The lasting image in the mind of the Chicago Bears last season remains John Kuhn blocking Julius Peppers, allowing Aaron Rodgers to get free and throw the game-winning touchdown pass to Randall Cobb. While blame could certainly go on the Bears’ secondary, the real problem falls upon their defensive line. It’s an area that cost them in that game and throughout the entire season.
Things were looking up for the Bears entering the 2013 season on the defensive line, but things were about to change quickly. The defensive line took a major blow when star defensive tackle, Henry Melton, tore his ACL in Week 3 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Then two weeks later Melton’s replacement, Nate Collins, was also lost for the season with a torn ACL. Injuries tore apart the Bears interior defensive line but poor production from Peppers and Shea McClellin made the Bears’ defensive line a major liability.
General Manager Phil Emery knew his team desperately needed help on the defensive line and made it his top priority in the offseason. Just hours after free agency opened up, Chicago agreed to terms on a five-year deal with defensive end Lamarr Houston. After losing out on Michael Bennett, the team grabbed the next best defensive end in the market. Then three weeks later when all seemed quiet in Chicago, the Bears announced a deal with former Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen on a four-year deal.
Two monumental signings that will help improve a Bears’ defense that ranked 31st in the NFL last season in sacks (31). Together Allen and Houston will bring the fearsome pass rush Chicago used to have when they had the best defense in the league. Allen is coming off his seventh straight season with more than 10 sacks, while Houston started the year hot with four sacks in seven games. Houston is also just entering his prime at the age 0f 26, and will certainly be helped out by Allen’s experience and tricks of being an elite pass rusher.
It’s important to know just how Houston and Allen will fit into the Bears’ 4-3 defense and what impact they will have on the defense as a whole. Allen will be in a familiar role in Chicago, not only will he be playing in the NFC North, but he will also remain at right end. It’s a position Allen is very comfortable with after a successful six-year run with the Vikings.
Houston will man the left end position for the Bears 4-3 defense. Like Allen, it’s a spot where Houston has spent much of his career and things should only get easier now with Allen drawing attention across from him. Together the pair can bring great pressure on the outside and help take the weight off whomever the Bears’ decide to draft at defensive tackle.
Now the Bears have vastly improved at both defensive end spots, which will help them create more sacks and make life harder for opposing quarterbacks. The improved pass-rush will give the opposing quarterback less time to read the field and throw the football, which will give the Bears’ secondary more opportunities to create turnovers.
Signing Houston and Peppers also allows the Bears to spend their first-round pick on a cornerback or safety. These were two great signings by Chicago and only improved its chances of competing for the NFC North crown.