Chicago Bears 2015 Position Preview: Outside Linebacker
Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
With free agency and the NFL draft completed, the core of the Chicago Bears 2015 roster is in place. There may be an undrafted player who makes the team via mini-camp, like RB Senorise Perry and CB Al Louis-Jean did last year, or a free agent signing of a cap casualty late in the preseason, but for the most part the roster is in place. Over the next few weeks I will be breaking down the Bears depth chart at every position.
With the transition to a 3-4 scheme under new DC Vic Fangio, there is some uncertainty over who will emerge as the most effective linebackers both inside and out. Free agent addition Pernell McPhee has the most experience in a 3-4 scheme and is all but a lock to start at one of the OLB positions. Last year’s big free agent addition Lamarr Houston is the favorite right now for the other OLB spot, but he is recovering from an ACL tear and may not be healthy enough to win the job. Veteran Jared Allen is making the transition to OLB after an 11-year career as a DE. Young players like David Bass and Cornelius Washington are actually better fits for OLB than DE and may push Houston and Allen for the other starting position.
Position Previews: QB | RB | WR | OT | OG | C | TE | DT | DE | OLB
2015 Bears OLB Depth Chart:
Projected Starters
Pernell McPhee
Despite playing just 56% of the defensive snaps for the Ravens last season, McPhee had 8 sacks on the season and led the team in both QB hits (21) and QB hurries (35) according to Pro Football Focus. Both of those pass rush numbers would have led the Chicago Bears in 2014 as well. McPhee’s overall grade from PFF of 26.0 was the best grade on a formidable Ravens defense and the 2nd highest grade of all 3-4 OLBs behind only the Chiefs Justin Houston.
McPhee’s experience in a 3-4 scheme, productivity as a pass rusher, and versatility to play both OLB and DE are all big pluses for the Bears. At 6’3, 280 pounds McPhee has the size to play defensive end if needed and started six games as an end for the Ravens in 2012. With the Bears lacking depth at DE and not having any OLBs with NFL experience in a 3-4, McPhee is one of the only sure things for the 2015 Bears defense. The Bears current roster was built to play in a 4-3 scheme, so McPhee and Jay Ratliff (the only two starters with 3-4 experience) will have their work cut out for them making sure their teammates are in the right place.
Lamarr Houston
Bears fans seemed to have turned on Houston already due to his lackluster first season in Chicago. It really couldn’t have ended worse with Houston tearing his ACL during a celebration of his first sack of the season in week 8 while getting blown out by the Patriots. I understand fan’s frustrations, but it is way too soon to give up on Houston’s future with the Bears. Yes, he had a disappointing sack total last year (1), but Houston was on pace for 51 QB pressures (hits + hurries) which would have been in the top 10 off all NFL 4-3 DEs in 2014. At only 27 years old, Houston is still in his prime and if he recovers cleanly from his ACL injury could be a solid producer for the Bears over the next few seasons. My main question with Houston is not if he can be productive, but where he fits best in VIc Fangio’s scheme?
Houston is listed at 6’3, 305 pounds but hasn’t come close to that weight since early in his NFL career, from what I’ve hear he played at around 265 pounds for the Bears last year which excludes him from the DE discussion. It’s just about ideal weight for the pass-rushing OLB position in Fangio’s scheme though. It’s not talked about much now after Houston disappointing debut with the Bears, but he was 6th among NFL DEs with 53 QB pressures in 2013 (hits + hurries). Lining Houston up at OLB and letting him just focus on getting to the QB could quickly remind Bears fans why Phil Emery gave Houston $35M over five years. If Houston is 100% healthy I expect him to be one of the biggest surprises of the season for a Bears defense that will be better than most fans think.