The Chicago Bears 53-man roster has been set with the lack of talent and depth at the cornerback position being a signifciant concern. The Bears will open the season in Los Angeles against the Rams with four cornerbacks who have not recorded a single interception in their respective careers. With a high level of inexperience at the position, the rest of Chicago’s defense will have to play better to avoid a massive risk.
Inexperience At The Cornerback Position Has Hurt The Bears Before
The depth and inexperience at the cornerback position for the 2021 Bears is very similar to the level of inexperience the 2016 Bears had at the position. In 2016, Chicago featured Tracy Porter, Cre’Von LeBlanc, Deiondre’ Hall, Jacoby Glenn, and Bryce Callahan. The Bears’ best cornerback in Kyle Fuller would miss the entire 2016 season with a knee injury. Fuller’s absence led to LeBlanc, Hall, and Glenn being rotated in and out at the cornerback position opposite of Porter.
Between the five cornerbacks, the cornerbacks would general a total of six interceptions, with two each coming from Porter and LeBlanc. The problem with the Bears’ cornerbacks in 2016 was that they were highly inexperienced with two or fewer seasons of experience outside of Porter, an eight-year veteran at the time. This lead to a poor pass defense despite the six interceptions as Chicago would finish with a franchise-worst three wins in 2016.
TRACY PORTER!!!
Interception! That’s Chicago Bears Football!
— The Chicago Audible (@ChicagoAudible) September 11, 2016
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The Bears’ defense in 2016 wasn’t bad the entire season as the pass-rush was able to assist a poor secondary at times. Chicago’s defense would record 37 sacks in 2016 despite giving up over 250 passing yards or more in six games. A prime example of how the Bears’ secondary negatively impacted the overall defensive play was the team’s week five loss to the Indianapolis Colts. Colts quarterback Andrew Luck passed for over 322 yards and two touchdowns despite being sack five times. Colts’ receiver T.Y. Hilton caught ten passes for 171 receiving yards and a touchdown in a 29-23 victory.
Chicago Bears Defense … Total Yards Given Up Per Game:
2013 (pre-Fangio) = 394.6
2014 (pre-Fangio) = 377.1
2015 = 345.4
2016 = 344.9— ✶ Sports Mockery ✶ (@sportsmockery) December 28, 2016
The 2021 Bears’ Pass Rush Is Capable Of Hiding The Cornerback Position Inadequacies
Like the 2016 season, the 2021 Bears defense will be highly inexperienced at the cornerback position. Chicago will have Jaylon Johnson, Duke Shelley, Kindle Vildor, and Xavier Crawford as their cornerbacks to start the season. All four cornerbacks have less than three years of experience in the league, with Johnson having the most starts between the four.
There are concerns about the talent and depth of the cornerback position already, as Vildor played poorly in the final preseason game against the Tennessee Titans. Many analysts believed the Bears were going to sign a veteran free agent following the release of Desmond Trufant earlier this week. Chicago could also potentially trade for their former starting slot cornerback in Callahan, who has been discussed in recent trade rumors due to the Denver Broncos’ significant depth at the position.
Hearing from multiple sources that Broncos CB Bryce Callahan is a player to monitor for a potential trade, would be a VERY hot commodity if cut
Bears among interested teams
Jets GM Joe Douglas was Chicago's Director of College Scouting in 2015 when Callahan signed as an UDFA
— Brad Spielberger (@PFF_Brad) September 2, 2021
Due to the inexperience of the Bears’ cornerbacks, it will be up to the defensive front-seven to make up for the lack of talent. Chicago will need their defensive pass-rush to play at a level similar to the 2018 season when the defense recorded 50 sacks and was the best defense in the league. The pressure brought on by the pass-rush that season led to Chicago recording 27 interceptions, with the cornerback position accounting for 13.
Kyle Fuller’s interception was the #Bears 9th of the season, which is 1 more than they had in all of 2018, or 2017, or 2016.
— Bob LeGere (@BobLeGere) October 14, 2018
One advantage the Bears’ pass rush will have that they haven’t had since 2018 is depth and health. Khalil Mack, Eddie Goldman, and Akiem Hicks have only started three games together since week five of the 2019 season. Furthermore, Chicago’s season-opening game against the Rams in two weeks will be the first game to feature the pass-rush of Mack, Hicks, Goldman, and Robert Quinn. If the Bears’ pass rush can return to its 2018 form, the cornerbacks could be in a better position to defend against the pass.
The Bears will be asking a lot from a cornerback position that has little experience and no interceptions. Johnson will have to take a big jump as Chicago’s number one cornerback, while the front seven will have to close in on opposing quarterbacks to avoid giving up big plays. Without a pass-rush, the Bears’ cornerbacks will struggle to slow opposing wide receivers, which will lead to an ugly defensive season.
