Chicago Bears defense putting last season’s struggles in the rearview mirror
The Chicago Bears understood that the defense struggled in 2022. With the new additions, they are ready to move on and keep those struggles in the past.
When a team has a 3-14 season the way the Chicago Bears did in 2022, there are a lot of problems. One of the most notable troubles for the team was the defensive struggles. We are used to seeing the Bears dominate defensively. In 2022, however, we saw them get pushed around far too much.
Opponents were able to gash the Bears up the middle. There were many times on third and long that the defense allowed a conversion. The Bears ranked 31st in rushing yards allowed and last in rushing touchdowns allowed.
The defense was not much better going after the quarterback. They ranked last in sacks and quarterback knockdowns. They ranked 31st in quarterback pressures as well. Quarterbacks were able to stand in the pocket without worrying about the pass rush.
As a result, the defense ranked last in points allowed and 29th in yards. They did finish 14th in turnovers. However, even when they caused turnovers, the defense still struggled with giving up points.
In the offseason, general manager Ryan Poles wanted to change all of that. He wanted to turn the defense into an athletic, physical unit. He didn’t think the defense played tough. In his eyes, it got bullied.
Poles went out and overhauled the defense. He added DeMarcus Walker and Rasheem Green. Additionally, he prioritized the defensive tackle spot. He kept Justin Jones but added all around him. He signed free agent Andrew Billings. Then he went and selected three defensive tackles in the draft — Gervon Dexter. Zacch Pickens, and Travis Bell.
The one spot Poles did not really address was at defensive end. Walker and Green are nice additions, but they aren’t elite. Travis Gipson and Dominique Robinson both returned.
There is still a possibility that Poles finds another quality pass rusher. However, he could sit pat and hope that the additions at defensive tackle help put pressure in the middle. That then creates space on the outside for the ends to get into the backfield more easily and harass the quarterback.
Where Poles did his heaviest lifting was at linebacker. He signed T.J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds, two of the highest-rated linebackers in the NFL. Add Jack Sanborn, the undrafted rookie free agent last season who stepped up and played well after the team traded Roquan Smith (before an injury prematurely shut down his season) and the Chicago Bears have a much-improved unit.
In fact, Pro Football Focus just released their rankings for the linebackers units and the Bears ranked second, behind only the San Francisco 49ers. This is what they said about the Bears linebackers.
"Tremaine Edmunds arrives from Buffalo after a long-awaited breakout that saw massive increases in his overall (81.9) and coverage (90.0) grades. The latter mark, along with his 10 pass breakups, led all qualified linebackers.T.J. Edwards comes with less fanfare but was the unsung hero of the Eagles’ elite defense. He played nearly 1,200 snaps and graded above 78.0 against the run, in coverage and as a pass-rusher, which added up to the sixth-best overall grade (81.6) at the position."
Poles also invested in cornerback again. He continues the Bears’ recent history of drafting cornerbacks. Poles selected Tyrique Stevenson and Terell Smith, making it eight corners in the last six drafts (Stevenson was the third cornerback in the past four drafts to be chosen in the second round).
The Bears feel good about their safety position. Eddie Jackson and Jaquan Brisker were a very good duo before Jackson’s season was cut short because of a foot injury.
Chicago Bears defense feels that their struggles are a thing of the past
With all of the new additions to the defense, the players feel that their struggles are in the rearview mirror. Things are changing and they will be a better unit in 2023. There is a renewed life around Halas Hall and we are seeing more of the confidence we are used to seeing from a Chicago Bears defense.
Jackson noted the different energy during practices. He talked about how much more intense the feeling is now with the new players.
"It’s just a different feel out there right now…We get a turnover. We knock the ball down. We scoop a ball up. The energy is just so intense out there right now. When you get a bunch of guys like that, you’re going to create something special."
Even with a question mark at defensive end, the Chicago Bears still feel that the defense as a whole will take a big step forward in 2023. There is a lot more talent and the players are buying into what the coaches are doing.
It might take another season to finish the change, but we may be experiencing the beginning of the return of The Monsters of the Midway.