Which Chicago Bears are a good fit for Vic Fangio’s scheme?
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Outside Linebacker (#55, #99): Ahmad Brooks (6’4, 259), Aldon Smith (6’4, 258), Aaron Lynch (6’5, 249)
The outside linebackers in Fangio’s scheme are the best edge pass-rushers. Whichever one is lined up on the weak-side moves up to the line of scrimmage as a stand-up DE while the other drops in short zone coverage. Fangio doesn’t ask his OLBs to cover anyone man-to-man which opens up the position to players who would be considered tweeners in standard 4-3 or 3-4 schemes.
Good fit:
Christian Jones (6’3, 240): Started 5 games for the Bears as an undrafted rookie and showed the potential to be a difference-making LB. Jones has the athleticism to play any LB spot but his best fit might be as a 3-4 OLB. He’s a natural pass rusher and has the size and speed to get to the QB quick. His responsibilities would be simplified in Fangio’s scheme and he could just focus on using his considerable athletic gifts to get to the QB.
Shea McClellin (6’3, 260): This is basically the position McClellin played at Boise St when he had 15.5 sacks over his last two seasons. Maybe the switch back to his natural position brings out the talent Emery saw when he drafted McClellin 19th overall in 2012?
Cornelius Washington (6’4, 265): He’s spent the last two seasons gaining weight (265) to play DE in a 4-3, but at his natural weight (250) Washington would be an ideal fit as a 3-4 OLB. He’s shown off his athleticism on special teams coverage units and was a beast in preseason, but can’t seem to get on the field as a DE because he hasn’t played well against the run. Washington has all the athletic tools to be a dominant pass rusher (4.55 speed, 35 bench reps, 39″ vert) and a switch to a 3-4 would allow him to focus on what he does best. Here is a quote about the former 6th round pick from draft analyst Mike Mayock:
“One of my favorite players. He’s a little bit one-dimensional. But you put him on the edge and ask him to hunt quarterbacks.”
— Mike Mayock
Maybe:
Willie Young (6’4, 251): On paper he has the ideal size for a 3-4 OLB, but watching him play I’m not sure he has the agility to play in space. Young is coming off a breakout season, but will have to recover from an ACL injury and seems too stiff to play off the line of scrimmage. It’s would be kind of a waste of his talent to be relegated to just a 3rd down pass rusher, but that is probably his best fit in Fangio’s scheme. The Bears could look to trade Young and he would have considerable value (if healthy) to teams that run a 4-3 based on his affordable salary (2yrs, $7M remaining) and 10 sack 2014 season.
David Bass (6’4, 256): Similar to Young in that he has ideal OLB size, but doesn’t pass the eye test in space. Bass is a bit more mobile than Young and has shown good football instincts, but probably isn’t agile enough to play off the line. On the plus side, Bass doesn’t cost much and could have value as a 3rd down pass rusher. With Allen and Young filling the same role, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Bears let Bass go.
Bad Fit
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Jared Allen (6’6, 265): Was opposed to playing in a 3-4 while with Minnesota so I doubt Allen is going to be ok with the switch to OLB now that he’s a bit older and a step (or three) slower. Allen isn’t a great fit for the OLB position in a standard 3-4, but in Fangio’s scheme OLBs are stand up DEs half the time. That part of the job Allen could potentially excel at, but he will also need to drop into short zone coverage at times which won’t work quite as well. Allen makes too much money to trade or let go this season at least, so the Bears may be stuck with the highest paid 3rd down rush specialist in the league.
Khaseem Greene (6’1, 241): The former college safety should have been a perfect fit as a run-stopping, weak-side OLB in a 4-3 scheme. He wasn’t. Good riddance.