2016 Chicago Bears Preview: Defense

By Kevin Schroeder
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Updated: August 17, 2016

The defense was just okay a year ago, but the Bears attempted to shore up the unit in the draft and free agency. One of those signings is DE Akiem Hicks. He’s got a good burst and can make things difficult for opposing offensive linemen. Buzz around him from camp has been quite good. If it’s legit, the Bears could have an awfully good defensive line. Mitch Unrein is currently penciled in as the starter on the other end. Ego Ferguson and Jonathan Bullard will rotate in on the ends quite a bit as well. Bullard’s another handful for opposing O-linemen. Unrein’s solid, but that’s about it. Ferguson’s got a decent ceiling and can play anywhere on the line. In the middle, the Bears will be hoping that Eddie Goldman takes the next step. He showed some serious potential a year ago. He’ll be backed up by Will Sutton, who’s got some potential the team hopes he can realize.

The linebacker group was a problem for the Bears in 2015. In 2016, it looks to be one of the team’s strengths. The team returns some pretty good OLBs and then added one with serious potential in the draft. Pernell McPhee and Willie Young are penciled in as the starters. McPhee led the team in QB hits a year ago, but only had six sacks in 14 games. Willie Young started eight games, played in seven more, and had 6.5 sacks last year. He was pretty good in 2015 and has some room to grow as a player. LaMarr Houston had eight sacks a year ago despite being the starter for only two games. Sam Acho showed some promise and can play all over the line. Leonard Floyd was the team’s first-round draft pick this year and there’s a lot to like. Floyd’s got very good speed off the edge and some nice moves. For now, he could make an impact as a situational pass rusher. Once he adds some size, his ceiling’s sky high.

Danny Trevathan and Jerrell Freeman were big free agent pickups for the Bears. Both are very good in coverage and adept at stopping the run. Jonathan Anderson and John Timu are currently the backups in the middle, though rookie Nick Kwiatkowski could end up unseating one of them. Buzz from camp has been pretty positive. Neither Anderson nor Timu did a ton a year ago.

Tracy Porter is back and looks to be the team’s #1 CB. Porter was pretty good last year, but him being the team’s top corner is less-than-ideal. The team is hoping that Kyle Fuller takes a step forward in his third season. He had only two interceptions a year ago. The Bears will hope that someone among Bryce Callahan, Sherrick McManis, and De’Vante Bausby can step up. The team took Deiondre’ Hall in the fourth round of this year’s draft. He’s got the tools, some real potential, and the ability to play all over the secondary. The question is how will the transition from Northern Iowa go?

Free safety Adrian Amos was somewhat encouraging a year ago, but will have to keep improving if the secondary is going to be legitimately good. Backing him up is Chris Prosinski, who had his moments a year ago and could end up challenging for the starting job at the other safety spot. If he’s going to start, he’ll need to show a bit more, though. DeAndre Houston-Carson was a sixth-round pick by the Bears this year and could end up as a nickel back.

Harold Jones-Quartey is the likely starter at strong safety. He showed some promise late in the season last year. The Bears took Deon Bush out of Miami (FL) in the fourth round of this year’s draft. He’s got the physical tools, but his instincts leave something to be desired.

Twitter: @KSchroeder_312

E-mail: schroeder.giig@gmail.com