Chicago Bears: 5 Biggest questions for the 2020 season

3. How much greater can the defense get?

One of the bright spots on a team that struggled so much in 2019 was the defense. Despite dealing with injuries and a new defensive coordinator in Chuck Pagano, the Chicago Bears defense still finished fourth in points allowed. Even so, they did take a dip from 2019.

Many people expected regression from a defense that did so much in 2018. After leading the league with 47 turnovers forced in 2019, that number dropped to 24, ranking 22nd.

As I mentioned earlier, Hick’s injury hurt the defense. Additionally, injuries to linebackers Danny Trevathan and Roquan Smith hurt as well but having great backups helped mitigate that.

This season, the players have a better understanding of Pagano’s system. Both sides were feeling each other out last season but this season they know each other well. Also, with healthy players back the defense is as strong (if not stronger) as it was in 2019.

One change the coaching staff made that could bring back the turnover party had to do with moving safety Eddie Jackson from free safety to strong safety.

Jackson was one of the most dominant safeties in the league when he was playing free safety. In his first two seasons at free safety, Jackson recorded 12 turnovers and scored five touchdowns. In addition, he forced three fumbles and recorded a sack.

Last season, the Bears signed Ha Ha Clinton-Dix to play free safety. That meant Jackson moved into the strong safety box. He didn’t resist and, while not being as dominant, he still had a pretty good season, making the Pro Bowl. This season, the Bears signed Tashaun Gipson to play strong safety. That moves Jackson back to where he was the best.

Gipson is a ball hawk himself. He has 23 interceptions (including three last season) in his eight seasons in the league. Helping Jackson play in his best position and also playing well makes the defense even tougher. Here is a fun fact for everyone: there are only two safeties in the league who held quarterbacks to 55 percent completion rates or less. Jackson was one and the other…Gipson.

With everyone healthy, this could be one dangerous defense. They could eclipse the 2018 version and enter the rarified air of the all-time great units.