Post by brasilbear on Feb 17, 2017 18:38:37 GMT -6
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The Bears Defense
Wait, hear me out! The Bears finished 22nd in defensive DVOA and 24th in scoring defense (24.9 points per game) last season, but considering the number of injuries they had to deal with, those figures should serve as a reminder that coordinator Vic Fangio is one of the best in the business.
Inside linebacker and 2016 free-agent prize Danny Trevathan missed seven games with knee and thumb injuries. Edge rusher Pernell McPhee missed just as many, and even when he was on the field, the knee injury that put him on the PUP list to start the season was a consistent issue. Nose tackle Eddie Goldman was out for 10 games with a litany of lower-body ailments. And cornerback Kyle Fuller didn’t play a snap because of a knee problem.
The 2016 Bears were a mess, and they still managed to avoid falling into the bottom tier of NFL defenses. Looking at their preliminary 2017 depth chart should be enough to give fans hope. With Trevathan, McPhee, Goldman, 2016 standout Akiem Hicks, promising young pass rusher Leonard Floyd (seven sacks as a rookie), and a few other pieces, Chicago has the makings of a startlingly good front seven.
The secondary is where the Bears desperately need an influx of talent, and with the crop of cornerbacks available and the franchise’s reservoir of cash, they’ll have the means to acquire it. General manager Ryan Pace is working with about $51.6 million in cap room, and that’s before the expected release of quarterback Jay Cutler provides an extra $14 million in space. Even if the Bears choose to bring back top receiver Alshon Jeffery, that’s a silly amount of cash with which to work. Any of the premier corners set to hit the market (Bouye, Gilmore, and Johnson) could be in play. Pair some defensive back help with Fangio and a front seven that could be excellent (when healthy), and Chicago is a candidate to stun some people next season.
The Bears Defense
Wait, hear me out! The Bears finished 22nd in defensive DVOA and 24th in scoring defense (24.9 points per game) last season, but considering the number of injuries they had to deal with, those figures should serve as a reminder that coordinator Vic Fangio is one of the best in the business.
Inside linebacker and 2016 free-agent prize Danny Trevathan missed seven games with knee and thumb injuries. Edge rusher Pernell McPhee missed just as many, and even when he was on the field, the knee injury that put him on the PUP list to start the season was a consistent issue. Nose tackle Eddie Goldman was out for 10 games with a litany of lower-body ailments. And cornerback Kyle Fuller didn’t play a snap because of a knee problem.
The 2016 Bears were a mess, and they still managed to avoid falling into the bottom tier of NFL defenses. Looking at their preliminary 2017 depth chart should be enough to give fans hope. With Trevathan, McPhee, Goldman, 2016 standout Akiem Hicks, promising young pass rusher Leonard Floyd (seven sacks as a rookie), and a few other pieces, Chicago has the makings of a startlingly good front seven.
The secondary is where the Bears desperately need an influx of talent, and with the crop of cornerbacks available and the franchise’s reservoir of cash, they’ll have the means to acquire it. General manager Ryan Pace is working with about $51.6 million in cap room, and that’s before the expected release of quarterback Jay Cutler provides an extra $14 million in space. Even if the Bears choose to bring back top receiver Alshon Jeffery, that’s a silly amount of cash with which to work. Any of the premier corners set to hit the market (Bouye, Gilmore, and Johnson) could be in play. Pair some defensive back help with Fangio and a front seven that could be excellent (when healthy), and Chicago is a candidate to stun some people next season.
