Bear Digest

Best at Fitting in with the Bears

Some players fit the Bears scheme better than others and the way people in the NFL do things matters.
Gene Chamberlain|
Best at Fitting in with the Bears
Best at Fitting in with the Bears

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Chicago Bears

When free agency raged, the debate also did about which players to bring to the Bears.

Ask any fan of the sport about free agency and they want their team paying the biggest names and top free agents.

A determining factor few like to talk about when it comes to this is scheme.

What a team does on the field determines the type of talent they put on it.

For instance, there were social media outcries to get guard Ben Powers and tackle Orlando Brown Jr. to the Bears but this made little sense. Powers is a 337-pound guard and Brown a 6-foot-8, 363-pound tackle.

A team that runs a wide-zone blocking scheme asks their linemen to get up out of a stance and run laterally time after time in games on rushing plays or even on play-action bootlegs. None of that plays to massive players.

The Bears needed somewhat lighter, more athletic linemen and found one guard in 6-3, 316-pound Nate Davis. GM Ryan Poles reportedly tried to get 6-8, 306-pound tackle Mike McGlinchey but found the bidding went too high.

You don't get a clarinet player for the band when you need someone to play the tuba. You don't hire a brain surgeon when you've got a bunch of heart patients.

It's not as simple as get the best players. That's the kind of thinking they use at lower levels, like high school or Pop Warner ball.

Especially on defense, it's important for players to fit coach Matt Eberflus' scheme.

With so much riding on wins there are coaches and schemes and players who fit the schemes.

Heading into this draft scheme matters as much as it does in free agency.

Here are the best and worst fits for the Bears at their positions of need heading to the 2023 NFL Draft.

Defensive End

Best Bears Scheme Fit

1A. Tyree Wilson

He's explosive, athletic, needs to improve his technique and no one would begrudge him the time to learn it considering the tools he brings to the job. You don't find defensive ends who stand 6-foot-6 1/8, have 35 5/8-inch arms and are 271 pounds, with his quickness very often. He has the athletic skills to be dominant to an even greater degree than he has while piling up 17 sacks and 32 tackles for loss at Texas Tech. This wasn't an edge who just tried using his speed to get around tackles. He was mindful of the run and had a Pro Football Focus run-stopping grade nearly as high as his grade for pass rush. So of course he would interest the Bears, who had him at Halas Hall for a visit

1B. Lukas Van Ness

His name at the top will no doubt meet with disapproval based on social media reaction to his name because he isn't a speed rusher who has flashy play with countless sacks. Instead, he is a system fit as a stout defensive end who protects the edge in running situations but also maintains gap integrity in the pass rush to keep mobile passers from straying outside containment All the while he pushes back the tackle to get sacks or pressure. The fact he didn't start a lot of the time at Iowa is part of the reason he's not ahead of Wilson, but looking down on his skills is a big mistake.

Worst Scheme Fit

Nolan Smith, Georgia

This isn't to say Smith is bad. He just doesn't fit what the traditional Eberflus defensive scheme has been. Almost all their edge players with the Colts were 240 or higher and those who weren't were guys who barely made the roster. Most were 250-255 or heavier. Smith didn't produce a lot of sacks in college, but this is beside the point. Smith has the physical ability to do it except not as a starting conventional defensive end in a scheme like the Bears use. At 238 pounds he's built to be an edge in a three-man line or only a situational pass rusher in a 4-3.

However, defensive schemes morph.

If the Bears drafted him, you could almost see his fit being as a Micah Parsons type, a wild card who lined up all over the place from edge to off-ball outside linebacker to blitzing inside linebacker. This wasn't part of the Eberflus' approach in Indy but no one wants to stay too predictable in the NFL.

It would be a much better way to show off Smith's skills than by locking him up on a tackle with his hand in the dirt.

Defensive Tackle

Best Scheme Fit

Jalen Carter, Georgia

He does everything the Bears ask for from a gap-shooting three technique and lined up most of the time in the B gap like they want. Yet, he's not confined to be that type of tackle. He's so talented that he can occupy blockers in a two-gap approach, as well. He might not have the flat-out speed of Adetomiwa Adebawore or Calijah Kancey, but makes up for it with perfect defensive tackle instinct and technique.

Worst Scheme Fit

Mazi Smith, Michigan

At 6-3, 326, he'd have to be a one technique for the Bears and wouldn't necessarily be good at this in their scheme. He's better off in this league head up over a center in a three-man line, the traditional nose. With only half a sack and five tackles for loss in his career, he's the guy who occupies blockers so others make the tackles and not acting as a gap-shooter.

Off-Ball Linebacker

Best Scheme Fit

Trenton Simpson, Clemson

Sports Illustrated's Gilberto Manzano agrees with this, calling him the best Bears scheme fit in the draft while acknowledging they really don't need him now after the free agency signings of Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards.

Worst Scheme Fit

LB Ivan Pace Jr., Cincinnati

At 5-10, 231, he can play in the NFL but his role needs to be the classic, downhill attacking linebacker in run situations. He could do what Danny Trevathan did in the old Bears 3-4. He's going to have a tougher time dropping in zone-heavy schemes like the Bears use and even could have trouble in man-to-man coverage at that height. He could be on the weakside in some schemes but too many other linebackers who are rangier could do that job better, as well.

Cornerback

Best Scheme Fit

Julius Brents, Kansas State

The Bears are heavily slanted on defense to zone coverage.

"Brents spends most of his time operating as a boundary corner in zone coverage for Kansas State," NFL Draft Bible wrote. "The former three-star recruit is at his best when he's allowed to keep his eyes on the quarterback, which might explain why he frequently uses the bail technique."

He'd be doing exactly that in the Bears scheme except when they had to match up against multiple-wide receiver formations on obviousl passing downs. At 6-2 1/2, 198, he's got that Charles Tillman lanky look and a nose for the football.

Worst Scheme Fit

Kelee Ringo, Georgia

Ringo excelled in press coverage. All NFL cornerbacks are going to need to do this at times but by and large it's not the Bears' cup of tea.

"In press man coverage, Ringo was elite against short routes where he could overwhelm wideouts," NFL Draft Bible wrote.

They went on to add, "In zone coverage, Ringo looks lost at times and doesn’t have a natural feel for where to be. This caused him to be a step late and forced him to rely on his natural tools to make up for his mistakes."

It's not a good situation if you specialize in zone and label your team a Tampa-2 style.

Safety

Best Scheme System Fit

Sydney Brown, Illinois

The Bears would like to play their safeties with both equally capable of dropping down shorter in coverage or in the box, but with Eddie Jackson strong deep and Jaquan Brisker still learning as a pass defender but good as a hitter, they're using Brisker up close more now.

Brown is a 4.47-second guy in the 40 so he's capable of covering most receivers in deep situations. He's also a real ball hawk with four interceptions, three forced fumbles and 13 pass deflections. It's what Eberflus wants to see from his defenders. He has, at times covered in the slot, so he has versatility with coverage in this way.

Worst Scheme Fit

Jordan Battle, Alabama

Most safeties in this draft have coverage ability in zones double or even single-high. Battle, a 6-1, 209-pounder, seems to be more suited to playing other styles of defense in the NFL than the Bears use.

"Lacks instincts as a playmaker with his eyes on the quarterback, he fails to anticipate routes or throws to make plays on them," NFLDB wrote in a summary that doesn't describe a good two-deep zone cover guy. "Even when he has a chance to make a play, he just bats the ball down."

Running Back

Best Scheme Fit

Israel Abanikanda, Pitt

The Bears offense operates better with one-cut runners, players who can run at high speed laterally behind the wide zone, have vision for where the holes open and then make the cut upfield with good acceleration. A back like Bilal Robinson will operate in any system. He's that good. But there are other backs who can be at their best specializing in one system and in the Bears' case it's backs with that ability to find the hole, then surge upfield quickly. NFL Next Gen stats has a metric for determining who runs with the least wasted steps and both Khalil Herbert and D'Onta Foreman ranked top six at this last year.

"Abanikanda is a one-cut running back who displays elite acceleration and burst, but he lacks the playing strength to operate as physically between the tackles as he wants to," was NFL Draft Bible's summation.

Every team likes a back who can operate between the tackles but the Bears blocking scheme works better to the outside and Abankianda has 4.3-plus speed in the 40 when he makes that cut.

"Abanikanda is an explosive home run hitter who quickly blows past the defense’s second level," NFLDB said.

The draft has a number of decent one-cut runners who can get to the outside in wide zone and could be taken at any point. Abanikanda is just one.

Worst Scheme Fit

Chris Rodriguez Jr.

A 5-11 1/2, 217-pounder, Rodriguez runs with great power and NFLDB refers to him as "...a human battering ram, Rodriguez is best suited as a downhill runner in power-gap schemes. ... Don't see him as a perimeter runner. Doesn't have the speed to get to the edge or the agility to hit backside cutoffs."

This pretty much eliminates most of the carries he'd have in the Bears offense.

His 40-yard time of 4.6 is the same as David Montgomery's.

Wide Receiver

Best Scheme Fit

Kayshon Boutte, LSU

Boutte played every receiver position and that's a huge asset in the Bears offense, which rquires this. He played them well and the best thing about his play is he's a hands catcher who runs routes and knows how to adjust his speed.

Then there is this one line from NFLDB's assessemtn that has to put a smile on the faces of Bears offensive coordinator Luke Getsy and receivers coach/passing game coordinator Tyke Tolbert: "Willing blocker, looking to finish defensive backs, and dig out safeties, validating his competitive stamina."

The Bears want receivers who block, bottom line, no ifs or buts.

Worst Scheme Fit

Josh Downs, North Carolina

The Bears trained Darnell Mooney to be a blocker in the slot and it's not an easy assignment for a smaller guy but Downs is even smaller than Mooney at 5-9, 171. He is fast at 4.48 seconds in the 40 but maybe not fast enough in the Bears offensive scheme to make up for deficiencies.

"Downs is a somewhat unreliable blocker," NFLDB wrote. "Finally, he has been called on too many false starts and should have been called on even more."

The last criticism runs contrary to the Eberflus HITS principle. The "S" stands for smart play.

Tight Ends

Best Scheme Fit

Payne Durham, Purdue

The 6-5 1/2, 253-pounder was at Halas Hall on a visit and played for Getsy's team in the Senior Bowl.

"A well-rounded tight end with suitable blocking, sure hands, and a wide catch radius," NFLDB concluded about Durham, who was described as a cross between Cole Kmet and Robert Tonga Jr., which would indeed be an asset.

"In-line 'Y' alignment along with offset H-back and sniffer roles," NFLDB said, adding, "Excellent blocker. Kicks out linebackers in the run game, terrific on the perimeter when leading on screens."

Worst Scheme Fit

Cameron Latu, Alabama

Some teams might not be bothered by some of the perceived weaknesses to his game seen in NFLDB's assessment but the Bears would probably rather have someone else chosen later in the draft if possible.

"As a blocker, Latu has the size to be effective but his technique is all over the place," NFLDB determined.

As for catching passes, it's the invasion of the body catchers.

"His hands are inconsistent and he isn't a natural pass catcher," NFLDB said. "At times he'll bobble the football or catch it with his body and Latu struggled to pluck the football out of the air or make catches in stride on film."

Still, he has been productive at a major SEC power and, especially later in the draft, many teams would take a chance on his development.

Tackle

Best Scheme Fit

Paris Johnson Jr., Ohio State

Playing out of position at guard as a junior actually may have helped him in the eyes of the Bears because they saw him in a right-handed stance and have a right tackle opening. They've seen his power and explosiveness as an athlete and his measurements at the combine say he's a starting tackle.

"His ability to pull and seal, lead block, climb, reach, and get to space indicates he can be used liberally," NFLDB said, which basically describes what tackles must due as run blockers in the Bears offense.

NFLDB's assessment also brought up one other coveted trait and that's leadership.

"A high-character individual, the Cincinnati native is referred to by coaches as the "father" of the offensive line room because his teammates gravitate toward him," NFLDB said.

Worst Scheme Fit

Dawand Jones, Ohio State

If Orlando Brown Jr. didn't fit the system as Poles said, then definitely Jones doesn't. He's 6-7 1/2, 360 and although he shows good technical blocking ability it's difficult to see him fitting into a wide zone scheme and taking down the defense's edge. He would be better suited to inside zone or gap scheme.

Interior Offensive Line 

Best Scheme Fit

Peter Skoronski, Northwestern*

Although he's a tackle and would be the best Bears tackle, he would be their best guard as well. And at guard, he'd never have to battle the problem shorter arms (32-1/4 inches) can cause for a tackle with that handicap. Skoronski is worth drafting just for his technical blocking skill. Maybe some of it will rub off on other players from seeing it. When he was able to replace Rashawn Slater without skipping a beat, it showed his skills at all phases of blocking. His playing speed is faster than his 5.16 time in the 40 and 30 reps in the bench press with 34 1/2 inches for a vertical leap confirms overall athleticism. If you're not sold on Paris Johnson and you're the Bears, then taking Skoronski and starting him at tackle with a possible plan to try him in the future at guard makes sense.

Worst Scheme Fit

G O'Cyrus Torrence, Florida

At 6-5 1/2, 330 and with a 5.31-second 40 time, he's not getting out and leading the wide zone scheme any time soon. Guards in this offense need to be downrange of 315 and have an ability to show either a fast 10-yard split or outright fast 40 time. Torrence would be a tremendous fit for any team not using wide zone.

*Played tackle and not guard at Northwestern, projects as NFL guard.

Twitter: BearDigest@BearsOnMaven

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Gene Chamberlain
GENE CHAMBERLAIN

Gene Chamberlain has covered the Chicago Bears full time as a beat writer since 1994 and prior to this on a part-time basis for 10 years. He covered the Bears as a beat writer for Suburban Chicago Newspapers, the Daily Southtown, Copley News Service and has been a contributor for the Daily Herald, the Associated Press, Bear Report, CBS Sports.com and The Sporting News. He also has worked a prep sports writer for Tribune Newspapers and Sun-Times newspapers.

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