Chicago Bears: 5 Reasons Shea McClellin Is a Perfect Fit in Windy City

The Chicago Bears may not have addressed every need in the 2012 NFL Draft, but the team may have found a dynamic pass-rusher to play opposite of Julius Peppers with Shea McClellin.

The No. 19 overall pick is expected to come in and compete for playing time on the defensive line right away. In an interview with ChicagoBears.com, head coach Lovie Smith put to rest any speculation that McClellin will spend time at linebacker.

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"I've had a chance to hear an awful lot about where he will play," Smith said. "He's not a linebacker, start with that. He won't be a linebacker. He'll have his hand down in a three-point stance from Day 1."

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The former Boise State star will add plenty of athleticism on the defensive line. It's exciting to think about what Smith has up his sleeve with this rookie. Here are five reasons why McClellin is a perfect fit in the Windy City. 

5. Experience at Boise State

Shea McClellin may have been a surprise selection at the time, but the Bears did well to take a player that has been a three-year starter for a big time college football program. Chicago didn't take a gamble on a lesser known college player that is only ranked high on the draft charts because he turned heads at the NFL Combine.

McClellin recorded 20.5 sacks and 33 tackles for loss in his Boise State career. He lost just two games in his three years as a starter. Even if winning is not a major characteristic that makes or breaks whether a team selects a player this good, it's nice to know that McClellin comes from such a winning tradition.

4. Motor

Shea McClellin is like the Energizer Bunny on steroids: He just keeps going and going and going...

McClellin was a relentless defensive player in college that showed tremendous hustle. He will play to the whistle every down, and he will keep pushing to get around big offensive linemen. Lovie Smith will not have to worry about his first-round pick being a prima donna. McClellin will bring it in practice and in games, and he will compete for playing time immediately.

Think about the motors that NFL defensive ends Jared Allen, J.J. Watt and Justin Tuck display. That's the type of hustling potential that McClellin possesses.

3. Adds Versatility

Shea McClellin brings with him plenty of possibilities for the Bears' defensive line. McClellin will be effective from either end position, and don't be surprised to see McClellin, Julius Peppers and Israel Idonije on the field at the same time.

With McClellin, Chicago can afford to line up either Peppers or Idonije at the defensive tackle position in passing situations. This will allow the Bears to find the mismatch on opposing teams' offensive lines and exploit it. McClellin will be a major reason why Peppers sees fewer double-teams in 2012.

2. Fills a Need

The Bears entered the NFL draft desperately needing to find another pass-rusher to take some of the pressure off Julius Peppers. The team didn't know whether that would be in the first round or not, but it ended up with one of the best pure pass-rushers in this year's draft class.

Many thought Shea McClellin was best suited for an outside linebacker role in a 3-4 system, similar to the role Clay Matthews plays for the Green Bay Packers.

However, he will line up at end for Chicago. McClellin is not an every-down defensive end, and the Bears did not need that. They have Israel Idonije, who is more suited to defend against the run because of his size. McClellin's value will be on display in passing situations. 

1. Speed

Lovie Smith loves to have speed in his Cover-2 defense, and he demands a solid pass rush from his front four guys on the defensive line. Shea McClellin will help Smith achieve this goal.

Although he is a little undersized at 260 pounds, McClellin ran the second fastest 40-yard dash time among defensive ends at the NFL Combine (4.63 seconds). You can't coach speed, but it is up to the Bears to figure out how to utilize McClellin's agility. Either way, his fast feet will be welcome by Julius Peppers, Brian Urlacher and the rest of the Monsters of the Midway.