Chicago Bears: Defense on the rise has Ryan Pace’s fingerprints all over it
The Chicago Bears defense is playing well again and as excitement mounts for this team, Ryan Pace’s touch is evident throughout.
Watching the Chicago Bears is exciting again. Not the entire team (I’m looking at you offense), but part of it. The “Monsters of the Midway” defense is on the way back. We see quarterback pressure, sacks, tackles for loss and turnovers.
The defense ranks seventh overall, sixth in sacks, and second in interceptions returned for a touchdown. The turnovers are coming now. After starting out slowly, the turnovers are coming in bunches. They forced three turnovers in their first seven games. However, they forced six in the last two games. They went from ranking dead last in turnovers to 17th.
Looking at how well the defense performs, we see that this defense has general manager Ryan Pace’s fingerprints all over it. This was most evident in the Bears’ latest game.
Leonard Floyd (2016 first round pick) had a sack and used his athletic ability to harass the athletic Cam Newton. Additionally, Eddie Jackson (2017 fourth round pick) made history, becoming the first rookie to have a fumble recovery and interception runs of 75 yards or more in a season — and he did it in one game.
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After running an interception 90 yards for a touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens, Adrian Amos (2015 fifth round pick) collected six tackles and made some big hits. Eddie Goldman (2015 second round pick) had a big stop of Newton on a fourth-and-two situation.
Those were just some of Pace’s draft choices. His free agent signings did well also. Akiem Hicks (2016 signee) has six sacks and 24 tackles this season. Danny Trevathan (2016 signee) has two sacks and 39 tackles. He had a key interception against the Panthers. After missing seven games last season, Pernell McPhee (2016 signee) played in every game this season and matched his sack total of last season (4.0).
With the Bears struggling throughout Pace’s tenure, he’s taken a lot of criticism. People highlight his failings (2015 first round pick Kevin White, 2015 free agent signee Eddie Royal and 2016 signee Antrel Rolle). However, every general manager has his hits and misses. Pace’s hits far outnumber his misses, though.
Pace brought back the familiar hard-hitting Bears defense. The Chicago Tribune‘s Steve Rosenbloom wrote about the importance of having the hard hits return:
"Just as a good running game wears down opposing defenses, a big-hitting defense has opposing offensive players turning their heads for fear of punishment. The toughness long adored and expected in a Bears defense has returned, or at worst is showing signs of doing the legacy proud. The forecast for the rest of the season is pain."
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As a result of Pace’s moves, we have a defense we express pride in. The process tested fans’ patience, however. But the new era looks to continue the legacy of the Chicago Bears defense. Now, let’s give Ryan Pace the credit he deserves.