Chicago Bears: Christian Jones moved to OLB- What it Means

The Chicago Bears have moved Christian Jones to outside linebacker, a decision that should help the Florida State product keep his roster spot.

When the Chicago Bears signed Danny Trevathan, Christian Jones thought he would have a new starting mate at inside linebacker to replace Shea McClellin. When the Bears signed Jerrell Freeman, Jones knew he was out of a starting job. Shortly thereafter, the Bears drafted Nick Kwiatkoski and Jones had to wonder if he was even going to be on the roster in 2016.

That’s why the Bears announcing that Jones will now be competing for a roster spot at outside linebacker makes a lot of sense for all parties.

Jones is a good linebacker. He has a nice nose for the football and makes some big plays occasionally. But Jones isn’t a difference maker. He isn’t a player that offenses need to know his whereabouts at all times. That’s why Ryan Pace brought in Trevathan and Freeman; they want to playmakers at the linebacking corps, just like Vic Fangio had in San Francisco with NaVorro Bowman, Patrick Willis and Aldon Smith.

While Jones isn’t Aldon Smith, he’s useful. He led the team in tackles last season with 86 and according to Pro Football Focus, he was second in the NFL in tackling efficiency. The Bears have put a lot of focus on improving their pass rush, but also on players that are strong against the run, and you can never have enough sure-tacklers if that’s the case. Jones hasn’t played outside in a 3-4 set, but he did play outside in a 4-3 set both at Florida State and for Chicago pre-Fangio (Florida State plays more of a 3-3-5).

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Pernell McPhee is locked into one of the outside linebacker spots, but the other OLB position is definitely an open competition. Most analysts have assumed that Lamarr Houston has the position by default, but there are no guarantees.

Last season, the Bears kept nine linebackers on the roster, four inside and five outside. The Bears currently have Jones, McPhee, Houston, Willie Young, Sam Acho and Leonard Floyd competing at outside linebacker. If the Bears again keep five OLBs, that means one of them will be out of a job in late August.

It’s possible that Pace might try and trade Young to another team if he can get a draft pick in return. He is the individual that would have the best chance to give the Bears a decent return, assuming McPhee and Floyd are off the block. If he isn’t able to make a trade, one of these players is going to lose their job. Floyd and McPhee aren’t going anywhere, but in theory any of the other four could be shown the door.

Houston is the least likely due to his contract and that the Bears would be left with $3 million in dead cap space, but they are in a financial position to absorb it. Combine that with the fact that he led the team in sacks last season, it seems very unlikely that he would lose his position.

Young is always a mystery. Nobody thought he could adapt to the 3-4 last season, but he surprised Chicago and had a nice season, tallying 6.5 sacks. When Floyd was drafted, many people assumed that Young would be on his way out, but the Bears began working on a contract extension (with no success). One week you read articles why Willie Young will not be on the roster, but the next week those same writers explain why he isn’t going anywhere.

Fox and Pace really like Acho, but he is mostly a special teams player and just a rotational defensive player. Acho was on the field for 62.8% of special teams plays in 2015, second highest among Bears linebackers. Jones only played in 28% of special teams snaps in 2015, mostly due to the high volume he was on the field on defense. In 2014, when he was on the field less defensively, Jones played 64.4% of special teams snaps (snap counts courtesy of Football Outsiders).

If Jones can prove he still has value on special teams but can also bring his solid tackling skills to the defensive side of the ball, he could very easily find himself on the roster again in 2016. If Jones stayed at ILB, he would barely see the field defensively and would only be a special teams player and his value to the team would decrease tremendously. The move to outside linebacker works on many levels, but it proves one thing- the Bears want to give Jones every opportunity to make the roster.

Bill Zimmerman is an editor and featured writer for FanSided‘s BearGogglesOn. Like his Facebook page or follow him on Twitter for more news and interaction.

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