Chicago Bears: Pass rush must improve for defense to return to greatness
The Chicago Bears had a top-10 defense last season. Even so, their pass rush needs to improve if the team has hopes of taking a big step forward.
The Chicago Bears had another losing season in 2017. They finished 5-11, and their record over the last three seasons is a horrible 14-34. Also, they now have a four-season streak of double-digit-loss seasons.
General manager Ryan Pace worked hard to change all that. He made over not only the roster but also the coaching staff. He brought in an offensive-minded head coach in Matt Nagy and kept one of the best defensive minds in the NFL, Vic Fangio.
Fangio coordinated a top-ten defense in 2017. He has the ability to put players in winning situations and continued to do so last season, despite injuries to key performers.
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A key for the Bears to return to defensive dominance is their pass rush. They ranked seventh in the league in sacks last season with 42. However, with the departures of Pernell McPhee (4), Mitch Unrein (2.5), Christian Jones (2), Lamarr Houston (4), and Willie Young (2), they lost 34.5 percent of their sacks. Now, Leonard Floyd, who missed 10 games with several injuries over his two seasons in Chicago, needs to step up and lead the way.
On the other side of Floyd, the Bears went out and signed Aaron Lynch. Lynch struggled over the past several seasons with San Francisco. His best season came when he played under Fangio, though, so maybe the magic can return.
In addition, the Bears have rookies Roquan Smith, Joel Iyiegbuniwe, and Kylie Fitts to try to cause some damage.
On the defensive line, the Bears have Roy Robertson-Harris and Jonathan Bullard battling for the defensive end slot opposite of Akiem Hicks. Hicks needs someone on the other side who could at least take some pressure off him. He had a great season in 2017, but he got double-teamed a great deal and he wore down late in the season. Perhaps the guy who helps him isn’t on the roster just yet. They’ll keep an eye out on the late cuts this preseason.
There is a lot of hope hinging on the Bears’ pass rush. There is no given there as the questions outnumber the answers. In order for the defense to return to Monsters of the Midway status, those questions need to be answered quickly.
Pro Football Focus doesn’t feel the Bears can answer those questions this season. They released their 2018 pass rushing rankings, and the Bears are low on that list. They ranked Chicago’s pass rush 30th out of 32 teams.
"Right now, expectations for what the Bears can expect off the edge pass-rush wise should be very low. Injuries have slowed Floyd’s development after he was drafted with the ninth overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, leading to just 72 total pressures through three seasons. Starting opposite him will likely be Acho, with Lynch in on nickel pass-rushing packages. Lynch has averaged four sacks, and just over six hits and 21 hurries per season in his four-year career. The Bears top pass-rusher right now is Hicks on the defensive interior, and after producing 49 total pressures in 2017, he will likely need to be their top pass-rusher again in 2018."
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The Chicago Bears need to put fear into opposing quarterbacks once again. That is the trademarks of their defense. Historically, they mauled quarterbacks. On the other hand, if they don’t get it done again, it’ll still be quite some time before they return to prominence.