Chicago Bears: Upcoming Season Will Be Defined By Defense
Published by Jimmy Lobus on August 5, 2010
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
With the Chicago Bears training camp underway, the defense holds the key to any success the Bears will have this season. Rod Marinelli is the new Defensive Coordinator but Lovie Smith will once again have his finger prints all over this defense.
In order for the defense to have success, they must adjust. Even though teams have been able to break the Cover 2 over the last three non-playoff seasons, Smith has been reluctant to change. It seems every time the opposition figures out ways to pick apart coverages, the defense is right back out there running the same thing. It becomes extremely frustrating as a fan to sit there and watch opposing teams march up and down the field converting third downs all game long.
With the addition of free agent Julius Peppers and the return of Brian Urlacher from injury, the Bears should immediately be a better unit just with these two players. Throw in Pro Bowl linebacker Lance Briggs and the Bears should be a top ten unit this season. There are plenty of question marks though.
Defensive Tackle Tommie Harris is a shell of himself the past couple seasons. Injuries and attitude have prevented Harris from maintaining his Pro Bowl caliber play. With the addition of Peppers he should see less double teams and should be free to rush the passer from the inside. Harris is one of the most disruptive defensive players in football when he is right and he will need to be for the Bears to succeed.
The Secondary is a major concern. Inconsistency and injuries plagued this group all last season. In order to have success, the pass rush will need to help alleviate some of the burden by getting to the Quarterback faster. Obviously, the less time the Secondary needs to cover, the more success they will have.
Stopping teams from converting third downs last season was a huge problem for the Bears. When it seemed the Bears were getting some momentum, the opposition would convert a third and long and move the chains. In order for the defense to improve, they will need to stop teams on third down so they can get off the field and get their rest.
The success of this season will start and end with the defense. Jobs are on the line and the Bears need to make the playoffs for those jobs to be saved. It all rests on the shoulders of the defense.
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