand his role.

Amos wants to be considered more than competent. He strives to be flawless.

"I just want to be a complete player – be able to do everything, work on every aspect on my game," he said. "I don't want any flaws in my game."

Follow Chris on Twitter @CEmma670.

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