The Chicago Bears made one of their more bold decisions this offseason when they decided to make Sean Desai their new defensive coordinator. He’d only been a primary position coach for two years, running their safeties in 2019 and 2020. Before that he’d been a quality control coach. So Matt Nagy was taking a calculated gamble that the young coach was ready to take over a veteran-laden unit.
A number of players who knew Desai for some time praised the decision. They felt he was a perfect choice. Not only because of his high intelligence and ability to instruct, but also his strong leanings into the Vic Fangio-style. Some have even called him a “genius.” The big question was whether he could find a way to motivate them. It’s one thing to know the Xs and Os, but the biggest challenge for coaches is getting grown men to buy in.
According to Adam Hoge of NBC Sports? That hasn’t been a problem.
“It’s common for the defense to win the first few practices of camp as the offense works out the kinks, but Friday was borderline unfair. Khalil Mack was parked in the backfield. Bilal Nichols and Akiem Hicks were blowing up plays. The linebackers had free lanes to the ballcarriers.
And the defense was letting the offense hear about it. Tight ends Cole Kmet and Jimmy Graham were both on the receiving end of some jeering from the defensive sideline. And Nichols had no problem saying something to head coach Matt Nagy after getting into the backfield and nearly making an incredible interception.”
Thus far Desai’s message has been heard. He wants a defense that plays hard and plays fast. He expects discipline at all times. Signs point to them following this lead. They’ve been flying around the field, on top of everything the offense tries to do. Even Robert Quinn is getting in on the action with multiple positive plays. To his credit, Desai knows it’s early and his unit has to prove it with the pads on.
The Bears’ offense is also operating shorthanded with both of their starting tackles out with injuries. So it’s important not to get too carried away with anything just yet. That being said, it is pretty clear the young coach has his unit’s attention and they are following his lead. This is a great thing for the team going into such an important season.
Subscribe to the BFR podcast and ride shotgun with Dave and Ficky as they break down Bears football like nobody else.
The #Bears turnover bucket is out on a fumble. Sean Desai ran over and wheeled the bucket out there himself and was excited.
— Zack Pearson (@Zack_Pearson) July 31, 2021
Second straight day Trevis Gipson has found himself in the backfield for a TFL. #Bears
— Zack Pearson (@Zack_Pearson) July 31, 2021
Felt like a solid day overall for Sean Desai's defense, which has players flying around but in the right places more often than not. Some flashes today from Khalil Mack, Mario Edwards, Trevis Gipson, Artie Burns.
— Dan Wiederer (@danwiederer) July 31, 2021
Bears DT Bilal Nichols on the defense: "We’ve got a whole new swagger about us. It kind of reminds us of that 2018 swagger we had. … (Sean Desai’s) been amazing so far."
— Kevin Fishbain (@kfishbain) July 31, 2021
Sean Desai is going to be tested right out of the gate
One thing about the Bears’ 2021 schedule is it’s laden with really good-to-great quarterbacks. In the first half of the season alone they will play Matthew Stafford, Baker Mayfield, Derek Carr, Aaron Rodgers, and Tom Brady. That is a murderous gauntlet of outstanding QB talent. Expecting the defense to somehow keep the team afloat during that time seems a bit unfair. Yet that is what Desai is tasked with. Finding a way to keep those guys in check.
The good news is he still has plenty of talent to work with. Khalil Mack and Akiem Hicks can still dominate. Eddie Goldman is back in the middle gobbling up double teams. Roquan Smith is a budding star at inside linebacker. Bilal Nichols seems poised for the best year of his career. Jaylon Johnson and Eddie Jackson are patrolling the secondary. It’s a quality group with a nice mix of youth and experience. Sean Desai must make sure he can maximize what they do best.
It seems he has a firm grasp on that so far.
The first big test will come on August 14th. That is when the Bears play their first preseason game against the Miami Dolphins. A team that has a young QB in Tua Tagovailoa and a revamped offensive featuring a lot of speed at wide receiver. The defensive coordinator should have a good idea of where his defense is at by then.