Bears Blitz

Published by Michael Bacos on January 20, 2015
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears

According to Michael C. Wright of ESPN.com, the Chicago Bears have made Vic Fangio their new defensive coordinator, a move that has been lauded by Bears Nation. Even the players are excited for him to come on board.

Fangio’s success in San Francisco was based in using the 3-4. This leads Bears fans to believe they are moving in that direction. It worked for the rival Green Bay Packers, right? 

However, the Bears do not have the personnel to smoothly transition to a 3-4 defense at the moment. 

Defensive tackle Ego Ferguson could be the guy to play nose tackle. At 6’2″, 315 pounds, he is just a little smaller than the Patriots‘ Vince Wilfork. He does have the experience at nose tackle, playing the position during his time at LSU. However, he isn’t strong enough to play nose tackle in the NFL yet. Luckily, Ferguson is a rookie, so there is time to strengthen him up if the Bears eventually choose to move to a 3-4. 

The Packers had success moving Julius Peppers from defensive end to a 3-4 outside linebacker. The Bears could do the same with Jared Allen.

At 6’6″and 270 pounds, Allen has the physical traits to be successful in that position. He definitely has the speed to bring pressure off the edge, and having him line up a bit wider could play to his advantage. 

He even has the traits that could make him successful in pass coverage. However, he may not have the mentality to play outside linebacker in a 3-4. He enjoys his craft as a pass-rusher in a 4-3 defense. When he played for the Vikings, he told MinnPost’s Pat Borzi, “I only pay attention to the front four…As long as there are four guys in place, I know where I’m lining up.”  

There has been talk that Shea McClellin would be a perfect outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense. Even Bears legend Brian Urlacher thought moving McClellin to linebacker would be a good idea, according to Michael C. Wright. And the Bears finally wised up and gave it a shot last season. 

Aside from that amazing hit he had on Aaron Rodgers in 2013, Bears fans have perceived McClellin to be a bust. However, that sack showed his brief flash of brilliance, and if given enough time to develop, he could prove to be a great 3-4 outside linebacker. Not to the elite status that Phil Emery thought he would be when he used his 2012 first-round draft pick, but a valuable player. 

Many Bears writers, like Chicago Football’s Hub Arkush, may disagree. 

If there is hope in the Bears moving to a 3-4 defense, it is linebacker Christian Jones. He started five games last season and ended up finishing with 68 tackles with two sacks. Jones came to the Bears undrafted and paid dividends on their minimal investment. He has the potential to be a starter in this league. 

The hiring of John Fox and Fangio set the Bears on the right path to regaining their defensive identity. However, the Bears are miles away in having the right personnel to make the switch into Fangio’s 3-4 soon. With time and proper development, we could see a resurgence of the “Monsters of the Midway” in the next few years.  

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