The Chicago Bears MUST FIX THIS BIG PROBLEM!

The Chicago Bears MUST FIX THIS BIG PROBLEM!

The Chicago Bears have a major problem on their hands that must be fixed. And really, it needs to be fixed quickly if they’re going uh to make a run this year. We’ll tell you what it is and how maybe they can find some solutions coming up next. [Music] I’m Harrison Graham and this Bears defensive line sucks. Let’s talk about it here on Chicago Bears. Now, only four games in, it’s not like it’s a huge sample size, but let’s face it, this defensive line is struggling in a major major way. Shout out to Bears blog boy on social media. I see him on my feed sometimes. He put some good stuff out there. He said, “Through four games, the Bears are dead last in QB pressure percentage. They are second to last in average time to pressure.” That means quarterbacks almost have 3 seconds uh on average to throw. They are second to last in rushing yards before contact per attempt allowed. So, which checks out this team can’t stop the run. Uh they are 29th in uh PFF’s grading system in defending the run. Somehow 22nd in their pass rush grade, which that feels generous, especially when you look at this other data, five sacks in four games, regardless how you get there, not very good. Uh it goes further if you just want to take raw numbers. Uh they have five sacks in four games. That’s 1.3 sacks per game. That’s 29th. Uh and then um they allow 6.2 yards per carry on the ground. Dead last at 30 seconds. 6.2 yards per game. That’s like a college uh stat. You don’t you don’t see that in the NFL. That’s that’s really really bad. And listen, stats get inflated early in the year. One really bad game, one really good game can inflate or deflate a stat. You give up 240 on the ground to the Raiders, that’s going to hurt things. But let’s be honest, you weren’t defending the run well before that game either. You’re not getting after the passer either. Montes Sweat’s making $25 million per year. He’s got one sack. Javon Dexter, year three as a second round pick. He’s got one sack. Dio Dango, your big free agent signing, one sack. Dominic Robinson and Montes Sweat should not have the same amount of sacks. Tano Passeno who when he did get his sack was a practice squad elevation. He should not be having the same amount of sacks as Javon Dexter, Dioenbo, and Montes Sweat. That is just not going to cut it. And it’s a bad combination. Look, it’s hard to have a defensive front that’s a lead at stopping the run and at getting uh after the passer. It It’s hard. Like there’s only a few teams that do it. It’s a combination of coaching, the proper resources being deployed. You’re probably weak elsewhere. Okay, the Bears have invested and they can’t rush the quarterback and they can’t stop the run. Maybe it changes four games in, but that’s a bad combination. The fact that the secondary, especially the last two weeks, without Jaylen Johnson, without Kyler Gordon, has played as well as it has, considering the front four stinks, is pretty impressive. It’s a testament to those guys and Dennis Allen finding something that is working on the back end. But if the front doesn’t play better, it’s it’s going to be tough uh to have a solid defense throughout the course of 2025. I just want to ask straight up, can this group improve? Can the defensive line get better this year? Not long term this year. Type Y for yes, type in for no. I want to say yes. And I do think yes. Major improvements though, like is Montes Sweat going to flip a switch and be the player we saw after the trade a couple years ago? Just kind of seems unlikely at this point. You’re just hoping for some moderate improvements from him and some other guys. Let’s talk about him. The decline’s been frustrating. It’s been staggering. It’s been is unacceptable fair. You know, we kind of gave him a p, not a full pass, but a slight pass last year because it was reported that he was playing with a foot injury a lot of the year. Like, okay, let’s see how he comes out this year. Not much better, right? I mean, you look at his time in Chicago after the trade in nine games. I thought he was he had the best year of his career when you combine his time in Washington and Chicago in 2023, and that included uh the part here, not just it’s not like he was awesome in Washington, had average numbers here. He transformed that defense that by the end of that year and that that’s when flu had his defense cooking the most. It was a really really good unit and Montes Sweat was a big reason why he had never rushed the passer better. He was still defending the run well and since then you know we can blame the foot issue last year whatever the case may be. But not only is he not an impactful pass rusher, only a half more sack in more than double the games since 2023, but what he was always elite at in Washington was setting that edge as a run defender. He hasn’t even done that and at a elite level since then. He’s okay at it, but you’re not paying him to be an average player or even a good player. You’re paying him to be very very very good and at times great. Do I expect him to be TJ Watt? Of course not. But I don’t know. Oh, is he the 40th best pass rusher in the league and you’re paying him 25 million? Like, it’s just just not even close to good enough. It It’s been a killer. When a guy making this much money is average from a production and just a play standpoint, it hurts. It It really hurts. Your high paid players need to produce and uh he’s just not. And it’d be one thing if like a draft pick was producing or like he was garnering so much attention and other guys were taking advantage of one-on- ones. That’s not the case. It is just not the case. And listen, we can blame Ryan P some and I think we should and and we will here, but like it’s not like they they aren’t trying at all. Like they’ve made investments and probably some of the wrong ones, but like when they traded for Sweat and he was playing like he was and they made that extension, did any of us feel like that was a bad contract? We’ll come back to that. But like it’s hard to like just hammer poles for that one. Like the player does have to play well. Dia Dingbo, that’s a different story. like that felt like a reach at the time and so far I would say it feels like a reach at 16 million per year. Grady Jarrett certainly an overpay older player is dealing with the knee issue. Part of that was bringing in a seasoned vet for leadership purposes. So that’s not a contract that kills you but it hurts when the two guys above him aren’t producing. Like if those guys were producing and Jarrett wasn’t and he’s overpaid, it’s like okay, you can live with that. Uh Javon Dexter is a second round pick. That’s a real investment. Fine player, not a great player. Chamar Turner jury still still out obviously missed most of training camp it’s early but that’s a notable investment a second round pick so the question is like who do you blame is it on Ryan Poles guys have to play better like I Montes Sweat like I I have a hard time blaming polls for that one I you listen you always get judged for every move you make if it works and if it doesn’t but like the way Sweat was playing after they trade for him is worth the contract he has right now but he’s played nowhere near that since like, am I supposed to blame the GM for that? Now, Dio at Angbo for what we’ve seen so far, fair criticism. Um, Grady Jared, if we think that’s an overpay, fair criticism, but I think it’s a combination. And certainly, he has to wear some of this. And if you get beyond the defensive line, Polls has made several errors. And they’ve made investments, though, and maybe a lot of them are the wrong ones. Maybe Shamar Turner’s a bad player. May maybe Giron Dexter’s never going to get there. If we want to blame him for sweat, I guess we can do that. But no one was saying that at the time when he was playing like a fraw pro. We just haven’t seen that player since then. So coming up next, we’re focused on this year. We’re focused on right now. We’re not focused on the big picture roster u you know, orchestration. Can Dennis Allen jump start this group? Can he find some solutions to get more out of his defensive line? We will talk about that. I have a few ideas that I would explore if I was the Chicago Bears. But first, want to tell you guys about our awesome sponsor, Prize Picks. You and I make decisions every day, but on prize picks, being right can get you paid. 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I think he’ll throw for at least one touchdown as much as it sucks to say. And then Roman Dunce against the bad secondary, more than 64 and a half receiving yards, I think. So, give me the more on that. $20 entry to win 85 bucks. Download the prize pix app right now. Use our code CLNS to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup. That’s code CLNS to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup prize picks. It’s good to be right. All right. So, can this defensive line improve? That’s the big question. And look, let’s be real. Unless some major trade or something happens unforeseen, you’re kind of just hoping this group can be average at this point this year. And listen, if they’re average, how top 20, top 22, cuz right now this is a bottom five unit. But the way the secondary is playing, I think Tmaine’s playing better this year. TJ’s back that maybe you’re a top half of the defense, top 12 if that happens, because I think the back end’s playing really well right now. I think one thing I would try with Austin Booker back and healthy and depending on your when you’re watching this, uh maybe he’s been activated off IR, maybe he hasn’t, but he’s going to be back soon, whether it’s this week or in a week or two. Um I think immediately you give him snaps at Edge right away. You you throw him in there. He popped in the preseason and I know he did a little bit last year as well and he, you know, he didn’t do a ton as a rookie, but I thought he added more to his arsenal. like you know last year he was kind of just a an effort guy which you appreciate right like you want guys with a relentless motor but you know he had a little spin move he was going to in the preseason I think he’s gotten stronger with his bull rush uh I I saw a guy who was starting to develop and it looked pretty good uh in the preseason just results aside I I I thought a guy who want knew what he wanted to do before a lot of the snaps and like that’s the key to being an elite edge rusher like you have to have a plan like hey on this play I’m attacking this tackle this way and I thought Booker was doing that a uh in the preseason. Something he also brings that, you know, these pass rushers, especially off the edge, don’t really offer is speed. Now, Dennis Allen likes those bigger, bulkier, stronger edge rushers, and that’s great. And I’m not saying those guys can’t have a role. They can dent the pocket. They can set the edge in the run game, although you’re not getting that consistently. Uh maybe a different look would help. A Dingbo doesn’t have much speed. Sweat isn’t really a speed guy. Uh Booker is. He has good speed and he’s gotten stronger. So, uh, that is one thing I would do immediately and just see what the results are is give him more, uh, or give him a real snap package right away. If you’re excited to see Austin Booker play, type me, I’m excited to see anybody try to rush the passer that hasn’t this year because you’re not getting much, but specifically Book, I’m excited to see what he can do uh, under Dennis Allen. Okay, number two, and this is kind of as a result of the Austin Booker idea giving him snaps, especially when Booker’s in the game. Try Dioenbo inside some. This was something they raved about when they signed him. Both polls and Dennis Allen even mentioned it like, “Hey, like this is a guy that can kick inside. He did it some in indie. You know, he’s 66, 285. He could play some three tech.” Um, I would line him up on the interior and especially in those NASCAR packages where you try to get your best pass rushers on the field. See if he can find some mismatches uh against some guards and some centers. Now, ignore the left side of this graphic, although that’s could be a conversation for a different day for the rushing offense for this team other than running behind Darnell, right? You’re having issues. But, uh, the run defense, you’re just not productive there. And honestly, surprisingly in the interior, like Andrew Billings not helping that much. Thought he was a little better against the Raiders, not that much uh help there. Javon Dexter has always been a better pass rusher than run defender. Grady Jared, he’s been fighting through some stuff, but you’ve not been good at defending the run in the interior. So, like, if you’re not defending stopping the run well already, why not put a Dango inside? A, maybe he’ll stop the run better, but B, maybe he can get a little interior pass rush going with him next to Javvon Dexter. That is something I would try. And then lastly, we were saying it for a few weeks there, but I’ll give Dennis credit. You know, he found solutions the last two games, but now that you’re getting some key guys back, I think you may just the answer might not be it’s just not going to come from the front four. So, what does that mean? You have to bring pressure. You have to blitz more. The Bears, while the blitz rate has been going up, they’re still just 28th in the NFL at just over 17%. I might increase that to about 25. Like I, you know, top 10, top 12 in the NFL. You’re not going to go crazy and go 35%. You know, this isn’t, you know, the principles of this defense isn’t, you know, full Brian Flores, but like I I would dial it up a notch. I would continue to increase that. And now with Kyler Gordon, TJ Edwards back, you can trust that back seven, especially with how Tyreek’s been playing recently. I think part of the fear from Dennis was, “Oh god, we, you know, we’re we have Nan Wright, Tyreek, who’s wasn’t playing well the first couple of games. If I blitz and get burned, guys are just going to be running free.” Well, now you’re healthier on the back end. I think you can take more chances. And with these two guys specifically, these are two guys that you can blitz. TJ Edwards, good blitzing linebacker. Kyler Gordon, you can blitz him off the nickel spot. Uh, so if I’m Dennis Allen, I’m more willing to take those opportunities and those chances and uh, just dial it up because this front four is just not winning consistently. It’s as simple as that. Uh, there’s even data out there that even in one-on-one opportunities, a Dango and Sweat, they’re kind of middle of the pack so far. And that is they are not living up to their contracts. And listen, we can have big picture discussions about the roster construction, but in reality right now, you got what you got. Maybe you make a trade or something, but today I I think these are things I would try if I was Dennis Allen. All right, there you have it. The Bears defensive line a major problem and it’s something that needs to be fixed or at least improved as quickly as possible. If they can find some solutions, then okay, maybe you’re you you got something here defensively. If not, you know, you’re you’re you’re banking a lot on your play caller and on the back seven. [Music]

The Chicago Bears defensive line has been a major problem to start the 2025 NFL Season and Chat Sports host Harrison Graham says it must be fixed immediately. Visit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/CLNS and use code CLNS and get $50 in lineups when you play your first $5 lineup! Montez Sweat has regressed since first joining Chicago during the 2023 NFL Season. Dayo Odeyingbo has not lived up to his $16 million per year contract he signed this past offseason and the Bears rank near the bottom of the league in yards per carry allowed. Is there any reason for hope that Bears DC Dennis Allen can turn around this Bears defensive front? We discuss all angles on this Chicago Bears YouTube video.

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– Can the Bears D-Line improve? Type ‘Y’ for Yes or ‘N’ for No

Bears Defensive Line investments:
– Montez Sweat: $24.5 Million/Year
– Dayo Odeyingbo: $16.0 Million/Year
– Grady Jarrett: $14.5 Million/Year
– Gervon Dexter Sr: 2nd Round Pick
– Shemar Turner: 2nd Round Pick

Montez Sweat’s decline with the Bears:
– 2023 (9 GP): 25 TKL, 6 Sacks, 4 TFL, 1 FF, 14 QB Hits
– 2024-25 (20 GP): 43 TKL, 6.5 Sacks, 12 TFL, 2 FF, 15 QB Hits

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Bears D-Line 2025 stats:
– Sacks Per Game: 1.3 (29th)
– Yards Per Carry Allowed: 6.2 (32nd)

Check out the most recent Chicago Bears YouTube videos from Bears Now by Chat Sports:
– Chicago Bears Trade Rumors Mailbag Ft. Trey Hendrickson, Maxx Crosby, Tony Pollard & Rashad White: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kd2CEaXtdmE
– Caleb Williams SOUNDS OFF On Bears-Commanders Rematch + MORE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKomCrYqyBQ
– Chicago Bears Trade Rumors On Jeffery Simmons, De’Von Achane & Jermaine Johnson | Mailbag: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jVFK3ULJxQ

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Chicago Bears Defensive Starters:
– DE: Montez Sweat
– DT: Gervon Dexter
– DT: Grady Jarrett
– DE: Dayo Odeyingbo
– LB: TJ Edwards
– LB: Tremaine Edmunds
– CB: Tyrique Stevenson
– CB: Nahshon Wright
– Nickel: Kyler Gordon
– Free Safety: Kevin Byard III
– Strong Safety: Jaquan Brisker

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