This column was supposed to be written two weeks from today. The plan was to reserve it for the Sunday sports section leading into the Bears’ ‘‘Monday Night Football’’ showdown against the Vikings.
But addressing this now is, well, kinda necessary because it feels like we’re living in a two-person world when it comes to the Bears — Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams — and nothing else concerning the team’s immediate on-the-field future matters. Caleb’s “growth” under Ben is the key to all things; Ben “resetting the culture” for Caleb to succeed is the key to everything. Somewhere between all things and everything, the Bears’ defense is quietly the most important component of what this team will look like this season.
Its importance is being overshadowed.
Say “all things and everything” you want about the restructured offense, the rebuilt offensive line, the potential of Colston Loveland and Luther Burden III, the new commitment to detail and accountability Johnson is bringing in and the elevated “energy” inside and outside Halas Hall, but it will be defensive coordinator Dennis Allen and his “no slack for anybody” (as Kevin Byard called it) defense that will decide what the personality and character of this team will be.
And they can’t wait on an imaginary, historic Micah Parsons trade with the Cowboys or a realistic, historic Trey Hendrickson trade with the Bengals to be the answer.
As much as things hinge on Caleb’s evolution over the next 20 weeks, Montez Sweat’s return to Pro Bowl form and Tyrique Stevenson’s ability to really, really, really put the Hail Mary asshattery (Rick Morrissey’s word) behind him are also key.
Dayo Odeyingbo has to rise above that 75th-best defensive-end ranking he got last year from Pro Football Focus. Our prayers need to work so that Jaylon Johnson’s injury, which has kept him out all preseason, is not as bad as our pessimism leads us to believe, and that when he comes back, it’s at a Sauce Gardner or Derek Stingley Jr. level. Jaquan Brisker has to stay on the field (no more concussions) and play like he’s in a contract year, which he is.
For a unit that was ranked 27th in total defense (giving up 354 yards per game) last season, there’s belief on paper and among staff that that wasn’t a true representation. While low on sacks, the Bears had 24 takeaways last season, eighth in the NFL. Their pressure on quarterbacks was at a 25.1% rate, good for seventh, and they averaged 11.9 QB knockdowns, tied for third. And their “low” sack total (40) was right in the middle of the league, not as dismal as we are forcing ourselves (and being told) to believe by looking at the individual sack numbers of Sweat, Odeyingbo and Austin Booker.
The room for improvement just needs a new coat of paint and some upgraded end pieces to complement the furniture already there. It doesn’t need a total Nate Berkus redecoration.
Herb Howard, the Bears beat reporter for The Bigs Media, clarified: “It’s essential that the Bears’ defense comes through. They need to finish in the top half of the league for them to remain competitive. Last year, the defense was playing well to start the season. But two key injuries [Brisker and Andrew Billings] derailed the defense. They’ll need to be top 10 in many categories if they intend to contend for a playoff spot.”
The reality is it’s on Allen to outshine Johnson in the coaching category this season. It’s that simple to say, way harder for him to do. To be Buddy Ryan to Johnson’s possible remix of Mike Ditka.
This is how they become the Broncos. The Texans. The Packers. It’s not just what their offense can become, it’s if the defense is capable of making people stop talking so much about the offense. It’s if the defense — not Caleb and Ben — can be the reason the Bears are looking down at the other teams in the NFC North standings in November and December for the first time since 2018, when they had the No. 1-ranked defense in the NFL. Before it all fell apart.
So don’t let the zero against the Bills fool you. Or the goal-line stand after the 15-play first drive they had against the Dolphins in the first preseason game fool you. Please let the 17-0 score of the Chiefs game before Patrick Mahomes went out resonate.
The elephant in the Bears’ locker room is the defense, but the elephant is getting skinny. They don’t have to be world-beaters on defense, but they have to be the problem or of major concern for every opponent they face. The fate of it all starts right now with the identity of the defense and whom it decides to be. Damn all things and everything else.
