Ben Johnson knew the most important hire for his staff was the defensive coordinator. He would need somebody who could handle that side of the ball with lots of autonomy while he took care of things on offense. The name that surfaced almost immediately was Dennis Allen, the former New Orleans Saints head coach. It was a minor surprise since the two had never worked together before. However, Allen had worked with Dan Campbell in New Orleans, which likely helped lead to a bridge of communication between the two.
Still, Allen being a big name couldn’t have been the only reason Johnson wanted him on his staff. Sure enough, details finally emerged courtesy of Albert Breer of The MMQB. Much of the allure stems from how Allen runs his defense. Johnson wants to deploy a unit that emulates much of what the Detroit Lions accomplished over the past three years under Aaron Glenn. As it turns out, Glenn got his primary education from Allen when they two were together in New Orleans.
Dennis Allen has a clear vision for the defenses he runs.
Two themes tend to develop when he’s in charge. He wanted strong and explosive defensive linemen and ballhawk defensive backs. This is the exact method Detroit employed with Glenn. Aidan Hutchinson and Alim McNeill were two dynamic linemen who could win with power or quickness. Kerby Joseph, Brian Branch, and Terrion Arnold all had reputations for taking the ball away. Throw in linebackers who are outstanding run defenders, and you’ve got a picture of Allen’s defensive formula.
The good news is that the Bears are already somewhat equipped in that department. Montez Sweat and Gervon Dexter fill the strong, explosive defensive linemen void. Jaylon Johnson, Kyler Gordon, and Tyrique Stevenson are solid ballhawks. Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards are solid run defenders. Dennis Allen has plenty to work with upon arrival. Still, it will be interesting to see how the team attacks the coming off-season to better fit his vision.
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