Chicago Bears Have Impressive Pass Rushing Depth

By Dan Schmelzer | Jun 22, 2015

Under new head coach John Fox and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, the Chicago Bears will be taking the plunge in a transition to the 3-4 defense. Fangio in particular has had a ton of success with his 3-4 schemes in the past, but make no mistake, this will not be an easy transition.

While they have attempted to acquire players this off season who fit Fangio’s 3-4 defensive scheme, a majority of the Bears’ defensive players are probably best suited for the 4-3 defense that they ran in past years. That being said, arguably the core of a good 3-4 defense is productive pass rushing outside linebackers, and the Bears undoubtedly have some enticing options at that position.

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It all starts with the premier free agent addition of the team’s off season Pernell McPhee, who the Bears landed on a five-year contract worth nearly $39 million. McPhee joins the Bears after spending the first four years of his career with the Baltimore Ravens.

While McPhee was primarily a backup player for the Ravens, he was able to contribute to their 3-4 defense in many different ways. McPhee has almost always been listed as an outside linebacker, but he has shown incredible versatility throughout his career, playing all over the defensive line, and a little bit of inside linebacker, as well as his duties as an outside linebacker. His versatility and experience in the 3-4 will be huge for this team.

Nov 2, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) looks to pass under pressure from Baltimore Ravens linebacker Pernell McPhee (90) during the first half of the game at Heinz Field. The Steelers won the game, 43-23. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports

McPhee is a quick, strong and aggressive player with obvious pass rush skills, but he does very well against the run as well. As one of the few players on the roster with 3-4 experience, McPhee is going to play many roles on the Bears’ defense, but he will undoubtedly make an impact as an outside pass rusher at times.

To go along McPhee, the Bears have a lot of players making the transition to the 3-4 outside linebacker position from 4-3 defensive end. While the positions are similar, it will be interesting to see how these guys translate.

Leading this group of pass rushers is Jared Allen, who entering his second season as a member of the Bears. In his first year in Chicago, Allen totaled only 5.5 sacks, the lowest total in his fantastic career. At 33-years-old, Allen’s better days are undoubtedly behind him, but I find it hard to believe that he cannot still be a productive pass rusher if put in situations to succeed.

He was beat up last season, and that certainly did not help things. His back-to-back seasons of 12 and 11.5 sack totals in 2012 and 2013 were not long ago, and I think Allen still has plenty left in the tank. The Bears just need to find a way to keep him fresh and healthy.

Nov 27, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Chicago Bears defensive end Jared Allen (69) pressures Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) during the first quarter at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

According to Jake Bartelson of Chicago Football, Allen seems to think that this transition to a 3-4 will help keep him fresh. After spending his entire career in the trenches as a 4-3 defensive end, I tend to agree.

"“It’s less stress on my body,” Allen said. “[Standing up], and not banging on every play, it’s a little more refreshing from a physical standpoint. I think it all takes its toll, and it all helps.”"

Keeping Allen upright and on the outside will be key to getting him back to his ferocious pass rushing self. Limiting his snaps is certainly one way to keep Allen fresh and productive, and that is where the Bears’ depth at the position comes into play.

Arguably the most important back-up at the outside linebacker position will be third-year player David Bass, who is also undergoing the DE to OLB position change this off season. Bass totaled three sacks in only eight games and one start last season, showing an impressive combination of speed and quickness as an outside pass rusher.

Dec 28, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Chicago Bears defensive end David Bass (91) goes for a sack against Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) in the fourth quarter at TCF Bank Stadium. The Vikings win 13-9. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

A lot of Bass’ ability is based on projection, but he seems to have a legitimate skill set to thrive in Fangio’s 3-4 defense. His quick and aggressive style should lead to a lot of success in the new system, as he will now be set up to use his speed more advantageously by standing up on the outside. Bass is a dark-horse to be a big-time contributor to the Bears’ defense.

As of right now, McPhee and Allen would probably be the starters for the Bears at the outside linebacker positions. Bass has a ton of upside, but he is unlikely to be in anything more than a back-up role to start the year. Perhaps it will be a role with a lot of snaps, but he is very unlikely to un-seat either of those guys.

If anybody is going to take over as a starter for McPhee or Allen on the outside before the regular season, it would probably be a player who is currently injured. I am talking about Willie Young and Lamarr Houston who both are returning from injuries suffered last season, and are also making the same transition as Allen and Bass.

Oct 12, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Chicago Bears defensive end Willie Young (97) tackles Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) after a short gain as defensive end Lamarr Houston (99) pursues in the fourth quarter of their game at the Georgia Dome. The Bears won 27-13. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

Both Young and Houston were free agent additions by the Bears last off season, with Houston being the more celebrated signing. However, it was Young who had the more impactful season in his first go-around in Chicago. Young was a disruptive pass rusher all season long for the Bears, finishing with 10 sacks on the season.

Those 10 sacks were far and away a career high for Young, as he only totaled six sacks in 48 games with the Detroit Lions prior to joining the Bears. On top of that, Young’s skill set is also centered around his speed rushing ability, which could mean even more success as a 3-4 rusher, despite the fact that he has spent his entire career in a 4-3 up until this point.

Young was fantastic last season, but a torn Achilles suffered in Week 15 held him out of a lot of activities over the off season. At the time of the injury, Young had a time-table to return of six-to-nine months. Right now would be the lower end of that return date, and he has been doing some light work. His return is still questionable, but I think Young has a chance to compete in training camp, and should be ready to go once the season starts.

Houston’s first season as a member of the Bears was nothing short of a disaster. He was brought in as a marquee free agent addition, and he collected only eight tackles and one sacks in eight games on the season. Houston went down with an embarrassing torn ACL injury that he suffered while celebrating his lone sack of the season. Houston seems to progressing well from the injury, and since it took place so early in the season, I expect him to be basically fully ready to go for training camp.

Houston had a lot of success in a 3-4 defense with the Oakland Raiders in the past. This could be just what he needs to get back on track. Houston is still a talented player, and if he is healthy, I fully expect him to push for the starting job opposite of McPhee. Regardless, he brings nice depth to the position.

The Bears signed Sam Acho as a free agent this off season, and while he does not have much upside, he does have a lot of experience as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense. Shea McClellin and Christian Jones could theoretically end up on the outside if they do not take well to the inside linebacker position. While neither player would be a safe bet to do anything, both McClellin and Jones bring nice upside to whichever position they end up playing.

Aside from McPhee, the Bears’ options at outside linebacker are filled with question marks. That being said, there is a lot of depth and talent available at the position. I am sure they will not all work out, but with so many options with perceived upside, I fully expect the outside linebackers to be one of the most productive groups on the defensive side of the ball.

This transition to a 3-4 defense will not be easy, but the Bears do have a lot of players who can put consistent pressure on the quarterback. If nothing else, that will help hide holes that are on the rest of the defense. I do not expect a miracle, but these outside linebackers could lead the Bears back to having a respectable defense.

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