Countdown to Kickoff: Profile on Chicago Bears No. 49 Sam Acho

The Countdown to Kickoff series continues on with a look at Chicago Bears outside linebacker Sam Acho who is a strong depth player who will fill multiple roles for his rapidly improving team.

There are exactly 49 days until the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers open up the 2016 NFL regular season with a Super Bowl rematch. In the meantime, we at NFL Spin Zone are going to profile a player each day as we countdown the days to kickoff.

The Countdown to Kickoff series began with a look at No. 99 Joey Bosa and has continued on everyday since (check out all of the posts here).

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If I am being honest, there really were not many strong candidates to profile here at number 49. With that being the case, I went with an underrated player on a team who I personally follow closely.

Let’s take a look at Chicago Bears outside linebacker Sam Acho.

Acho joined the best last season, playing in 15 of the Bears’ 16 games, including seven starts. The Bears targeted Acho in free agency last season because of his experience in the 3-4 defense with the Arizona Cardinals.

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Acho was drafted by the Cardinals in the fourth-round (103rd overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft. Acho made an immediate impact in Arizona, piling up seven sacks and four forced fumbles in his rookie season.

He struggled with injuries and inconsistency throughout his remaining three years in Arizona, but his experience as a 3-4 outside linebacker directly appealed to the Bears.

Under new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, the Bears transitioned to a 3-4 defense last season. However, they did not really have the front seven players in place to make a completely successful defensive transition.

Acho joined fellow free agent linebacker addition Pernell McPhee and rookie defensive tackle Eddie Goldman as 3-4 specific players in the Bears’ defense, but for the most part, the Bears had players who were better suited to play in a 4-3 scheme.

Even with that being the case, the Bears’ defense was much better in 2015 than it was in 2014, allowing 24.8 points per game as opposed to a 31st ranked 27.6 per game in 2014.

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Acho may not have been a massively impactful player for the Bears last season, but his ability to play well at a familiar position was key for a Bears’ defense who had too many odd players for their scheme.

On top of that, Acho is a great special teams player who made a consistent impact for the Bears on a variety of return teams and kick coverage units. If nothing else, he will continue to be one of the best special teams players on the Bears’ roster.

Acho is unlikely to be a full-time starter for the Bears in 2016. General manager Ryan Pace and the Bears’ front office has continued to do an incredible job of adding impact defensive players who fit their 3-4 defense well.

Free agents like DL Akiem Hicks, LB Danny Trevathan and LB Jerrell Freeman immediately come to mind. Also rookie OLB Leonard Floyd and DL Jonathan Bullard are talented players who fit the 3-4 defense well and will make an immediate impact.

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With so many new faces who fit their 3-4 defense well, Acho may end up being the odd man out. His ability to play in a 3-4 scheme is not as important to the Bears as it was last season.

That being said, he is still a solid player who the Bears can count on as a strong depth piece and his special teams ability is still completely necessary.