The Real Peppers Effect: How Julius Peppers Will Truly Help The Bears Defense

I think we've all spent the past few months as Bears fans hearing about what kind of effect the Julius Peppers signing will have on this defense.  Most of the talk revolved around the defensive line, specifically Tommie Harris.  While this is the most obvious and easy conclusion to make since Peppers should demand a good amount of double teams, I don't think it's the biggest.  Nor do I feel that his presence will help the defensive backs the most.  While it's true the added pressure put on opposing quarterbacks will help our mediocre secondary from getting exposed (and believe me, it will against better passers), it's the line backers that will benefit the most.

The Bears have one of the best, if not the best, 1-2 linebacker tandems in Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs.  

Briggs is a beast.  He's proven this over and over the past few years.  He's strong.  When he wraps up an opposing player 9 times out of 10 they stay wrapped up.  The guy has had over 100 tackles every year since 2004, his second year.  And if his 100 yard dash from a Ferrari accident on the Edens isn't a big enough example, then his goal line strip and fumble recovery against Detroit should be enough of a testament to this man's speed.  The guy gets the job done.  He's a perennial Pro Bowler and deservedly so.

What else is there to add about Urlacher?  He's a dominate middle linebacker, maybe the best in the game.  The only years he hasn't had over 100+ tackles are his injury shortened 2004 and 2009 campaigns.  Not only is he a presence against the run, he is often utilized against the pass.  In his past three full seasons, he's had 9, 12, and 10 passes defended and 3, 4, and 2 interceptions.  Not bad for a middle linebacker.  And now he's healthy...scary thought for opposing offenses.

Now, If you've watched any Bears games the past few years you would know the biggest knock on number 54 is he can't shake blocks when locked up by opposing offensive linemen.  Hearing Dick Stockton and Brain Billick repeat this is maddening.  Urlacher is no doubt the focus of many opposing offensive game plans, so of course they're going to try to get a blocker on him whenever possible.  If these opposing teams had to worry about our defensive linemen he wouldn't have had to deal with this as much as he has.

Now add Peppers to the mix.  As mentioned, Peppers should get a lot of attention from offensive lines.  Many have said Tommie Harris will be the main beneficiary.  Simple logic: if Peppers gets double teamed Harris won't.  But what I feel hasn't been addressed nearly enough is that those Peppers double teams will make it harder for teams to commit blockers to the second level of the Bears defense: our linebackers.

In week one we saw this in action.  Peppers showed up, put pressure on the Lions, and even ended up putting a game ending hit on Stafford.  But we also saw what his talents meant for our linebackers.  Briggs led the team in tackles with 10, 9 solo, and what should have been a game changing forced fumble .  Urlacher finished up with 8 tackles, all solo, and a sack, something he hasn't done since 2008.  Speedy back Jahvid Best was, in a way, contained.  A highly hyped rookie running back with speed to spare was expected to have a big day.  Instead, he gained only 20 yards rushing (1.4 average) and 16 yards receiving (3.2 average).  Albeit he did have two touchdowns, but the first was aided by a 15 yard roughing the passer penalty on what would have been a 3rd down stop and the second was a result of a drive through the air, not on the ground.

Want more?  Each 2nd quarter drive by the Lions, except from the previously mentioned drive that ended in a touchdown, was ended on a third down stop or turnover by Briggs or Urlacher.  3rd quarter?  If the third down wasn't an incomplete pass it was ended by Briggs with the exception of one time.  4th?  Remember the Briggs forced fumble at the Detroit 1 yard line?

So next time you hear about how Peppers is helping the Bears defense, don't overlook the most important way: he's freeing up two of the best linebackers in the game to make plays and dictate the game.