Chicago Bears: How Can Chicago Reclaim Title as NFL's Best Defense?

For years the Chicago Bears were carried by their defense and as a result won many games. As they say, defense wins championships, and when the Chicago defense played at an elite level, they were in the upper echelon of the league.

Heading into the 2012 season, the Bears' front office has taken many important steps to ensure a much stronger offensive unit to go along with the Chicago defense.

With the roster the Bears have both offensively and defensively this season, they have what it takes to contend for a championship. 

In 2010, the defense ranked as the No. 4 unit in the NFL and was a big reason for the team's 11-5 record and an NFC title game appearance.

If the Chicago D can get back to playing at a high level, the sky is the limit for this team. The 2011 season was a down year for the Bears, as the team came in at No. 17 in total defense. Part of that had to do with an ineffective offense that forced the defense to be on the field the majority of the game.

Six times they let opponents score over 25 points, and not surprisingly the Bears went 1-5 during this stretch. If Julius Peppers, Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs play at an elite level, there is no doubt that the defense will improve.

Lets take a look at what needs to change for the Bears D to return to elite status.

Running the Football and Controlling the Clock

Giving the defense time to rest is imperative for success, particularly with a defense that is aging like Chicago's. 

A happy Matt Forte fresh off of a lucrative contract extension, along with the addition of Michael Bush, will give the Bears one of the best rushing attacks in the NFL.

In 2011 Forte was one of the best players in the league, accounting for just under 1,500 yards (both rushing and receiving), and this was in just 12 games.

One offseason move that will have a huge impact is the addition of Michael Bush.

The former Louisville Cardinal is a great player in his own right and rushed for 977 yards and seven touchdowns in 2011.

More importantly, he is great at running between the tackles, and he will be a very nice complement to the more elusive Forte.

With both of these backs, Jay Cutler will have plenty of help to take the pressure off of him in 2012.

Most importantly, being able to pound the football and eat up clock is any defense's best friend, and that should fare very well for the Bears.

Pressure the Quarterback

We all know the NFL is a quarterback-driven league, and one easy way to instantly improve the defense is getting to the opposing QB.

Last season the Chicago pass rush was mediocre at best, accounting for just 33 sacks, which was good for No. 19 in the NFL.

This was part of the reason Chicago opted to draft Shea McClellin out of Boise State, who adds much-needed depth along the defensive line.

The lack of a pass rush last season was detrimental to the Chicago pass defense as well, and the Bears were ranked 28th against the pass.

One player who needs to step up in 2012 is Israel Idonije, who is coming off of a season in which he totaled just five sacks.

The writing is on the wall for the veteran D-lineman, particularly after the Bears drafted the rookie out of Boise State. At 31 years old, Idonije needs to step up if he wants to continue to receive playing time.

The offense will aide in the progression of the sack total as well, because for once the Bears have the offense that can allow the team to play with a lead, which will allow for more aggressive play calling and more sacks.

Mix Up Defensive Play-Calling

Speaking of play-calling, it is no secret head coach Lovie Smith is infatuated with his Tampa-2 defensive scheme. This system is essentially the Cover-2, with the middle linebacker given more freedom to roam in the middle of the field.

However, with offenses spreading defenses out and the passing attack seemingly evolving week after week, it is time to mix things in terms of play-calling.

Chicago needs to employ more man-to-man defenses, which will create better blitzing packages and thus create more turnovers.

Cornerbacks Charles Tillman and Tim Jennings are very solid on the outside of the defense, so this shouldn't be an issue to mix it up a bit in 2012. The problem with the Tampa-2 is it is more of a "bend but don't break" approach to defense instead of pinning your ears back and taking chances defensively.

For years Chicago's opponents knew what to expect the majority of the time because this has been Smith's bread and butter since he has been in the league.

Adding a few different defensive sets will create more confusion for opposing quarterbacks and will make the defense more dangerous.

Better Play at Defensive Tackle

Henry Melton was a standout a year ago at the defensive tackle position and had seven sacks, which is dominate on the interior of the defense. The problem is that other than Melton, there wasn't much production from the DT position.

Matt Toeaina and former second-round pick Stephen Paea have a great opportunity to have big seasons in 2012, and this would be the final piece to an elite defense in 2012.

Although Melton is great at rushing the passer, his run defense is not always up to par. In fact, the Texas product recorded only 17 tackles that weren't sacks, but hey, when you can get after the passer like that in the middle of the defense, who cares?

The above mentioned Toeaina and Paea are more suited to clog the run, and they will play interchangeably until one proves he deserves to stay as starter. Paea is heading into the 2012 healthy, an improvement from the 2011 season when he was nagged with injuries for the majority of the year.

To further address this position, general manager Phil Emery addressed the depth at this position when he traded for Brian Price, formerly of the Tampa Bay Bucs.

In all, the defensive tackle position has a chance to be very good in 2012, which will make the defensive unit return to elite status in Chicago.