Much Demanded from Bears Rookies

The Bears are counting on their defensive line interior to make up for lack of a dominant edge rusher, so rookies Zacch Pickens and Gervon Dexter must deliver.

The Bears applied their second and fourth picks of the draft to a position most often called the key to their defensive scheme.

They spent last year's first free agent signing on the position, as well.

Yet, they really can't be certain they have the position properly covered considering it's importance within the scheme.

This is, of course, the three technique. That's the defensive tackle lining up in the "B" gap, between the guard and tackle and just off the guard's outside shoulder.

Bears GM Ryan Poles had to defend his failure to select a defensive end in the draft or sign a big-name edge rusher in free agency when they had the money, and the explanation used by Poles and by coach Matt Eberflus was scheme. They plan to "dent" the pocket from inside and get in the face of the quarterback with an interior rush. The three technique is critical here.

It's an exaggeration to say the Bears had their eyes opened last year when they went to New Jersey to face the Giants because they spoke about the importance three technique in their scheme, but they may have been simply reminded of the importance of interior rush last season in that Week 4 game. They owned a 2-1 record but saw Dexter Lawrence destroy the inside of their offensive line. Lawrence's presence is a factor in Azeez Ojulari having 13 1/2 sacks in only 18 games for the Giants.

If the Bears are going to make their scheme work without dominant edge rushers, they'll need the three technique doing what Lawrence does for the Giants and flush out the QB. 

They drafted South Carolina's Zacch Pickens and Florida's Gervon Dexter to play three technique and already have Justin Jones there. The hope is between the three of them, they can do for the Bears what DeForest Buckner was doing for the Colts when Eberflus was Colts defensive coordinator.

Dexter, their second-round pick at No. 53, has height like an end and weight like a nose tackle in this scheme, but also has enough explosiveness to be the three technique.

Dexter's consistency has been questioned by some but his defensive coordinator and line coach at Florida, Sean Spencer, has some insight because he was with the Giants coaching Lawrence before coming to Florida.

"He (Dexter) reminds me a lot of a combination of Leonard Williams and Dexter Lawrence," Spencer told reports at a Florida press conference. "Not as big as Dex, but kind of more Leonard's body type. And he can do some things in the short area with his quickness, and he's got good length and all those things that he can really create one-on-one pass rush moves. But I don't like to compare. 
"Those two guys are first-round picks, so that's a lot it to put on him. But as I talk to him, I do say there are many similarities between you and those guys right there."

The Bears could be so lucky.

Pickens was the first pick of Round 3, so it should show how important the Bears believe this position actually is that they spent the 53rd and 64th picks on it. He's actually built more like a traditional three technique at 291 pounds and 6-3 1/2. 

#DaBears fans, Zacch Pickens by his own volition said he hasn't had 2 years of consistent Coaching since High School (Context).

You cannot block him consistently 1:1, he persistently resets the LOS instantly, he's violent AF with his hands & lateral steps. Lots to work with! pic.twitter.com/a0v4p970CF

— Bearlissimo (@Bearlissimo1) May 1, 2023

The third defensive tackle they took in Round 7, Travis Bell, is a nose tackle and not the three technique, although they might try him there to see what they've got. Pickens ran a 4.89-second 40 and displays good lower body power.

"When you look at him, physically and athletically he looks like a first-rounder," Mel Kiper Jr. said of Pickens after the selection.

#6 Gervon Dexter Sr.

I just had too difficult of a time finding any other players I could rank above him. 6’6 310lb monster on the interior that has elite instincts and reaction and is a more developed pass rush plan away from being a 10+ sack a year guy at the next level pic.twitter.com/ZPSVpXCcDv

— Thomas Begley (@tebegley71) April 21, 2023

This isn't a first-rounder, though.

"The kid's got ability the consistency at times was lacking," Kiper said.

If the Bears can squeeze one three technique out of those two and Jones, then perhaps they can pull off their plan of getting by without the dominant edge.

Twitter: BearDigest@BearsOnMaven