On the surface the Bears signing Dan Skuta doesn’t seem like much. It’s understandable enough. He’s a 31-year old outside linebacker who just finished two unremarkable years playing for the Jacksonville Jaguars. During that span of 26 games he managed a whopping 1.5 sacks. So why again should Chicago fans be remotely interested in this news?
The simple answer is connections. Many won’t know that Skuta actually has a history with Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. They spent two years together with the San Francisco 49ers back in 2013 and 2014. During that stretch Skuta had easily the most productive run of his NFL career.
Why the Bears signing Dan Skuta helps
Skuta is not meant to be a starter. He’s meant to provide depth behind Leonard Floyd, Pernell McPhee and Willie Young. He is competition for Lamarr Houston and Christian Jones. The last time he played under Fangio it looked like he was just starting to blossom as a player. During those two seasons that included 18 starts, Skuta collected 61 tackles, five sacks, and three forced fumbles. Most of which came in 2014.
He is a tough, smart, and consistent player who does his best work defending the run. This due in large part to his gap discipline and instinct. He may not be the hidden gem people always love but in the context of depth and reliability? It’s a nice move. Once again GM Ryan Pace showcases his ability to make quality signings at every phase of the offseason.
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Hopefully this is a move fans won’t have to think about every again. After all the team really needs Floyd, McPhee and Young to stay healthy this year. If the defense is going to have any hope of becoming a force for change in team fortunes. Still, the arrival of Dan Skuta does at least protect against those injury woes that plagued the franchise in 2016.
