Hey, at least it’s a bowl
Space Mountain leads the way
Big Hicks rockets into elite class, but he’s not the only one to rise up
When Matt Nagy took over as Bears coach a year ago, the defensive line was the strength of the roster and it’s fair to say that remains the case. That’s a reflection of the investments the Bears made. They include signing defensive end Akiem Hicks to a four-year extension just before the 2017 season and locking down nose tackle Eddie Goldman with a four-year, $42 million extension with $25 million guaranteed last summer. Hicks finally received overdue Pro Bowl recognition, and even better, he was selected as an All-Pro. Goldman remains one of the best run-stuffers in the league, a skill that doesn’t get a lot of accolades but is necessary for every elite defense. Not to be overlooked is the way the Bears have filled in around Hicks and Goldman to strengthen the line and the work defensive line coach Jay Rodgers has done with the group. Roy Robertson-Harris has emerged as a terrific find after signing as an undrafted free agent in 2016, and Bilal Nichols was solid as a rookie fifth-round draft pick, working his way into the rotation from the start of the season. The defensive line is the main reason the Bears set a franchise record for fewest rushing yards allowed in a 16-game season — 1,280, eclipsing the previous mark of 1,313 from 2001. The Bears were No. 1 in the league in rushing defense (80 yards per game), No. 1 in scoring defense (17.7 points per game), tied for No. 3 with 50 sacks, No. 4 on third down (34.3 percent), No. 5 in redzone defense (50 percent) and No. 7 against the pass (219.7). That all starts up front, and that’s why general manager Ryan Pace has been so active in building from the line on down on defense. The defense did not allow a 100-yard rusher in regulation during the season as the Dolphins’ Frank Gore (Week 6) and the Giants’ Saquon Barkley (Week 13) hit that number in overtime. In fact, the defense surrendered only one 100yard game in regulation over the last 34 regular-season games.
2018 season review
The Bears were dominant on the line in nearly every game, but their advantage was really evident in the Week 11 victory over the Vikings at Soldier Field. Hicks had five tackles for a loss and a sack. He set the tone from the start. On the third snap from scrimmage, the Vikings had third-and-1 at the Bears 34-yard line when Hicks overpowered right tackle Brian O’Neill and stopped Murray for a 1-yard loss. What made Hicks, 29, so dominant is that he’s equally effective against the run and the pass. Pro Football Focus ranked him third among interior linemen with a minimum of eight games played in their run-stopping metric; he made the play on 13.3 percent of rundefense snaps on which he was responsible for a stop. Hicks tied for ninth in PFF’s quarterback-pressures metric — a combination of sacks, hits and QB hurries — with 51 and he finished with 53 tackles (41 solo), 7 1⁄2 sacks, five passes defensed, three forced fumbles and 12 tackles for a loss. The emergence of Nichols allowed the Bears to successfully rest Hicks a little more, which probably helped him maintain a high level of play into the fourth quarter of games and deep into the season. He still led the linemen with 780 snaps (74.1 percent), but that was a significant reduction from 2017, when he logged 899 snaps, and 2016, when he had 930. The Bears struggled to get Hicks off the field in the past. During the 2017 season there was a threegame stretch in which he was off the field for a total of only four snaps. Goldman remained a force who commands regular double teams in the middle of the line. His high level of play made it easy to justify the large investment in him, even though he’s on the field only about half the time — 52.5 percent of the snaps in 2018, down from 57.6 percent in 2017. Even with limited reps and playing the run first, Goldman still was tied for 22nd by PFF with 25 quarterback hurries and tied for 35th in pressures with 28. He had 39 tackles (27 solo), three sacks, one fumble recovery and five tackles for a loss. Nichols turned into a hit for a fifth-round pick, a credit to the scouting department for identifying him as a talented player who that could contribute quickly. He logged 328 snaps (31.2 percent), which allowed the Bears to rest Hicks and Goldman. Nichols also showed some quickness — he had three sacks with two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and five tackles for a loss. Nichols looks poised for a larger role in his second season. Robertson-Harris is another player who can expect more action. He received 353 snaps (33.6 percent), and despite the limited action he tied for 35th in quarterback pressures with 28. He has a quick first step as well as the ability to overpower offensive tackles. He finished with three sacks, two passes defensed and three tackles for a loss. With Nichols and Robertson-Harris stepping forward, Bullard’s playing time dipped. He went from 438 snaps in 2017 to 298. He still was a regular part of the rotation and played well against the run, but the former third-round pick has not stepped forward yet, so it’s a good thing the Bears have remained active in seeking complementary players. Ultimately he might be best in a 4-3 scheme, but entering the final year of his contract, he should be motivated to bring his best, which bodes well. Williams was a depth player, and because the unit was healthy, he was active for only two games.
Free agency/ draft priority
Low. The Bears will look for more depth and bring back Williams or seek another couple of players who can compete for a backup role. Robertson-Harris remains under team control, so he is in the mix. The group is young and the core is locked up for the foreseeable future.
Bottom line
New coordinator Chuck Pagano is no doubt marveling over his good fortune in inheriting a defense that played so well in 2018. It all starts up front, and the Bears can not only stop the run, they can generate a pass rush. That sets the tone for everything.