This draft will tell Chicago Bears fans what changes are coming on defense.
The Chicago Bears have scouted a lot of defensive positions, which could almost for sure tell that they will be taking a defender at some point this year. The Chicago Bears could use competition at safety, cornerback, and linebacker. It rightfully explains that the Bears will target those positions due to the high level of interest in players that played these positions.
I wrote a piece on how defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano likes to deploy a five-man front on defense at times. He has been known to run a big dime a lot when he was head coach of the Indianapolis Colts. Big dime typically has six defensive backs with one safety or five defensive backs and two linebackers.
This is important to know because it is a heavy pass coverage defensive formation. While having Danny Trevathan on the field is essential, he might be a bit too slow to run that formation effectively. Some of the safties that the Chicago Bears have looked at include Jeremy Chinn, Antiono Brooks Jr, Marshe Terry, and Brandon Jones.
All are listed as linebackers or safties at some point on their scouting profiles. Even some of the linebackers like Akeem Davis-Gaither, Davion Taylor, and Michael Pickney are known for their range in coverage and ability to lock and close in space as tacklers.
The Chicago Bears have also looked at more slot styled defensive backs like Javaris Davis, Amik Robertson, and Antoine Winfeld Jr. The Chicago Bears already made big moves this offseason when they signed Robert Quinn, who is more of a hand in the dirt speed rusher and releasing true outside linebacker Leonard Floyd.
If Chuck Pagano wants to attack from a more traditional 40 front while using more defensive backs, he will need more coverage guys on the inside than what he has. Currently, only Buster Skrine and Duke Shelley return as the slot cornerbacks.
With more players becoming multi-dimensional coverage guys like Derwin James and NFL prospect Isaiah Simmons, the Chicago Bears might want to find their version of multi-dimensional defenders soon. Considering it seems like this defense is primed to add such a playmaker to the middle of the field. It is time Chuck Pagano makes some tweaks to this defense to get it to become unique and dynamic.