Bear Goggles On
Fansided

Chicago Bears Free Agency Report Card: Statistically Speaking

By Bryan Dietzler

Nov 3, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Mike Glennon (8) throws a pass during the second half of a football game against the Atlanta Falcons at Raymond James Stadium. The Falcons won 43-28. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 3, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Mike Glennon (8) throws a pass during the second half of a football game against the Atlanta Falcons at Raymond James Stadium. The Falcons won 43-28. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 8
Next
Nov 13, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Prince Amukamara (21) runs out of the tunnel before a football game against the Houston Texans at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 13, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Prince Amukamara (21) runs out of the tunnel before a football game against the Houston Texans at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

This writer has touched on Quintin Demps a little bit already.  He has been in the league for ten seasons but really hadn’t been a starter until just a few seasons ago.  His production cannot be denied.  Just last season, he had six interceptions and nine passes defended.  Demps is a master at defending passes.  In fact, over his career, he has 44 passes defended.

Injuries have kept him from making it through all 16 games for most of his career but hopefully he his new start in Chicago will do him some good.  He’s already the best safety on the team and should help stabilize the position at least for a year or two.  Let’s just hope he can stay healthy.

There has been a lot of hype surrounding the signing of Marcus Cooper.  Cooper, a cornerback and a former Arizona Cardinal and Kansas City Chief, is coming into his fifth season in the league.   He has some nice numbers to back himself up.  Cooper had two very strong seasons (2013 and 2016) totaling 29 passes defended and seven interceptions in those two seasons.  Last year he started 13 games.

Some of the numbers do tell us that Cooper has struggled at times also. During the two seasons in between his strong 2013 and 2016 seasons, he only started five times and had three passes defended with no interceptions.  During those two lean years, Cooper didn’t see much action, perhaps, due to the talent ahead of him.  It may have been due to his own struggles on the field.  The Bears liked him though and figure to put him in the mix to start at cornerback.

One player who has a lot of experience playing and starting at cornerback is Prince Amukamara.  Amukamara came into the NFL in 2011 and has been with the New York Giants and Jacksonville Jaguars.  His ability to stay healthy and on the field consistently has been questioned as he has just one season where he has played in and started in all 16 games.  Durability has clearly been a big problem for him.

In looking at his production, Amukamara has just seven interceptions and 51 passes defended since coming into the league.  Naturally, his production has been hampered by his ability to stay on the field.  Can he turn it around, stay healthy and maybe even start in Chicago?

The Bears had some serious needs at the cornerback position and they tried to fill them with Amukamara and Cooper.  This will be the position to watch, on defense, this off-season. If the Bears didn’t get it right in free agency then they will suffer in 2017 and be forced to re-tool, again, next year.

Home/Chicago Bears News