Big Picture Defensive Discussion

[Montucky]

Well considering Mack was the No 1 Edge last year then yes there is only one place to go and that is down. However, I think he his production will increase under Desai. Pagano simply allowed too many short passes that prevented the rush from getting home.

I would put money on Jackson improving over last year. I think he let the refs get in his head a bit and is too emotional. Not sure he ever gets back to 2018 Jackson but think he will get back to being a good S if not an elite one.

Khalil Mack was simply not the best player at his position last year and I don't care why Pro Football Focus says. He has been losing effectiveness for years now.

 

[mattb78]

Pace has to successfully draft some young EDGE players. He certainly can draft DBs, DLs and ILB. That really covers most of the defense.

But just like QB on offense, EDGE is that position that really gets you there, and its really too expensive to buy it.

Pace is going to have to take some shots at day 1 and day 2 EDGE pass rushers and get those right. And those are always risky picks.

 

[DC]

Khalil Mack was simply not the best player at his position last year and I don't care why Pro Football Focus says. He has been losing effectiveness for years now.

It's true, but if Fields becomes as advertised I believe it will reignite not just the city and franchise, but the players as well. Hope springs eternal. Mack has never won a playoff game and a young QB with the kind of confident swag he carries could/should compel even the oldest dogs to learn some new tricks.

 

[remydat]

Khalil Mack was simply not the best player at his position last year and I don't care why Pro Football Focus says. He has been losing effectiveness for years now.

Great and I don't care what you say. He is still a top player at the position. We will find out the truth on the field.

 

[Montucky]

Great and I don't care what you say. He is still a top player at the position. We will find out the truth on the field.

We have been for the last two years. He simply is not making those game-changing plays that he did in 2018 and early 2019. And he's not drawing as many double teams nor being schemed for nearly as much. He's in some stage of decline, the extent of which I'm not exactly sure of but its certainly happening.

 

[wazzupi]

We have been for the last two years. He simply is not making those game-changing plays that he did in 2018 and early 2019. And he's not drawing as many double teams nor being schemed for nearly as much. He's in some stage of decline, the extent of which I'm not exactly sure of but its certainly happening.

you don't have a clue what you're talking about.

 

[Discus fish salesman]

We have been for the last two years. He simply is not making those game-changing plays that he did in 2018 and early 2019. And he's not drawing as many double teams nor being schemed for nearly as much. He's in some stage of decline, the extent of which I'm not exactly sure of but its certainly happening.

You literally have no idea what other teams are scheming for

 

[WindyCity]

Nichols is the most important dlmen because he is the only that is part of future plans?

Yes.

He is better than Goldman and younger than Hicks. He is the one who I would like to guarantee being here for the heart of the Fields era.

 

[WindyCity]

I actually think Edwards is potentially more important. He graded out as a top 10 inside lineman last year (7th). If he can maintain that while increasing his snaps then the Bears will be pretty set between him and Nichols.

Edwards being as effective in a more prominent role would be big for the defense as he is cost controlled at a really nice number.

 

[Discus fish salesman]

Yes.

He is better than Goldman and younger than Hicks. He is the one who I would like to guarantee being here for the heart of the Fields era.

I'd actually hope to have a better player than him as the DL anchor but would love to keep him and think he is a very good player

 

[remydat]

We have been for the last two years. He simply is not making those game-changing plays that he did in 2018 and early 2019. And he's not drawing as many double teams nor being schemed for nearly as much. He's in some stage of decline, the extent of which I'm not exactly sure of but its certainly happening.

Yeah no. It helps to do research before running your mouth.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1332509974132629505

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1211714415357300737

His pass rush win rate and double team rate is pretty much the same in 2019 and 2020. Don't think you grasp that sacks are a volatile metric and that scheme matters.

 

[Montucky]

Yeah no. It helps to do research before running your mouth.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1332509974132629505

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1211714415357300737

His pass rush win rate and double team rate is pretty much the same in 2019 and 2020. Don't think you grasp that sacks are a volatile metric and that scheme matters.

I'm obviously referring to his decline from his 2018 level of play, which is absolutely undeniable to even the most casual NFL fan.

 

[rawdawg]

I'm obviously referring to his decline from his 2018 level of play, which is absolutely undeniable to even the most casual NFL fan.

I mean it's all relative though. 2018 he was defensive MVP level. 2019 and 2020 he was merely top 5 edge rusher level. Is that decline or is that the natural ebb and flow of an NFL career? I mean, he's also 30 so a legit decline could be coming but I don't think we're even close to the point of him being ineffective.

 

[Discus fish salesman]

Whatd mack have two sacks negated by penalties, one being a strip sack? If those hadn't been negated his numbers would have been close to what he had in 2018 and montucky wouldn't even realize 2 plays affected his entire narrative

 

[remydat]

I mean it's all relative though. 2018 he was defensive MVP level. 2019 and 2020 he was merely top 5 edge rusher level. Is that decline or is that the natural ebb and flow of an NFL career? I mean, he's also 30 so a legit decline could be coming but I don't think we're even close to the point of him being ineffective.

Exactly. It is like saying Mahomes is in decline because he has not reached 50 TDs the past two seasons.

I'm obviously referring to his decline from his 2018 level of play, which is absolutely undeniable to even the most casual NFL fan.

Again I dont think you understand the fact that things like sacks are volatile because the sample size is so small.

He got 1 less pressure a game this year vs 2018 (14 less in total). He had 33 run stops this year compared to 34 in 2018.

That is not decline. That is just the basic volatility in stats. If he were really in decline you would expect both pass rush and run D stats to have fallen drastically. The one less pressure a game can easily be attributed to Paganos scheme meaning the QB got rid of the ball due to poor coverage schemes.

This is born out by the fact the Bears got killed in the short passing game in the middle and to the right ie where Trevathan and Skrine played. By contrast the short passing game to the left, they were 2nd best in the NFL. That is where Quan was and the same side as Hicks and Mack.

 

[CaliBearFan]

This has been obvious for two years now (needing to get younger). Trevathan should've been gone. Hopefully Hicks' replacement is already on the roster. We need a young pass rusher too.

Adam Jahns today said Trevethan was making some great plays at mini camp and looked fast - like he did a few years ago. I'm not counting him out. He looked good to me the second half of last year.

 

[CaliBearFan]

Yes.

He is better than Goldman and younger than Hicks. He is the one who I would like to guarantee being here for the heart of the Fields era.

Better than Goodman at DE. Not tackle. I feel people are underestimating how important Goldman's position is to this defense and how well he plays it.

 

[WindyCity]

I'd actually hope to have a better player than him as the DL anchor but would love to keep him and think he is a very good player

Too much money and resources to acquire.

Nichols is a stud. Outside of Kenny Clark and Hicks he is the best interior DLmen in the division and Hicks is declining.

 

[WindyCity]

Better than Goodman at DE. Not tackle. I feel people are underestimating how important Goldman's position is to this defense and how well he plays it.

30% of plays.

Nichols is our most valueable DLmen for the future… because he can rush the passer and is solid against the run.

NT is important, it just isn’t as important as your 3 technique when you play nickle 70% of the time.

 

[dabears70]

I like to see this. He should of been at OTA's with Roquan.

WATCH: Bears CB Jaylon Johnson putting in extra work this offseason

Jaylon Johnson is the new CB1 in Chicago. Watch the second-year Bear putting in some extra work this offseason.

bearswire.usatoday.com