Behind the "New Look" Bears Defense..............

**soulman** · 10-26-2012, 02:55 PM

Behind the new looks in Bears D

October 25, 2012, 11:40 pm SHARE THIS POST

	JOHN "MOON" MULLIN Archive

Major Wright smiled thinking about what a difference a year makes.

The strong safety and deep-coverage partner Chris Conte both were sent on blitzes during last Monday’s win over the Detroit Lions. Each was credited with a quarterback hurry by Pro Football Focus for their efforts.

This time a year ago he and Conte were starting their first game together, mostly because Chris Harris and Brandon Meriweather had effectively played their ways out of the lineup, not particularly because of how well Conte and Wright were doing.

The blitz calls, along with new rotations along the defense line, serve as hood ornaments for a key element growing inside the dominating Bears’ defense this season.

Trust.

“[Coaches] know that both of us know what we’re doing, and there’s no doubt in our minds that our coaches trust in us,” Wright said. “For them to call a blitz for me or Chris, they know we’ll both be there, right time, right place.”

He paused, then laughed. “Last year, they probably weren’t always sure.”

Earning trust

They weren’t, and not necessarily of every other member of the defense the way they are in 2012. But this is not the 2011 defense.

“The more you put a player in positions and you see him making plays,” said coach Lovie Smith, “you’ll continue to add more things for them.”

Against the Lions, the Bears were using a dizzying blizzard of rotations on the front four. Despite a game in which the Bears were never able to shake comfortably free of their division rivals, front-four packages that only occasionally was limited of the starting four of Israel Idonije-Henry Melton-Stephen Paea-Julius Peppers.

It was not the first time. Against the Dallas Cowboys, no lineman played more than 43 snaps (Melton, Paea) or fewer than 36 (Corey Wootton).

Peppers, the Bears’ best defensive lineman, played 87.6 percent of opponents’ snaps last season. This year he has been on the field for just 73.6 percent, according to Pro Football Focus.

“Coach really, really trusts the guys,” Wootton said. “In the past I don’t know that they’ve felt they could trust us as much but we’ve earned their trust. So now we can give them different looks.”

The McClellin Model

Different, indeed. Rookie Shea McClellin was used in some pass coverages as well as at his usual end spot and occasionally dropping in at defensive tackle. He has earned coaches’ respect and, as important, that of the on-field “coach” of the defense.

“He doesn’t screw up,” said linebacker Brian Urlacher. “As a rookie you don’t want guys screwing up and he hasn’t done that. I think he’s very versatile.

“We have different packages with him in there than we’ve had in the past. We do some third-down blitzes, some other stuff that we haven’t done in the past.”

**soulman** · 10-26-2012, 03:22 PM

It's been interesting to see what more this defense has been capable of this year. We're seeing a lot less of the old Lovie Smith Cover-2 and far more different looks both in the defensive backfield and on the defensive line.

We seldom blitzed our Safeties before and almost never pulled stunts on the line. Now it's happening with regularity and it's paying off. This is a far more aggressive version of the Bears defense than we've become accustomed to seeing in the past. Teams aren't able to just sit back and pick apart the secondary as easily as they have before.

What I'm finding puzzling is that the Bears are one of the most passed on teams in the NFL. With that pass rush and the way the secondary is picking off passes it amazes me that OCs are still attacking that way. Not that I'm complaining but you gotta wonder how much longer that will be the case.

We got in Stafford face early last Monday night and never allowed him to settle into any kind of rhythm and we did it with combinations of defensive looks and blitzes he clearly wasn't prepared for. There's a tremendous amount of flexibility now in who we can play and what we can do and I give Phil Emery a lot of credit for that.

We mostly talk about his contributions to the offense but he made some strategic moves on defense to fill a hole of two that wasn't filled and he added some very valuable depth at key spots. The guys I'm talking about there are players like Okoye who can play either DT spot and take some snaps away from Paea and Melton keeping them fresher and we don't really suffer any loss in the ability of the line.

And although we haven't needed them I'm far more comfortable with Hayes and Costanzo as reserve LBs than I was with the bunch we've had in the past. Those guys each have 4 or 5 years NFL experience and while they're not Briggs of Urlacher we won't fall apart if one of them has to play. Same with Hayden at CB. Those guys have beefed up coverage teams as well.

I like the fact the we're playing a more aggressive brand of defense and forcing teams into mistakes. Those big plays are making a huge difference in games right now while the offense is still trying to find itself.

McClellin has been a nice addition as well. I wouldn't exactly call his play so far a surprise since he's doing almost exactly what they envisioned for him when they drafted him. I'd call him our defensive "utility player". He's played down at DE, he's played up and DE, he's dropped in coverage and I thought I even saw them move him inside to rush from a two point stance on at least one down Monday night.

Even in our 4-3 he can fill a Clay Matthews type of role as a pass rusher and so far he hasn't done a bad job of playing the run either. I think what Urlacher had to say about him is high praise indeed. The kid doesn't screw up and he trusts him. That a biggie. Shea may not be the biggest guy out there as far as physical size but his football intelligence, his quickness and his relentless style of play keep people looking for him and where he's lined up.

The way I see it he has two main jobs. Get into your backfield or get into your head and that's exactly what Clay Matthews does to you. First you gotta know where he's lined up and then you have to figure out how to block him. I'm not saying McClellin is playing at Matthews level yet and maybe never but the effect he has on an offense is similar. He's has to be accounted for when he's on the field.

**JJ-30** · 10-26-2012, 03:40 PM

I like Urlachers answer to how Rookie Shea McClellin is doing "He doesn’t screw up,” that tells us a lot about the guy.

I think a lot of the passed on number comes from how far back our players play off the line alot of the time. It is also why we have so many INTs. I am not one of those people who like to watch the Defense when they play the "bend don't break" type defense but so far this year it has worked good for us.

Originally Posted by soulman

It's been interesting to see what more this defense has been capable of this year. We're seeing a lot less of the old Lovie Smith Cover-2 and far more different looks both in the defensive backfield and on the defensive line.

We seldom blitzed our Safeties before and almost never pulled stunts on the line. Now it's happening with regularity and it's paying off. This is a far more aggressive version of the Bears defense than we've become accustomed to seeing in the past. Teams aren't able to just sit back and pick apart the secondary as easily as they have before.

What I'm finding puzzling is that the Bears are one of the most passed on teams in the NFL. With that pass rush and the way the secondary is picking off passes it amazes me that OCs are still attacking that way. Not that I'm complaining but you gotta wonder how much longer that will be the case.

We got in Stafford face early last Monday night and never allowed him to settle into any kind of rhythm and we did it with combinations of defensive looks and blitzes he clearly wasn't prepared for. There's a tremendous amount of flexibility now in who we can play and what we can do and I give Phil Emery a lot of credit for that.

We mostly talk about his contributions to the offense but he made some strategic moves on defense to fill a hole of two that wasn't filled and he added some very valuable depth at key spots. The guys I'm talking about there are players like Okoye who can play either DT spot and take some snaps away from Paea and Melton keeping them fresher and we don't really suffer any loss in the ability of the line.

And although we haven't needed them I'm far more comfortable with Hayes and Costanzo as reserve LBs than I was with the bunch we've had in the past. Those guys each have 4 or 5 years NFL experience and while they're not Briggs of Urlacher we won't fall apart if one of them has to play. Same with Hayden at CB. Those guys have beefed up coverage teams as well.

I like the fact the we're playing a more aggressive brand of defense and forcing teams into mistakes. Those big plays are making a huge difference in games right now while the offense is still trying to find itself.

McClellin has been a nice addition as well. I wouldn't exactly call his play so far a surprise since he's doing almost exactly what they envisioned for him when they drafted him. I'd call him our defensive "utility player". He's played down at DE, he's played up and DE, he's dropped in coverage and I thought I even saw them move him inside to rush from a two point stance on at least one down Monday night.

Even in our 4-3 he can fill a Clay Matthews type of role as a pass rusher and so far he hasn't done a bad job of playing the run either. I think what Urlacher had to say about him is high praise indeed. The kid doesn't screw up and he trusts him. That a biggie. Shea may not be the biggest guy out there as far as physical size but his football intelligence, his quickness and his relentless style of play keep people looking for him and where he's lined up.

The way I see it he has two main jobs. Get into your backfield or get into your head and that's exactly what Clay Matthews does to you. First you gotta know where he's lined up and then you have to figure out how to block him. I'm not saying McClellin is playing at Matthews level yet and maybe never but the effect he has on an offense is similar. He's has to be accounted for when he's on the field.

**Papa Bear** · 10-26-2012, 03:54 PM

Originally Posted by soulman

What I'm finding puzzling is that the Bears are one of the most passed on teams in the NFL. With that pass rush and the way the secondary is picking off passes it amazes me that OCs are still attacking that way. Not that I'm complaining but you gotta wonder how much longer that will be the case.

Originally Posted by JJ-30

I think a lot of the passed on number comes from how far back our players play off the line alot of the time. It is also why we have so many INTs. I am not one of those people who like to watch the Defense when they play the "bend don't break" type defense but so far this year it has worked good for us.

I think it also has a lot to do with the fact that teams can't run on us. I think the Bears are given up the least amount of rushing yards per game this season. They forcing/daring people to pass on them by not allowing them to run.

**Dagan81** · 10-27-2012, 12:40 AM

I'm still shocked that we're giving up more than 200 passing yards a game against our foes. We would have had fewer than that on Monday night had our offense been able to stay on the field longer in the latter part of the game. As badly as the Panthers are playing right now, I wouldn't be shocked if we have another game where we give up fewer than 10 points. I hope we shut them out, '85 style!!!

**soulman** · 10-27-2012, 06:47 AM

Originally Posted by Dagan81

I'm still shocked that we're giving up more than 200 passing yards a game against our foes. We would have had fewer than that on Monday night had our offense been able to stay on the field longer in the latter part of the game. As badly as the Panthers are playing right now, I wouldn't be shocked if we have another game where we give up fewer than 10 points. I hope we shut them out, '85 style!!!

200 yards passing per game is nothing anymore Dags. Every good QB in football can average more than 250 per game without breaking a sweat and the good ones pump our 300 ypg stuff pretty often.

Hey, it's a passing league and you have 6'3"-6'5" WRs playing now that are the size TEs used to be. It's pretty hard for your average 5'11"-6' tall 190lb CB to cover those guys. Passing offenses have gotten a lot more sophisticated and you see tons of multiple receiver sets now too.

We give up small gainers all game long playing those zone coverages we do but the trade off is that our guys play facing the QB and we get more picks that way on an errant throw or when we can jump a route. I'll give them all the short stuff they want just keep them out of the end zone.

**motownbear** · 10-27-2012, 06:50 AM

Soul you can give credit to emery for finding a situational pass rusher in the first round but that's about it. Emery didn't wave pixy dust on paea and Wooten to keep them healthy.

**Dagan81** · 10-27-2012, 11:12 PM

Originally Posted by soulman

200 yards passing per game is nothing anymore Dags. Every good QB in football can average more than 250 per game without breaking a sweat and the good ones pump our 300 ypg stuff pretty often.

Hey, it's a passing league and you have 6'3"-6'5" WRs playing now that are the size TEs used to be. It's pretty hard for your average 5'11"-6' tall 190lb CB to cover those guys. Passing offenses have gotten a lot more sophisticated and you see tons of multiple receiver sets now too.

We give up small gainers all game long playing those zone coverages we do but the trade off is that our guys play facing the QB and we get more picks that way on an errant throw or when we can jump a route. I'll give them all the short stuff they want just keep them out of the end zone.

I've seen several teams recently give up less than 200 yards per game through the air. The ones I think of are the usual suspects: Pittsburgh, Baltimore, San Francisco, etc. Granted, it's usually around 185 or 190 passing yards per game, but it's still below 200. I think the Bears need to tighten up even more.

Then again, I am a perfectionist, so nothing makes me happy. lol

**Henry Burris** · 10-27-2012, 11:57 PM

IDK, I think this team having more passing yards against them shows the other team is becoming desperate, and trying to get something going by going deep. I wonder how we would rank taking out desperation/garbage time yards out of the equation...I know espn has their own QB rating that takes some of that out, but i never really looked into it.

**jackiejokeman** · 10-28-2012, 01:53 AM

Originally Posted by soulman

Behind the new looks in Bears D

October 25, 2012, 11:40 pm SHARE THIS POST

	JOHN "MOON" MULLIN Archive

Major Wright smiled thinking about what a difference a year makes.

The strong safety and deep-coverage partner Chris Conte both were sent on blitzes during last Monday’s win over the Detroit Lions. Each was credited with a quarterback hurry by Pro Football Focus for their efforts.

This time a year ago he and Conte were starting their first game together, mostly because Chris Harris and Brandon Meriweather had effectively played their ways out of the lineup, not particularly because of how well Conte and Wright were doing.

The blitz calls, along with new rotations along the defense line, serve as hood ornaments for a key element growing inside the dominating Bears’ defense this season.

Trust.

“[Coaches] know that both of us know what we’re doing, and there’s no doubt in our minds that our coaches trust in us,” Wright said. “For them to call a blitz for me or Chris, they know we’ll both be there, right time, right place.”

He paused, then laughed. “Last year, they probably weren’t always sure.”

Earning trust

They weren’t, and not necessarily of every other member of the defense the way they are in 2012. But this is not the 2011 defense.

“The more you put a player in positions and you see him making plays,” said coach Lovie Smith, “you’ll continue to add more things for them.”

Against the Lions, the Bears were using a dizzying blizzard of rotations on the front four. Despite a game in which the Bears were never able to shake comfortably free of their division rivals, front-four packages that only occasionally was limited of the starting four of Israel Idonije-Henry Melton-Stephen Paea-Julius Peppers.

It was not the first time. Against the Dallas Cowboys, no lineman played more than 43 snaps (Melton, Paea) or fewer than 36 (Corey Wootton).

Peppers, the Bears’ best defensive lineman, played 87.6 percent of opponents’ snaps last season. This year he has been on the field for just 73.6 percent, according to Pro Football Focus.

“Coach really, really trusts the guys,” Wootton said. “In the past I don’t know that they’ve felt they could trust us as much but we’ve earned their trust. So now we can give them different looks.”

The McClellin Model

Different, indeed. Rookie Shea McClellin was used in some pass coverages as well as at his usual end spot and occasionally dropping in at defensive tackle. He has earned coaches’ respect and, as important, that of the on-field “coach” of the defense.

“He doesn’t screw up,” said linebacker Brian Urlacher. “As a rookie you don’t want guys screwing up and he hasn’t done that. I think he’s very versatile.

“We have different packages with him in there than we’ve had in the past. We do some third-down blitzes, some other stuff that we haven’t done in the past.”

When we first drafted him I was wondering why we needed a DE in the first round ... when we needed OL.

But we have to be looking towards the future when some great players are gone.

Maybe next year for OL in the draft.

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