The Chicago Bears defense has remained one of the better units in the NFL for the past four seasons. They’ve never ranked lower than 11th in that span. However, a closer look indicates a unit that remains flawed. While they remain good at getting stops and making it tough on offenses to move the ball, one of their best features from back in 2018 has disappeared over the past two seasons. The ability to take the ball away.
Here is some context. Three years ago, the Bears led the entire NFL with 36 takeaways. In the two years since? They have 37 total with 19 in 2019 and 18 in 2020. It’s hard to win football games when you’re not able to force turnovers. Especially when the offense isn’t capable of scoring at will due to persistent quarterback problems. So new defensive coordinator Sean Desai entered 2021 with a simple question.
How can I get this defense to deliver more takeaways?
One thing about Lovie Smith during his long reign as head coach? He did a fantastic job getting his defense to force turnovers. This was done by constantly coaching them to focus on that in practice. Every single player had it in their heads that they must go for the ball. Desai is trying to do the same. His method is a bit unique though. Rather than just constantly coach it, he decided to make turn it into a contest during practice by way of something he calls the “takeaway bucket.”
It may seem like an overly simple way for a coach to get his players invested in the goal of more takeaways. Yet by the sound of things, the idea has caught on. Defenders have played with a ton of energy and swagger through the first practices of training camp. They’ve been trash-talking relentlessly and immediately go for the takeaway bucket whenever a turnover is forced. Head coach Matt Nagy, despite being an offensive guy, seems to love it.
Subscribe to the BFR podcast and ride shotgun with Dave and Ficky as they break down Bears football like nobody else.
“I think you could feel it yesterday, the vibe in practice, that they’re going after that football. They’re tagging off, they’re trying to punch for it. I want that to happen. It’s the quarterback’s job, it’s our wide receiver’s job to make sure it doesn’t, and that’s what we’re teaching them.
“… The guys have fun with it. It spices it up.”
Chicago Bears defense seems eager to silence the haters
Desai promised when he took over that things were going to be different moving forward. There wasn’t going to be any coddling of his players. He would coach them hard, expecting discipline, effort, and speed. Everybody flies to the football. If you don’t do that, then find a seat on the bench. His players seem to love that new mindset. They’ve sung Desai’s praises over and over the past few weeks.
The installation of the takeaway bucket is just one of several adjustments he’s made to how they do things. So far, the Chicago Bears defense has bought in 100%. If he can get them to play with this kind of energy and aggression when the actual games begin? Things should turn out okay. Rest assured this group carries a chip on their shoulder. Many critics believe they’re in decline and unable to play at an elite level anymore.
That notion is about to be challenged.
Several key members certainly have plenty of incentive to do well. Eddie Goldman is back after missing all of 2020 due to COVID-19. Roquan Smith and Bilal Nichols are playing for new contracts. Robert Quinn had the worst season of his career last year with just two sacks. Eddie Jackson failed to record an interception. This should be a motivated unit from top to bottom.