Breaking down Chicago Bears defensive line rotation

With the Chicago Bears new defense means a new defensive line rotation. The Bears have moved from a 3-4 base front to a 4-3 this season. Beyond that, with names such as Akiem Hicks, Bilal Nichols, and Eddie Goldman out of the loop, it is interesting to see how the new names fit in.

We will look at the teams’ rotation of defensive linemen below.

Chicago Bears nose tackle

First, the team ran four snaps with a nose tackle. Mike Pennel played two, Armon Watts one, and Angelo Blackson. Most of those are goalline situations, as the 4-3 front just does not ask for a 5th lineman in the center of things.

So, how did the Bears line up amongst the other line spots?

Chicago Bears Against Left Tackle

Robert Quinn – 70% 

Dominique Robinson 22.9%

Trevis Gipson 7.1%

This role will still be reserved for Robert Quinn. Robinson and Gipson gave him a breather. Quinn missed 19 snaps, and 11 were run defense. They tried to keep him as a pass rusher as much as possible and he led the team in pass rush reps.

Chicago Bears against Right Tackle

Al-Quadin Muhammad 59% 

Trevis Gipson 26%

Dominique Robinson – 15% 

On the flip side, AQM was the starter and got the most snaps, although it was 11% less than Quinn played. Most of the snaps on the right side went to Gipson, although Robinson did get a good bit of work in on both sides.

Chicago Bears against left guards

Angelo Blackson 37% 

Justin Jones 29.2%

Armon Watts 21.5%

Mike Pennel 10.8%

Dominique Robinson 1.5% 

For the most part there was a three-man rotation against the left guard. Mostly, it was Angelo Blackson, but Jones and Watts combined for over half of the snaps in that role as well.

Chicago Bears against right guard

Justin Jones 38.7% 

Angelo Blackson 37% 

Mike Pennel 11.3%

Armon Watts 11.3% 

Trevis Gipson 1.6%

Over the right guard, it was more of a split between the two starters. It is interesting that they had the two shifts from right to left, with Jones being 38.7% over right guard, and 29.2% over left guard. Meanwhile, Blackson was 37% over the right, and 37% over the left, showing an even split of work.

Mike Pennel saw a bit more work against the right guard, and Watts saw a bit more against the left, but it does not seem either are designated backups, but more that the Chicago Bears just rotated all four at the two different spots.