LAKE FOREST, Ill -- One thing is clear about Dennis Allen. He has no issue with trying out different wrinkles in his defense.
The Bears’ defensive coordinator is entering his 30th season in the coaching profession, and early on in the process with Chicago, he already has some changes in mind for Kyler Gordon, T.J. Edwards, and Tremaine Edmunds.
On Tuesday, the Bears made Gordon the highest-paid nickel corner in the NFL with his three-year, $40 million extension with $31.25 million guaranteed. Allen foresees using the versatile defensive back in more than just the slot.
“Does he go outside and compete at outside corner?,” Allen said. “Does he compete some at safety? I've told him that he needs to be learning both of those spots. We'll figure out where that second position is where he can go and compete. Hopefully, we can find some more playing time for him.”
During Gordon’s rookie season, he played 295 snaps as the outside corner in addition to his 431 snaps in the slot, according to Pro Football Focus. Since his rookie season, Gordon has played just 26 snaps as the boundary corner.
Dennis Allen has creative plans for the Chicago Bears' defense
Even though it’s minimal experience as the outside corner, Allen said Gordon would have more of a comfort level there initially than at safety, but there are aspects of Gordon’s game that translate at the safety position as well.
“Some of the things that I see him do and the way that he fits in the run game tells me that he could be a fit with safety also,” Allen said. “We've had guys that have had the flexibility to play a lot of different positions. I think that's important in today's football, where you're not just locked into one thing. Being able to be multiple and do a lot of different things. That's something that I think he can do. As we get to know him better, spend more time with him, start to get out on the field with him a little bit more, we'll have a better feel for where that second position might be, and where we want to try to work him.”
Gordon’s versatility makes him a valuable weapon on defense, so it’s not surprising Allen wants to find more ways to get the 25-year-old defensive back on the football field.
The linebacking duo of Edwards and Edmunds will also experience some change in Allen’s defense.
Edwards signed a two-year, $20 million contract extension on Thursday. Since joining the Bears two seasons ago, Edwards has made 284 tackles, 14 quarterback hits, and 6.5 sacks. Allen likes what the veteran linebacker’s skill set can do in his defense.
“Smart, instinctive, tough, a lot of the things that you look at in a linebacker that you’re looking for,” Allen said. “I think the linebacker position is an intelligent, instinctive position and he has those qualities.”
Allen also said he’s going to ask his defensive players to “learn multiple spots,” which means Edmunds will see some time as the middle linebacker.
"I mean, look, he's (Edwards) going to get snaps there, you know, and Tremaine is going to get snaps on the outside and we'll evaluate it and see how it goes and figure out what's best for the Bears defense,” Allen said. “And that's what we'll do."
Allen and the rest of the coaches are still in the early stages when it comes to evaluating how to best utilize their players. Allen’s willingness to experiment and change up positions indicates he will try whatever he believes will best unlock his defensive playmakers this upcoming season.