The Chicago Bears got their offensive coordinator position squared away before switching over to the defensive side. Head coach Matt Eberflus and GM Ryan Poles have now met with three candidates. The first was former Bears safety and current Titans passing game coordinator Chris Harris. However, their next two options hold a similar theme. First was Titans defensive line coach Terrell Williams. Now according to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports, the Bears are looking to meet with Buffalo Bills assistant head coach and defensive line coach Eric Washington.
This is an excellent idea by Eberflus and Poles. For one, Washington worked in Chicago from 2008 to 2010, becoming their defensive line coach in that final season. The same year, they went to the NFC championship. Since then, he’s blazed a trail of constant success everywhere he’s been. Washington helped Carolina to a top 10 defense five times during his stint there from 2011 to 2019. He then joined the Bills in 2020. They’ve had a top 10 defense in each of the past three years. A common theme is how good he’s been at developing young players.
The Chicago Bears’ interest in Washington is valid.
He has routinely gotten double-digit sack seasons from several notable pass rushers for years. Among the long list of names include the following:
- Charles Johnson
- Greg Hardy
- Mario Addison
- Kawann Short
- Julius Peppers
- Leonard Floyd
This isn’t counting the excellent seasons he’s gotten from others like Ed Oliver and Gregory Rousseau. There is no denying Washington is great at his job. One cannot forget how vital the defensive line is to the success of the Chicago Bears defense under Eberflus. The front four must be the ones to apply pressure on their own. It can’t lean on blitzing to help, otherwise the scheme doesn’t work as intended. That is why you need talented players up front and a coach who knows how to get the most out of them.
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Washington would be a great addition. Guys like Montez Sweat, Gervon Dexter, Zacch Pickens, and DeMarcus Walker would instantly benefit from his presence.
