It took a little longer than anticipated, but wide receiver Keenan Allen suited up for practice at the start of mandatory minicamps for the Chicago Bears. He enjoyed the first serious reps with quarterback Caleb Williams and is happy he gets to continue working with wide receivers coach Chris Beatty. However, not everything was smooth sailing for the six-time Pro Bowler. It only took one practice for him to realize he was facing a different animal on the defensive side of the ball.
The Bears’ defense gave him a taste of what practice would be like for the next three months, and he didn’t enjoy it for two reasons: one was because of how good they were, and the other was how much talking they did.
“They look like a top 5 defense. They sound like a top 5 defense too. Defenses are annoying, especially at practice. You just hear them every time they make a play. It’s hooray celebration. These guys are running up and down the sideline. So it’s annoying.”
This latest iteration of the Bears’ defense is starting to resemble the group during Lovie Smith’s peak years. They’re tough, athletic, intense, and not afraid to talk trash. They’re talented, and they know it. Each position group has at least one Pro Bowl-caliber player. Couple that with a defensive head coach with great motivational skills like Matt Eberflus, and this is the result.
Keenan Allen should be grateful for this development.
After all, he only got to play with one top five defense in his NFL career. That came in 2017. Practicing against that unit helped him achieve a career-best 1,393 yards. He will get to test his mettle against Jaylon Johnson, Kyler Gordon, and Tyrique Stevenson. If anybody is going to keep Allen sharp at 32 years of age, it will be them. Annoying him with their constant jabbering is liable to motivate him as well. That, along with his current contract situation, and the Bears shouldn’t have to worry about him being ready for the season.
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The only concern they should have is whether his body holds up. Keenan Allen hasn’t played a full season since 2021. He missed seven games in 2022 and four games last year. People worry he no longer has the durability to handle a full schedule. Perhaps having D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze will help ease some of the pressure on him. With coverages unable to focus on stopping him, Allen should see more space to work with. The good news is he won’t have to face the Bears defense again once the season starts.
Even among professionals, boys, annoying can lead to anger and conflict.
Eberflus’ defense is restoring the trademark identity the Bears are known for. Monsters of the midway!
When great players admit a defense is getting to them, the D is doing something right!