The Bears’ defense will be much improved in year two under the John Fox regime. This is a second article in a series that will focus on particular areas of improvements and how that will translate to the field.
Team Speed
Team Attitude
HC John Fox and GM Ryan Pace have made a deliberate, multi-faceted effort to upgrade the Bears’ 53-man roster. While targeting players that have been productive and have good measurables, they also equally emphasize the intangible aspects to the game.
Fox acknowledged that “ always trying to upgrade football team, whether it’s the talent level, or whether it’s a mindset or work ethic, some of those things that are important in the game football.”
One central, intangible component involves attitude—a mindset toward the game of football and a work ethic to practice and play hard. This attitude is what will translate to a level of nastiness on the field on Sundays.
For example, Fox explained it was ILB Jerrell Freeman’s edge he played with that impressed him the most, just as much if not more than his on-the-field production. Fox stated that “the thing I liked about is that he’s got a little bit of a chip.”
Fox explained that “ spent three years in Canadian football” and when he was given the opportunity to play in the NFL, he embodied “that blue collar job I’m talking about.” Fox observed that they’re “guys like that that both in preparation and playing gives them a little bit of an edge. That’s what impressed me about . And obviously his skill set and the production he’s had in a short NFL career.”
Freeman himself recognizes that chip-on-the-shoulder mentality in both him and his fellow ILB Danny Trevathan. He told reporters “I think that chip never left shoulder. Especially if you’re a free agent like I am, I know he was a late round pick. . . . It’s always gonna stay on you, and that’s just why we play like we do. Just running around, aggressive, flying around because we have that, I know I have that, free-agent mentality. I feel like I’ll always be a rookie free-agent in everybody’s eyes, so I’m out there to prove it to everybody.”
Fox understands the manifestation of this chip-on-the-shoulder or blue-collar mentality: a work ethic to continually practice hard. In describing what it takes to create a winning football team, Fox recognizes “so much of it is a culture, how you practice, how you compete, how you do your job everyday.”
Fox brought Trevathan on board in part because he’s got the hunger and work ethic to give it his all each and every practice. Fox said “ loves football” and he’s got a winning approach to the game. In describing why he felt Trevathan would be a good fit for the team, Fox described that “the thing we do is a blue-collar job. We don’t pay them to play . Most guys would play for nothing. But you pay them to practice and prepare, and it is hard. It’s very hard, so it takes the right kind of mindset to do that day-in and day-out at a high level.”
Trevathan is also leading the team by setting an example of how to approach practice. DL Ego Ferguson recalled that Trevathan “gives us little tips about demeanor of practice. Understanding that we have to take everything serious. Not just big, important things but little stuff also like walkthroughs and stuff like that.”
Most importantly, Trevathan’s and Freeman’s blue-collar attitude has permeated to the entire defense, and we’re seeing new type of intensity to the Bears’ practices.
Ego observed the impact of Trevathan’s and Freeman’s blue-collar mentality. “I see it all through practice. It’s a lot different mindset. A lot more confidence, a lot more surety of what we’re doing. The second year of this defense and understanding what we’re good at, and playing off of each other.”
Even during offseason practices up to this point, CB Tracy Porter noted that the “overall competition bring as well, to pick up the defense, is outstanding.” Porter noted that “competition is at a high level. We talk and we compete with each other, but at the end of the day we’re trying to make each other better. There’s nothing to say that we can’t have a little chipiness between us, but it’s a good thing we’re on the same team.”
In his first offseason with the team, Trevathan sees it too. “A lot of people doubt , some guys hurt last year…. They’re playing like they’re hungry, like with a chip on their shoulder. . . . That’ what I’m used to. That’s where you need to start, use that on the field to motivate you to play faster, to want to be great out here. I think we’re going in the right direction. We got a great group of guys with some attitudes. But they’re smart at the same time. And you rarely see that a lot. I think we have a great group of guys out here.”
Fox has a vision for his team, and he’s fulfilling it with a team full of players that hungry, competitive, and have something to prove. Expect this new Bears’ attitude to translate into nastiness on Sundays.