Defensive Answers in Bears Draft

Names have been floated by constantly over the weeks and days.

The draft is approaching for the Bears but amid all of the mock selections and debate over which prospect is actually better, the reason for picks can get lost.

The draft generates the kind of interest the start to the regular season generally does. Actually, the draft is like the playoffs and the run up to it is like the regular season.

So there's no better time to take a look at the biggest questions facing the defense and offense as they head into this pseudo season known as the draft than just a few days before selection day.

The Bears gave up more points than any team in the league for the first time in their history so it's safe to say there are reasons for taking defensive players a year after they spent their first two picks in the draft on defense.

It's good to keep in mind these five questions when they're picking players because the additions should match up as answers.

1. Who's Going to Rush Off the Edge?

Rasheem Green and DeMarcus Walker are their additions, Trevis Gipson and Dominique Robinson the starters returning who produced 4 1/2 sacks between them and only one after Week Green had 3 1/2 sacks last year, has had more than four sacks in a year only once, and Walker was acquired with the fact he is better as a three technique rushing the passer than an edge.

It would appear the biggest question they face on defense is who is the guy coming of the edge to terrorize QBs? Anyone?

2. Why Do They Need Jalen Carter When They Have Three Techniques?

This goes back to the essense of the position. The three lines up on the guard's outside shoulder and barrels into the gap. Their technique can't be so wild that it leaves a giant gap too quickly because the weakside linebacker plays off the three in this scheme. If there's no discipline involved, a big gap can develop and the running back can go through before the weakside or anyone else can get there. Justin Jones played last year there and had a very respectable 12 tackles for loss. Coach Matt Eberflus said a few times Jones just needs to keep working at his technique. He needs that controlled disruption.

The three technique is big because you can't run at them and if they're through the gap you can't run away from them because they'll track the play down, if done properly.

Carter is so good at playing all over the defensive line's interior that he can flush quarterbacks right to the defensive ends. In essence, a team in this scheme with Carter would not necessarily need that explosive edge. They could use edges who can hold their ground and get off blocks to get to the quarterback when they're close enough for the sack. And that can happen often if the dominant three technique is flushing them in either direction. Besides all that, Carter is good playing any defensive line position. They could actually put him at end if they wanted or even the one.

3. Who's the Slot Cornerback?

It is a starting position in the NFL now, and it really is with this defensive scheme. The slot is on the field more than half the snaps, maybe even approaching 60%. And the Bears had Kyler Gordon trying to do it last year. He seemed to struggle much of the season with it and then was much better when they put him outside. It's the reason the ideal cornerback for them in this draft would be one who can play the slot. Then they could leave Gordon at left cornerback and put Kindle Vildor on the bench.

4. Who Is The Backup Safety?

Good question. It's not DeAndre Houston-Carson right now. Conditioning has begun and DHC isn't signed. That leaves Elijah Hicks, who tackles well but had a 158.3 passer rating against last year according to Sportradar. That's the absolute perfect passer rating if you're a quarterback. Thus, it's the absolute worst passer rating if you're a cornerback or safety. If the real intent is to not bring back DHC and this is not a standoff over money, then a safety has to be a priority position at some point in this draft, if not two of them.

5. Is Jack Sanborn Really the Strong Side Linebacker?

Another where the answer has been presumed to be yes, a bit like the Teven Jenkins move on offense to left guard. No one actually said Sanborn is going to line up as the strong side after the acquisition of Tremaine Edmunds as middle linebacker and T.J. Edwards for weakside linebacker. Sanborn became the odd man out when Edmunds became the middle, but his production as a middle after Roquan Smith was traded and Nick Morrow moved to weakside to replace Smith was impressive. If they don't plan on Sanborn at strong side, then the answer there needs to be in the draft. But they did sign Dylan Cole and he has played linebacker besides special teams. So he could do it, as well. It's less than half the defensive plays but you still need someone playing there.

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