Will this player survive Chicago Bears scheme change?
One player that will have the spotlight on him during training camp is Jeremiah Attaochu. Every time a new coaching staff and front office come to a team there are going to be some players who were better fits for what the old staff had in mind. Usually, the turnover can be fast, but in the case of Attaochu, he will be entering camp with the Chicago Bears but will have to go through a lot of adjusting.
Attaochu has been a 3-4 outside linebacker his entire career. He has typically been in a Vic Fangio, or similar type of scheme, which is why Sean Desai wanted him in Chicago. However, now that Matt Eberflus is in town, the team is going back to a 4-3. This is not a significant change for some, and will actually be better for Robert Quinn, but for Attaochu it is something new.
Bears DE Jeremiah Attaochu said he hasn’t played in a 4-3 defense since his senior year of college, but enjoys his new role in Matt Eberflus’ scheme: "I definitely think this can enhance and spotlight my abilities."
— Kevin Fishbain (@kfishbain) June 8, 2022
Considering Attaochu has been in the NFL since 2014, there are going to be a few big adjustments. As Attaochu says he is excited about the new role, and he is spinning it positively.
Still, this is not the best situation for him. To start, his best skills are ones off of the ball that comes in a 3-4 scheme. He was signed to platoon with Robert Quinn at times, which kept Quinn as a hand-down pass rusher as often as possible.
So, not only is it a different scheme, but most of the reason the team signed him will not be a part of the scheme at all. Beyond that, the Chicago Bears have not really shown that they feel as though they have a future piece on the roster with Attaochu.
The team traded Khalil Mack but kept Robert Quinn and they already have Trevis Gipson. Beyond that, they drafted Dominique Robinson and signed Al-Quadin Muhammad. Robinson is a bit of a project, but in most cases, the team would want this to be their four-man edge rusher rotation. So, if Attaochu makes the roster it would essentially be in a special teams role, or place holding for Robinson.
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He will have to change schemes and learn a new role and then at the end of the year, the Bears will likely move on from him. This is going to be an uphill battle without many long-term rewards, but what else is Attaochu going to say or do at this point other than keep working?