Why Stephen Paea Is the Chicago Bears’ Most Underrated Player Through 6 Weeks
Published by Ross Read on October 14, 2014
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
Stephen Paea deserves your attention. In case you haven’t noticed, the four-year defensive tackle is having a Pro Bowl season but remains the most under-the-radar player on the Bears.
Maybe it’s the emergence of Willie Young, lack of productivity from Lamarr Houston and Jared Allen or Paea’s low-key personality causing him to not get the attention he deserves.
Paea has four sacks through six games from the interior position. Even when not getting to the quarterback, he has disrupted pass attempts with his athletic ability and has two passes defended.
Only Buffalo‘s Marcell Dareus has more sacks from the defensive tackle position than Paea, with five. Paea is currently tied in sacks with Houston’s J.J. Watt and the Jets‘ Muhammad Wilkerson.
A lot of Willie Young’s league-leading seven sacks have come in large part due to the pressure up the middle from Paea. This was evident in the Bears’ Week 6 victory against Matt Ryan and the Falcons.
The Bears defense is ranked in the top 10 in rushing yards against. With a flurry of injuries to the linebackers, it’s been Paea who has anchored the defense up front and has been a major reason why the Bears have improved despite being short-handed.
What’s causing Paea to take such a big step forward this season?
A fire was likely lit underneath him after the Bears drafted defensive tackles Ego Ferguson and Will Sutton in this year’s draft. Paea is also an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season and is setting himself up for a solid payday.
When the Bears drafted Paea in the second round back in 2011, they envisioned a stout anchor up the middle to apply pressure and free up the linebackers to make plays against the run.
Instead, the Bears got an underachieving player who couldn’t stay healthy. He was largely inconsistent and very frustrating to watch because everyone knew the potential he has.
At 26 years old, Paea is starting to figure it out. He uses his size and strong arms to push guards and centers into the backfield. He’s a smarter player whose awareness allows him to sniff out screens, bat down balls and set up his teammates for big plays.
If Paea stays healthy, he will continue to be an intricate part of the defense. As the Bears continue to mend their wounds at the linebacker spot, it’s going to be important for Paea to be the force up the middle.
At the end of the season, the Bears are going to have an interesting decision to make. Yes, they have two young defensive tackles ready to take the next step, but it’s going to be very hard to let a young homegrown player leave after you have waited so long for him to develop.
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