Has the Bears Defensive Coordinator’s Gameplan Been Underwhelming?
Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen is officially nine games into his first year with the Chicago Bears. Through this stretch, the Bears sit at 6-3 and in the playoff conversation. The offense has started to come alive for the Windy City, ranked third in the NFL for total yards per game with a 379 average. They also rank seventh in points per game with 26, a complete 180-degree turn from their offensive ranks last season. The Bears’ expectations on offense before the season would severely underestimate where they are now, but could the same be said about the defensive side of the ball?
Chicago’s defense has struggled thus far under Allen’s defensive regime. They rank 27th in total defense, allowing an average of 375 yards per game in allowed yardage. In comparison to last year, they also maintained the same ranking that ultimately led to coach Matt Eberflus’s job being at risk. Now, while Allen’s defense has allowed lots of yardage for their opponents, they are much better in another area. The team ranks first in takeaways this season, with 20 so far. They’ve been able to both pick off quarterbacks or force the ball out with a fumble, something that has become a staple in Chicago. The stigma surrounding the Bears this season is that they will either force a turnover or allow points on the board for the opposing team. While Allen has so far maybe underwhelmed in his debut as a Bear, he has shown plenty of promise for the future.
The Bears have been without multiple defensive starters every game this season, yet to have a game where the entire starting defense is healthy. Their most talented player, cornerback Jaylon Johnson, has only played in one game this season, which saw him injured early on. The man on the other side of the field from Johnson, cornerback Kyler Gordon, has only played in two games this year. The Bears have had a long list of players injured, that don’t just include their top corners, putting Allen in a much more difficult position. Despite the injuries, the Bears have found a way to battle through the injuries and win six games through nine. As Chicago’s defense continues to get healthier, it will become a much more informed assessment of Allen’s coaching.
