The 2023 Bears Defense Poised to Emulate the Success of a Past Matt Eberflus-led Unit
"The 2023 Bears Defense Shows Resemblance to a Former Matt Eberflus-Led Unit, Signaling Promise"
While much of the spotlight in the NFL falls on quarterbacks and offenses, the success of the Chicago Bears in 2023 will heavily rely on their defense. In the previous season, their struggles to pressure opposing quarterbacks and defend the run left much to be desired. Recognizing the need for improvement, GM Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus made significant moves in the offseason to bolster the unit. The question now remains: how much impact will these changes truly have?
To gain insight, it's essential to analyze the current depth chart. Remarkably, the 2023 Bears defense is taking shape reminiscent of another team Eberflus coached�the 2018 Indianapolis Colts. That particular unit showcased its strength against the run, benefiting from a formidable linebacking corps and a physical secondary. However, their pass rush was a notable weakness, with only 38 sacks, 12 of which came from blitzing linebackers and defensive backs.
Drawing parallels, the Bears' defense under Eberflus appears to follow a similar blueprint. The linebacking corps, headlined by Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards, has undergone substantial improvement, displaying versatility. The secondary, composed of Jaylon Johnson, Eddie Jackson, Kyler Gordon, Jaquan Brisker, and rookie Tyrique Stevenson, possesses athleticism and physicality. Additionally, the interior defensive front, anchored by Andrew Billings and Gervon Dexter, adds formidable size, enhancing the run-stopping capability. The lingering concern lies in the pass rush, as aside from DeMarcus Walker's contributions last season, the Bears have not added notable pass-rushing talent during the offseason.
Unless this changes, it's plausible to assume that the Bears may need to rely on blitzes more frequently to generate pressure. Consequently, the defensive scheme may not always function as intended. Nevertheless, if the Bears can replicate the success of Eberflus' unit from five years ago, it would mark a significant improvement from their previous season. With a younger, deeper, tougher, and faster roster, they are a work in progress, much like the 2018 group. If this defense can achieve similar accomplishments, the Bears will undoubtedly see positive results on the field.
| POLL | ||
30 MAI | 59 ANSWERS The 2023 Bears Defense Poised to Emulate the Success of a Past Matt Eberflus-led Unit Will the Beras have a better offense or defense? | ||
| Offense | 43 | 72.9 % |
| Defense | 16 | 27.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
