Chicago Bears: Defensive Position-by-Position Breakdown and Depth Chart Analysis
In approximately three weeks, the Chicago Bears will report to training camp at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Illinois.
The team will hold non-padded practices on July 30 and July 31 before holding its first padded practice on August 1. The team will spend the majority of its time practicing on the fields in Bourbonnais, but it will hold a practice at Soldier Field before camp concludes on August 16.
Much of the focus this offseason in Chicago has been placed on the defense, and that will not change during training camp.
New general manager Ryan Pace hired a defensive-oriented head coach in John Fox, and the veteran coach brought one of the league's most revered defensive coordinators to Chicago with him in Vic Fangio.
Fox and Fangio's mission this offseason has been to improve a Bears defense that allowed 27.6 points per game last season—second most in the NFL.
The Bears are transitioning from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4 defense this offseason, meaning many players will be playing positions they have never played before. Fangio likes to create confusion by moving players around on defense, and he will have plenty of opportunities to mix and match along the defensive line and at outside linebacker in 2015 given the players the team currently has on its roster.
What does Chicago's depth chart currently look like at each position? We explore that ahead.
Left Defensive End
1 of 10
Starter: Jeremiah Ratliff
Backup: Ego Ferguson
The Bears have spent the majority of their existence running a 40 front, meaning they've always relied heavily on four defensive linemen in a one-gap defensive scheme. With Fangio now on board, the team will use three defensive linemen, and they will be asked to occupy two gaps on defense.
At the time of Fangio's hiring, veteran Jeremiah Ratliff was the only lineman on the roster with previous experience playing in a 3-4 defense.
Ratliff has the ability to collapse the pocket on the inside at nose tackle, but he will be asked to be an anchor against the run on the outside at the 5-technique defensive end position.
“I don’t like getting into predictions, but he’s a capable guy; I like what I saw a year ago,” Fox said about Ratliff earlier this year, according to Arthur Arkush of ChicagoFootball.com.
Ratliff appeared in 11 games last season for the Bears—the most games he's played since 2011 with the Dallas Cowboys—and he finished the year with 37 tackles and 6.5 sacks.
Fangio likes to be creative with his defensive linemen, and Ratliff could move inside to defensive tackle when the Bears show a four-man front on occasion.
“Playing multiple roles, that’s what we’re all doing, and everyone is able to do that and know what’s going on,” Ratliff said, according to Arkush. “That’s what we’re going to need, when you have your younger guys coming in. It’s a good feeling to be a part of this defensive line.”
The defensive line is going to have a lot of moving parts, so even if Ratliff is listed as a starter on the outside, there is no guarantee he gets the majority of his reps playing defensive end.
Backing up Ratliff both on the inside and outside will be 2014 second-round pick Ego Ferguson. Viewed as a 4-3 nose tackle out of college, Ferguson played a backup role last season behind starter Stephen Paea.
Ferguson finished his rookie season with 23 tackles and two sacks. Similar to Ratliff, Ferguson is an explosive player who can play both inside at nose tackle and outside at defensive end. He needs to improve as a pass-rusher, but he is stout against the run and should be a key part of Chicago's rotation along the defensive line.
Nose Tackle
2 of 10
Starter: Eddie Goldman
Backup: Jeremiah Ratliff
Pace needed to find a young centerpiece for his defensive line in this year's draft, and he felt like he found one in Florida State nose tackle Eddie Goldman, according to CBSChicago.com:
"This is a young player, third-year junior, two-year starter. When I think about the standout traits with Eddie Goldman it’s strength, stout at the point of attack. He’s very instinctive, he gets off blocks. I really like the pad level he plays with. Steps up in big moments. In the Clemson game this year, there’s three game-changing plays he makes to basically win that game for Florida State. This is a stout, strong nose tackle that anchors the center of your defense. I think he’s an ascending player.
"
Goldman is a powerful nose tackle who can eat up blocks in the running game or collapse the pocket in the passing game. He finished his Seminoles career with 62 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss and six sacks.
Fox came away from the team's OTAs earlier this offseason impressed with Goldman's ability on the field and in the classroom.
“He’s picking up the defense,” Fox said, according to Larry Mayer of ChicagoBears.com. “There are some movement things Ed knows that you have to know. Some of the closed call mechanics are different than these guys experienced in college. I like what I’ve seen. He’s working at it hard and he’s a big square body.”
The young lineman will be asked to clog up lanes against the run, but he will also get the opportunity to rush the passer. He needs to find a secondary pass-rushing move because he relies heavily on his bull rush, but he has a chance to become a major contributor on defense in 2015.
The only other true nose tackle on Chicago's roster is undrafted free agent Terry Williams, and while the young lineman has upside, it is going to be hard for him to make the 53-man roster this season. With no other true nose tackles on the roster, guys like Ratliff, Ferguson and 2014 third-round pick Will Sutton will be moved to the inside on occasion.
Williams could come out of nowhere to land a spot on the roster and be Goldman's backup, but it looks like the Bears will have to use a rotation at the position behind Goldman when he needs a quick breather.
Right Defensive End
3 of 10
Starter: Jarvis Jenkins
Backup: Will Sutton
The Bears initially signed veteran Ray McDonald to be a starter at one of the team's open 5-technique defensive end positions, but he was released by the team in late May.
McDonald's release created an opening on the outside, and free-agent addition Jarvis Jenkins appears to be the front-runner for the position.
Jenkins was taken by Washington in the second round of the 2011 draft, and he registered 75 tackles and two sacks in his four seasons with the Redskins. He missed the entire 2011 season after tearing his ACL in the preseason and missed four games in 2013 due to a suspension for violating the league's substance-abuse policy.
He is not flashy, but he has experience playing in a 3-4 defense, and that has helped in his transition to Chicago.
"It's going pretty good," Jenkins said, according to Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com. "Like I said, I come from a 3-4, so it's nothing new to me. Just some little kinks to wrinkle out. I'm just coming out here trying to bond with these guys, develop a friendship and relationship to stress each other on Sunday."
Jenkins has always been better against the run than against the pass, but he is working hard to get better as a pass-rusher.
"The main thing about it is you've got to get off the line and just get into the backfield," he said, according to Dickerson. "Everything about pass rush is disruptive, so if I could get in front of the quarterback, I'll be successful."
Jenkins' spot in the starting lineup is not guaranteed, but he appears to be the best fit at the position right now.
Backing him up on the outside will be Sutton. A former 3-technique defensive tackle in Chicago's Cover 2 defense, Sutton does not fit well in the team's new 3-4 defense. Despite not being a good fit, the former Arizona State standout has had the right attitude this offseason.
“I’m going to come out here and compete,” Sutton said, according to Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times. “They want the best guys on the field.”
According to Jahns, Sutton worked at nose tackle during the team's OTAs, but he—like many others along the defensive line—will play multiple positions this season.
Sutton is a talented player who could find a role in Fangio's defense as a situational pass-rusher at either defensive end or at nose tackle.
.jpg?w=256 "Browns Football")
Left Outside Linebacker
4 of 10
Starter: Pernell McPhee
Backups: Jared Allen, Sam Acho
The Bears needed to make a splash in free agency on defense, and they did just that by signing former Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Pernell McPhee to a long-term deal in March.
McPhee started just six games in four years with the Ravens, but he excelled as a pass-rushing specialist. He finished his Ravens career with 92 tackles, 17 sacks, seven pass deflections and three forced fumbles.
2015 will be his first opportunity to be an every-down player, and he has already impressed this offseason, according to Bleacher Report's Dan Pompei:
"2. Pernell McPhee probably was the best defensive player on the field. He’s going to add an edge to the D. I’d say he’s better than expected
— Dan Pompei (@danpompei) June 19, 2015"
McPhee has the ability to rush the passer from the outside or inside, and he was one of the league's most disruptive outside linebackers last season. According to Pro Football Focus, McPhee's plus-26.0 overall grade was the second best among all 3-4 outside linebackers in 2014. He finished the season with 21 quarterback hits and 35 quarterback hurries in just 540 snaps.
He possesses a relentless motor, and he knows teams will regret putting him in one-on-one situations this season.
“Just cut up the film,” he said, according to Nate Atkins of ChicagoFootball.com. “That’s all I can say. If you cut up the film, you’ll see, I’m reckless. You can’t stop me with one person.”
McPhee will get the majority of the reps on the outside, but veterans Jared Allen and Sam Acho will get the opportunity to go after the quarterback as pass-rushing specialists in 2015.
Allen has spent his entire 11-year career as a 4-3 defensive end, but he is making the transition to outside linebacker this offseason.
“When a guy like [Fangio] comes in and he thinks you can be successful in his defense, you give it a try,” Allen said about his position change, according to Jake Bartelson of ChicagoFootball.com. "I think it was refreshing from the standpoint I’ve been able to re-learn some of the game of football.”
Allen took a step back last season and is not the same player he was at the height of his career, but he could flourish as a situational pass-rusher.
Acho spent the last four seasons with the Arizona Cardinals and registered 124 tackles, 13 sacks, eight pass deflections, three interceptions and seven forced fumbles. He burst onto the scene in his rookie season, recording seven sacks in 16 games, but he has only recorded two sacks over the course of the last two seasons.
Despite his limited productivity the last two years, he is a veteran who has experience playing on the outside, and he gives the Bears much-needed depth at the position.
Inside Linebackers
5 of 10
Starters: Christian Jones and Mason Foster
Backups: Shea McClellin and Jon Bostic
The Bears have four capable inside linebackers on their roster, but only two will come away from training camp as starters.
Christian Jones put together an impressive rookie season after going undrafted in 2014, and the former Florida State star finished last season with 69 tackles and two sacks. He is an athletic, rangy linebacker, and he drew praise from Fangio earlier this offseason.
"He has good size (6'3", 250 lbs)," Fangio said, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. "He has good athletic ability. He's a young, eager guy, and football's important to him. He has a bright future if he can develop."
Jones has the ability to step up against the run, but he can also apply pressure to the quarterback as a pass-rusher. He needs to improve against the pass, but he feels like he is a good fit in Fangio's defense.
"This defense fits most of our guys' skill sets and it is very versatile," he said, according to Biggs. "I like that a lot. We're excited to see what we can do."
While Jones is a versatile linebacker who can move around all over the field, Mason Foster is a talented lateral defender who excels against the run.
Foster signed a one-year deal with the Bears earlier this offseason, and the former Tampa Bay Buccaneer can help add stability to the middle of the field.
Even though the Bears have a lot of players competing for the two starting inside linebacker jobs, Foster has embraced the competition, according to Hub Arkush of ChicagoFootball.com:
"I love it. You’ve got to have good competition if you know what I mean. I would never want people around me that aren’t trying to win and that aren’t trying to compete at the highest level. You know good competition will always make you better so going against Christian [Jones], Shea [McClellin], [Jonathan] Brown, all these guys.
"
Jones and Foster appear to be the front-runners for the opening inside linebacker jobs, but they will face tough competition from Shea McClellin and Jon Bostic later this summer.
McClellin is playing his third different position in as many years, but the coaching staff likes the young linebacker.
"I think he's a smart, young player," Fox said, according to Kevin Fishbain of ChicagoFootball.com. "I think he's been moved around. I think he's been in some different systems. I think he's adapted pretty well. We'll get to see where that goes when we get to training camp and when we conclude this camp."
McClellin struggled to disengage blockers as a defensive end, so the Bears moved him to strong-side linebacker last offseason. He struggled in pass coverage last year, but the new staff thinks he is a good fit at inside linebacker.
He moves well laterally and can attack downhill, but McClellin needs to prove he has the strength to shed blockers. He is an intriguing option, but he may only be able to find playing time this season in certain sub-packages.
Bostic was a second-round pick of the Bears back in 2013, but the young linebacker has been a disappointment in his first two years in the league. He was thrust into a starting role in 2013 and struggled with the speed of the game. Last season, he struggled with injuries and was a liability at times against the pass.
According to Biggs, Bostic missed all of Chicago's offseason practices, and he will have a tough time earning a starting job this offseason.
Right Outside Linebacker
6 of 10
Starter: Lamarr Houston
Backups: Willie Young, David Bass
While one of the starting outside linebacker spots appears to be set in stone with McPhee, the other starting job is still wide-open.
Allen and Acho could potentially compete for the starting job opposite of McPhee, but Lamarr Houston, Willie Young and David Bass all have more upside.
Unfortunately for the Bears, both Houston and Young are coming off season-ending injuries. Houston tore his ACL against the New England Patriots in late October, and Young tore his Achilles in late December.
Neither were able to participate in the team's minicamps or OTAs, and Fox has not said much about the duo's status heading into training camp, according to Jahns:
"#Bears coach John Fox said OLBs Lamarr Houston and Willie Young continue to go through their rehabs. Called them week-to-week.
— Adam Jahns (@adamjahns) June 3, 2015"
Houston played some outside linebacker with the Oakland Raiders back in 2013, and he is athletic enough to rush the passer from a two-point stance.
"When I play in the two-point, it works in my favor because I have a lot more vision throughout the play and I can see things develop quicker in front of me and see where I need to be in there to disrupt that play," he said at his introductory press conference last year, via Mayer.
He is an ideal candidate for the open position, but there is no way of knowing how healthy he is until he steps onto the field in training camp.
If healthy, he is the front-runner for the open spot, but he could face competition from both Young and Bass.
Very little has come out this offseason regarding Young's progress with his rehab, and even if he was healthy, the transition from 4-3 defensive end to 3-4 outside linebacker would be a difficult one for the former Detroit Lion.
Young led the Bears last season with 10 sacks, but he lacks the athleticism to be considered an every-down outside linebacker. If he cannot get healthy in the coming weeks and months, he could begin the season on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.
Much of the focus this offseason has been centered around McPhee, Allen, Houston and Young, but Bass has the ability to break out this season.
Bass is a rangy, athletic outside linebacker who lacked ideal strength as a 4-3 defensive end, but he could potentially put up big numbers as a 3-4 outside linebacker if given the opportunity.
Left Cornerback
7 of 10
Starter: Tim Jennings
Backups: Alan Ball, Bryce Callahan
The Bears planned on using cornerback Tim Jennings out of the slot in 2014 in the team's nickel package, but an injury to Charles Tillman forced the veteran cornerback to stay on the outside for the duration of the season.
Jennings went to back-to-back Pro Bowls in 2012 and 2013 and collected a total of 11 interceptions during that time. He struggled last season and finished the year without an interception for the first time since 2007.
He has spent the majority of his career playing zone coverage, but he will be asked to play man coverage in Fangio's defense. While he has the physicality to challenge bigger, stronger receivers on the outside, he a candidate to move inside to nickelback this season.
"Dimension-wise, he's built like a nickel corner," Fox said, according to Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune. "He has played it before."
If the Bears opt to move him inside to nickelback, veteran Alan Ball has a chance to claim one of the team's starting cornerback jobs.
Dallas drafted Ball in the seventh round of the 2007 draft, and the former University of Illinois cornerback played five seasons with the Cowboys before joining the Houston Texans in 2012. He signed with Jacksonville in 2013 and played the last two seasons with the Jaguars.
In his career, Ball has totaled 216 tackles, 34 pass deflections and six interceptions. He started seven games last season in Jacksonville before suffering a biceps injury in late October.
The Bears signed Ball to a one-year, $3 million deal this offseason to push for a starting role, but he missed some time during OTAs due to an undisclosed injury.
"I thought he was a steady performer a year ago on tape," Fox said about Ball, according to Fishbain. "I haven't had a chance to see him a whole lot here. Other than that, he's made some good progress, and our goal is to have him ready for the season."
Considering the amount of money the Bears gave Ball this offseason, they appear to be high on his abilities. If the team opts to move Jennings inside to nickelback, Ball is the most logical choice to replace him on the outside in 2015.
Another interesting name to keep an eye on this offseason is undrafted free agent Bryce Callahan. He is an athletic cornerback who is unafraid to jam receivers at the line of scrimmage, but he might not have the size (5'10", 185 lbs) to compete on the outside.
It will be difficult for any undrafted free agent to make the roster this season, but Callahan could push for the nickelback job in training camp.
Strong Safety
8 of 10
Starter: Ryan Mundy
Backup: Brock Vereen
One of Chicago's most unheralded performers last season on defense was strong safety Ryan Mundy. The veteran safety led the team in tackles with 103 and finished the season with a career-high four interceptions.
He plays well up in the box against the run, but he needs to improve in pass coverage, particularly against tight ends. He played well last season when matched up with a running back or wide receiver in pass coverage, but his worst performance of the season came against New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski in Week 8.
According to Pro Football Focus, Gronkowski was targeted three times that afternoon when going up against Mundy, and the veteran safety allowed three catches for 33 yards with one touchdown. Those numbers do not jump off the page, but Gronkowski had his way with Mundy throughout much of the game.
Mundy has the speed to keep up with most receivers, running backs and tight ends in the passing game, but he needs to get stronger.
He is an ideal fit in Fangio's 3-4 defense because he has the ability to play both strong and free safety, but he could get pushed by 2014 fourth-round pick Brock Vereen later this summer.
Vereen appeared in all 16 games last season and made four starts. The young safety finished the year with 39 tackles, one pass deflection, one interception and one forced fumble.
The former Minnesota Gopher is a rangy, athletic defensive back who can cover the back half of the field as a single-high safety, but he is also tough enough to play up in the box against the run.
Vereen has more upside, but Mundy is a proven NFL commodity. Throughout training camp and the preseason, the strong safety position is going to be one of Chicago's most intriguing battles.
Free Safety
9 of 10
Starter: Antrel Rolle
Backup: Adrian Amos
The Bears have lacked a playmaker at safety for years, but Pompei believes free-agent addition Antrel Rolle gives Chicago's secondary something it has lacked:
"2. It’s pretty evident Antrel Rolle is going to give the Bears something they have not had. The vet reads the play well & reacts decisively.
— Dan Pompei (@danpompei) June 16, 2015"
Rolle has registered 799 tackles, four sacks, 68 pass deflections and 26 interceptions in his 10-year career, but the veteran safety is now focusing on the future instead of the past.
“So far, our attitude has been great,” he said, according to Atkins. “Everyone’s very enthused about what we have going on. New coaches, new players and new mindset. I haven’t been here before, but I’m not really concerned about what took place before. We’re going to worry about today and moving forward."
Like Mundy, Rolle has the flexibility to play both strong and free safety, but he is at his best when asked to be a single-high safety. He has the ability to match up with strong tight ends and quick receivers, and he is not afraid to play physically.
Rolle will turn 33 years old later this year and does not possess the same range he did when he entered the league, but he is a big upgrade over 2014 starter Chris Conte.
Vereen could enter the year as the team's top backup at both safety positions, but he could get pushed by 2015 fifth-round pick Adrian Amos.
The former Penn State safety's game is similar to Vereen's, but he needs to improve his tackling. He played both cornerback and safety for the Nittany Lions, and he could see some playing time this season in various sub-packages.
Right Cornerback
10 of 10
Starter: Kyle Fuller
Backup: Tracy Porter
The Bears selected Kyle Fuller with the 14th overall pick in the 2014 draft, and the young rookie burst onto the scene last season, recording three interceptions in the team's first three games.
He was thrust into a starting role following Tillman's injury in Week 2 against the San Francisco 49ers, and the young cornerback had his share of ups and downs last season.
He finished the year with 64 tackles, three forced fumbles and four interceptions. On the surface, his numbers were good, but according to Pro Football Focus, he ended the year as the 69th-worst cornerback with a minus-18.4 overall grade.
Fuller was often forced to play against opposing teams' No. 1 wide receivers, and he struggled playing zone coverage in then-defensive coordinator Mel Tucker's scheme. He is at his best when allowed to jam receivers at the line of scrimmage, but that was taken away from him last season.
He has a chance to break out in 2015 playing under Fangio. Barring any injuries, he will start the season as one of the team's starters on the outside at cornerback.
To help add more competition to the position, the Bears added veteran cornerback Tracy Porter in early June. Drafted in the second round of the 2008 draft by New Orleans, Porter has played for the Saints, Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders and Washington Redskins in his seven-year career.
Porter has experience playing both inside at nickelback and outside at cornerback in his career, but Fox thinks the veteran defensive back is a good fit on the inside.
“He’s smart enough to do that,” Fox said when asked if Porter can play nickelback, according to Dickerson. “He can play in all three spots on the sub-defenses. So we’ll wait and see how it shakes out.”
Porter will not beat out Jennings or Fuller for a starting job on the outside, but he should be able to land a spot on the roster. He has the tools to play inside at nickelback, and he will compete with Ball and Callahan for that job in training camp.
Statistical information courtesy of NFL.com and Sports-Reference.com unless otherwise noted. Measurables courtesy of ChicagoBears.com.
Matt Eurich is a Chicago Bears Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report and a member of the Pro Football Writers of America.
.jpg?w=480 "Browns Football")
