Oct 12, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Chicago Bears defensive end Willie Young (97) reacts after sacking the quarterback against the Atlanta Falcons during the second half at the Georgia Dome. The Bears defeated the Falcons 27-13. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Chicago Bears GM Ryan Pace has quite a rebuilding project on his hands. In the next phase of our Chicago Bears Roster Review, we look at the players who are currently on the Bears roster. We’ll look back at their 2014 season and look ahead to how they might fit into the team’s plans in 2015.
Willie Young, Age 30, DE
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In terms of the Bears 2014 season, you’d be hard-pressed to find any sign or glimmer of hope that the team was headed in the right direction going into the offseason. As gut-wrenching as last season was, a lone bright spot was Willie Young.
Last March, Young signed a three-year $9 million deal with the Bears. Young wasn’t a starter in Detroit, but he definitely saw significant playing time with the Lions (He played 730 snaps in 2013). Not only was he a bargain, and I mean bargain, free agent pickup, but it’s always nice to weaken a team in the division.
During Young’s breakout season, he lead the team with 10 sacks, 40 combined tackles, and a forced fumble. He was active, and terrorized opposing backfields. Young’s terrific season came to an abrupt ending in Week 16 when he suffered a torn Achilles tendon in the Bears’ loss to the Lions. It’s a tough break for a rising star on the Bears defense.
Willie Young has a future in Chicago. It’s tough to find a defensive end of his caliber-one that’s stout in run support and lives between the tackles. New head coach John Fox and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio must decide exactly where they want to place Young. He’s athletic enough to play outside linebacker in a 3-4, but as we’ve seen, he can wreak havoc with his hand in the dirt. Even though the Bears will be a base 3-4 defense, they’ll be in sub packages plenty of time so Young could still see plenty of time as a DE.
The Bears are actually somewhat thin at defensive end. On the roster, the Bears have a recovering Lamarr Houston, an aging Jared Allen, an unproven Cornelius Washington, and solid rotational player in David Bass. It’s uncertain how Young’s recovery from a serious injury and the change in scheme will impact his 2015 season. I wouldn’t be surprised if Young starts the season on the PUP list before he’s ready to see live action wherever the Bears put him.