Why the Bears' Shaky First Series Against the Titans Only Fuels Their Confidence in a 'Scary' Dominant Defense for 2023
The Chicago Bears' first-team defense has been tearing up training camp with a relentless energy that has left no doubt about their intentions. Play after play, their dominant performance has sent a message loud and clear, not just to their offense, but to the entire league. Their mantra? Dominate. And this is a word that has become a rallying cry at Halas Hall.
With edge rusher Yannick Ngakoue's addition to the roster, there's a renewed sense of optimism in the team. After struggling in 2022, the defense is eager to show what it can really do, and this fall will be their chance to prove it.
The preseason opener against the Tennessee Titans was the defense's first real test. Although key players like Tremaine Edmunds, Jaquan Brisker, DeMarcus Walker, and Ngakoue were missing, expectations were still high. But things didn't go as planned.
Right from the get-go, Titans' backup quarterback Malik Willis found Chris Moore for a 30-yard gain. Following this, rookie Tyjae Spears ran amok, leading the way for Willis to score a 2-yard touchdown run.
That's not how the Bears' first-team defense wanted to kick things off, but they were far from discouraged. Despite this hiccup and the absence of key players, the team's vision for a formidable defense in 2023 remains steadfast.
Justin Jones, the defensive tackle, was unabashed in his excitement and belief. «This s--t will be locked down," he proudly told NBC Sports Chicago. "The defense will be complete. It's locked down. I'm more excited now, just having seen everybody come out here and try to hit somebody, especially our young guys. It's exciting because they are about to witness what we are about to do to.»
The game's highlights included some bone-crunching hits from second-year cornerback Kyler Gordon and rookie Tyrqiue Stevenson. Their aggression caught Jones' eye, and he loved it. «Our boys come down and hit! I love that! I love that!" he raved. "That s--t gets me hyped. I love that! You got DBs who really want to come down and really lay somebody out; that makes the D-line want to do even more. It affects us. It's contagious. I love that.»
While Jones enjoyed the game from the sideline, he kept a keen eye on the younger members of the defense, particularly third-round pick Zacch Pickens. What he saw was more than just physical talent; he saw an unflappable mindset.
«I've seen that the venue isn't too big," he observed. "We came out here during Family Fest, and you could kind of see them looking around, like, this is kind of crazy. Got big eyes. But when we come out here today, it felt like practice. We're out here just trying to play. We're trying to hoop.»
These vibes, confidence, and sheer will to win are pivotal for the Bears' defense if they want to achieve their elite potential. However, health will play a crucial role too.
The injuries to Edmunds, Brisker, and Walker are fortunately not considered to be long-term. And Ngakoue is getting back into the groove since joining the team. Once everyone is up to speed, and the defense is firing on all cylinders come September 10 against the Green Bay Packers, the Bears are confident that they'll be unstoppable.
«We're going to blow through the roof," promises Gordon. "I know we all got a lot of high expectations, not only for ourselves but for us as a group. At practice, we know the type of energy we brought during training camp, and we're all just really so excited to go display that, especially Week 1 against our rivals and just keep taking it through the entire season. There's a lot of good things that we expect, and I'm excited to see it.»
If their training camp performance and self-belief are anything to go by, the Bears' defense is gearing up for a season to remember. The preseason stumble against the Titans is just a footnote. The real story, they believe, is just about to begin. And it's a story they intend to write with authority, aggression, and a whole lot of dominance.
| POLL | ||
13 AOUT | 29 ANSWERS Why the Bears' Shaky First Series Against the Titans Only Fuels Their Confidence in a 'Scary' Dominant Defense for 2023 Will the Bears make the playoffs? | ||
| Yes | 23 | 79.3 % |
| No | 6 | 20.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
