Chicago Bears 2015 Position Preview: Inside Linebacker

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Christian Jones

In college (Florida St) Jones was deployed all over the field by the Seminoles in their 3-4 scheme. He has experience playing OLB, DE, and ILB which could make Jones an ideal fit for new DC Vic Fangio’s hybrid scheme. With the Niners Fangio changed his front seven alignment often and a versatile defender like Jones with the size (6’3 | 240) and athleticism to play all over the field could end up seeing more snaps than any of the ILBs on this list. Jones came on strong late last season showing a well-rounded skill-set with the ability to rush the passer, blanket tight ends in coverage, and be effective vs the run. He could be used as a jack-of-all trades type like how Fangio used Ahmad Brooks with the Niners and may end up being the Bears most productive ILB in 2015.

Shea McClellin

The Bears have moved Bostic around since he was drafted, but that’s nothing compared to what the old regime did with McClellin. He spent his first season as a RE, whose primary responsibility is rushing the passer. Then in his 2nd seasons the Bears asked him to gain weight in order to set the edge vs the run as a LE. His 3rd season, the Bears asked him to lose that weight and play strong side OLB. I’m not absolving McClellin of blame, he wasn’t very good at any of those positions, but a big reason Phil Emery and friends aren’t with the Bears any more was their inability to develop young talent. Changing a young player’s responsibilities every season isn’t the way to do it.

Now McClellin finds himself competing for a job at yet another position, 3-4 ILB. He does have experience in a 3-4 scheme from his days at Boise St, but it was at OLB. As an ILB McClellin will be asked to cover running backs and tight ends, which he hasn’t proven he can do. Though he will also be asked to stop the run and blitz, two things he showed a talent for last season. McClellin earned a 10.1 grade as a run stopper last year from Pro Football Focus which was the 7th best among all 4-3 OLBs in the NFL last season. He’s also shown good timing on blitzes since his rookie year and could actually be a better fit at ILB than most fans and analysts are expecting. The new regime has no ties to McClellin, so he won’t be given anything, but I’m not writing him off quite yet.