Chicago Bears: Grading the team’s first half performance
Defensive line: A-
The Chicago Bears line is the anchor of the defense. Unlike past seasons, this season’s line is causing disruption, putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks and running backs.
To begin with, Akiem Hicks is having not only a Pro Bowl season but also a Defensive Player of the Year candidate. At the beginning of the season, the Bears and Hicks agreed on a four-year, $48 million contract. He’s been worth every penny so far. He has 26 tackles, seven sacks (and a sack in four straight games), and a fumble recovery. He overpowers offensive linemen and swallows up quarterbacks.
Hicks is the leader the defense needs. Additionally, he is the leader the team needs. With the exit of Brian Urlacher and Charles Tillman and Lance Briggs, the roster lacked that leadership. Now, when something needs to be said, Hicks says it. He called for a change in the offense before the change was finally made.
Hicks also loves to tell people how much confidence he has in his teammates. He spoke on 670 The Score’s Mully and Hanley Show after the team’s loss to the Saints.
"Expectations weren’t high. My expectations were great when I was out there on the field, when I was out there running those hills all summer and when everybody put all this work in throughout these OTAs and training camp. My expectations are always high. I’ll say this: I’ll see you guys after we come off this bye and Green Bay comes down here and we get this W."
Eddie Goldman had his season cut short last year because of injuries. The Bears rush defense suffered as a result. This season, though, he’s healthy and helping improve that run defense.
After finishing at the bottom in a lot of the rush defensive categories, they are nearly in the top ten in rushing yards given up (12th). They still need to improve in rushing touchdowns. The two rushing touchdowns they allowed in Week 8 dropped them to 26th in the league. A healthy Eddie Goldman will help the defense get even better. Combined with Hicks and Mitch Unrein and the Chicago Bears’ defense could go from near elite to actual elite status.