How Lamarr Houston Can Be an X-Factor in Chicago’s New Defense in 2015
Published by Matt Eurich on February 19, 2015
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
The 2014 season was not kind to Chicago’s Lamarr Houston, but the defensive end has a chance to be an X-factor for the Bears in 2015 under new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.
From a production standpoint, Houston finished the season with just 11 tackles and one sack in eight games, but, according to Pro Football Focus, he did finish with 15 quarterback hurries and 10 quarterback hits in 405 snaps. Unfortunately, his season ended in Week 8 against the New England Patriots after he tore his ACL celebrating his first sack of the season, via CBSSports.com’s Will Brinson:
It is unknown when Houston will return to the Bears from his injury, but if he can make a speedy recovery, he has an opportunity to flourish under Fangio.
Fangio is rooted in a 3-4 defense and successfully built one of the league’s best defenses in San Francisco over the past four seasons. Head coach John Fox confirmed Wednesday at the NFL Scouting Combine that the Bears will run a 3-4 defense in 2015.
While Fangio’s defense is viewed by many to be strictly a 3-4, he has shown an ability to be versatile with his looks up front.
When the Bears squared off against the 49ers in Week 2 last season, Fangio was unafraid to show multiple looks on Chicago’s first two possessions of the game.
On the very first play from scrimmage (pictured below), Fangio’s defense came out in a base 3-4 defense with the 0-technique nose tackle lined up directly in front of the center with the defensive ends showing a more traditional look.
In attempt to confuse Chicago’s offense, Fangio’s defense then lined up with just two down linemen in the team’s nickel package in the next series and later lined up with no nose tackle with the defensive ends lined up in the B gaps with an additional pass-rusher on the edge on the right side.
Because of Fangio’s creativity, former 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh had nothing but praise for his former defensive coordinator.
“I think he’s one of the all-time best defensive coordinators in the history of the league,’’ Harbaugh said, via Greg A. Bedard of The MMQB. “I think that’s who he is. I think that’s what his legacy will be someday.’’
So what does all of this mean for Houston?
Fangio proved he can be versatile with his looks and has a knack for getting the most out of his players while in San Francisco, and Houston has the versatility to move around in different schemes and can set the edge versus the run.
As long as he can get himself healthy, Houston has the ability to develop into an X-factor in 2015 if Fangio can take advantage of Houston’s skill set.
Scheme Versatility
Before his down year in 2014, Houston flourished playing a bevy of positions while in Oakland. He showed an ability to play standing up as an outside linebacker, on the edge as a defensive end and inside at defensive tackle.
At his introductory press conference last March, he stated he thought he was more disruptive playing in a two-point stance.
“When I play in the two-point, it works in my favor because I have a lot more vision throughout the play and I can see things develop quicker in front of me and see where I need to be in there to disrupt that play,” he said, via Larry Mayer of ChicagoBears.com. “Out of the three-point, it’s just all about explosiveness and power.”
Because of Houston’s experience playing both in a two-point stance and a three-point stance, Fangio has the option of moving Houston around from a pass-rushing outside linebacker to a 5-technique defensive end.
At 6’3″ and 300 pounds, Houston weighs far more than most outside linebackers, but he proved in Oakland he can be effective at that position. He is surprisingly quick for someone of his size, and he utilizes a quick first step and has strength at the point of attack to beat offensive linemen.
Back in 2013 as a member of the Raiders, Houston showed off that rare combination of speed and strength early in Week 1 versus the Indianapolis Colts.
Lined up as the outside linebacker on the right side, Houston came quick off the line of scrimmage and was chipped by running back Vick Ballard as he engaged left tackle Anthony Castonzo.
Houston was able to use his strength to fight through the blocks before working his way inside. Quarterback Andrew Luck attempted to move up in the pocket, but Houston was able to key in on him and take him down for a sack.
Fangio could certainly line up Houston on the outside as a pass-rushing outside linebacker, but he may be able to use him on the line of scrimmage as a 5-technique defensive end.
All 5-technique defensive ends are expected to set the edge against the run and should be powerful at the point of attack. When Houston was signed by the Bears last offseason, it was assumed he would continue to be the run-stopper he was while in Oakland.
Ability Versus the Run
Despite spending some time in a two-point stance in Oakland as an outside linebacker, Houston thrived with his hand in the ground as a 4-3 defensive end against the run in 2013.
According to Pro Football Focus, he finished with a plus-8.2 grade versus the run that season, seventh-best among all 4-3 defensive ends. He also had the highest run-stop percentage, 10.3 percent, among 4-3 defensive ends with 40 stops on 390 run snaps. He started all 16 games and finished with 69 tackles, six sacks and two forced fumbles.
Because of his ability against the run, Fangio may want to use him to anchor the outside at defensive end.
Ideal 5-techniques are 300-plus-pound guys who can play physical and have the ability to play two gaps versus the run. When signed by the Bears last offseason, some speculated Houston could play the 3-technique defensive tackle position in Chicago’s base 4-3, which also has two-gap responsibilities.
The two positions are similar because of the two-gap responsibilities, but the 3-technique position requires someone who is explosive and can rush the passer, while the 5-technique position is more about setting the edge versus the run.
His snaps were limited last season due to his injury, but Houston proved he does a much better job of setting the edge against the run than he does as a pass-rusher in a three-point stance.
In Week 1 last season versus the Buffalo Bills, he showed his ability against the run early in the first quarter.
Lined up at left defensive end, he was able to use his speed and athleticism to get a jump off the ball and utilize his strength against the right tackle. He was then able to take down running back Fred Jackson on the backside of the run.
He did not have as big of an impact against the run in 2014 as the Bears would have liked, but his history suggests he can still be effective if put in the right situation.
He has proven over the years he is versatile, can attack the quarterback and can set the edge versus the run, so how will Fangio use him?
Fangio Wants to Create Confusion
Fangio is known for creating confusion with his looks up front and wants to apply pressure to opposing quarterbacks both physically and mentally.
The images above of Fangio’s defense versus the Bears in Week 2 last season are just a small example of the different looks he wants to give opposing offenses.
While he does not currently have an elite pass-rushing outside linebacker like Aldon Smith or a smashmouth 5-technique defensive end like Justin Smith in Chicago, Houston has the ability to be a little bit of both under Fangio.
Aldon Smith and Justin Smith are completely different players, but both played with loads of energy and physicality under Fangio. In order for Houston to become an X-factor, he will need to display both.
During his time in Oakland, there was no concern about Houston’s energy and enthusiasm.
“If you watch the film, the way he plays the game, you’ll see his activity,” San Diego Chargers head coach Mike McCoy said about Houston last offseason, via Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune. “It’s snap to whistle all the time. You see him chasing guys downfield. He’s always flying to the football.”
While his energy and enthusiasm are a plus, he will need to better utilize his strength if he wants to fit into Fangio’s style.
“He has to continue to use his power to his advantage,” said Dennis Allen, Houston’s former coach in Oakland, via Wiederer. “That’s really his best weapon as a rusher. And when we saw him do that, he was very effective.”
If Houston can better utilize his strength, the Bears could use him as a 5-technique in obvious running situations and put him on the outside in a two-point stance in passing situations.
Fangio’s history suggests he will do whatever he can do to put his players in the right position to succeed, and former Pro Bowl safety Antoine Bethea echoed that sentiment earlier this offseason.
“Just having guys in the right places at the right time,” said Bethea, who played for Fangio in San Francisco last season, via Mark Potash of the Chicago Sun-Times. “On game day, [Fangio is] on point. Right time. Putting us in the right situation. Right calls. And just having guys in the right place where everybody can succeed.”
There is no guarantee Houston will bounce back and be fully healthy by the start of next season, but if he is, Fangio will likely do his best to put him in situations where he can succeed.
Fangio’s style and aggressiveness, combined with Houston’s skill set, should help the soon-to-be 28-year-old develop into an X-factor in Chicago’s defense next season.
Statistical information courtesy of NFL.com unless otherwise noted.
Matt Eurich is an NFL/Chicago Bears Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report and a member of the Pro Football Writers of America.
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