Da Windy City
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Chicago Bears: Prince Amukamara ready to help team force more turnovers

By Carlos Nazario

Nov 13, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Prince Amukamara (21) runs out for intros prior to a game against the Houston Texans at EverBank Field. Houston Texans won 24-21. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 13, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Prince Amukamara (21) runs out for intros prior to a game against the Houston Texans at EverBank Field. Houston Texans won 24-21. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports /
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Cornerback Prince Amukamara wants to bring back the old Chicago Bears turnover machine defense. The team tied the NFL record for fewest turnovers forced, and Amukamara vows to help change that.

The Chicago Bears are known for their rough and tumble defense. When you played them, you expected to get beat up and you expected to lose the ball several times. In recent seasons, however, all that changed. In fact, in 2016 they tied the NFL record for fewest turnovers forced by a team with just 11.

General manager Ryan Pace hopes he remedied that through free agency. He made several signings to fortify the defense. The major change he made was at cornerback, where he signed Marcus Cooper and Prince Amukamara to start.

Amukamara is familiar with the old “Monsters of the Midway” Bears defense. He wants to help bring that back.

"Just to bring back that tradition of Chicago Bears defense, where there’s a lot of takeaways and plays on the ball. Just restoring that order.More from Da Windy City3 takeaways from Chicago Blackhawks shootout loss to NashvilleChicago Cubs in the middle of chaos that is Shohei Ohtani’s free agencyThe Chicago Cubs are on a roller coaster of emotions chasing Shohei OhtaniChicago Bears quietly compiling list of head coaching candidatesChicago White Sox News: Erick Fedde signs two-year deal"

The Bears cut Tracy Porter so the Bears depend on Amukamara to be the main veteran on the cornerback unit. The Kyle Fuller situation is still up in the air, as there is still a question whether he’ll be cut or not. If not, then Amukamara has the job to show the young Fuller what it takes to be a real professional.

First Amukamara needs to show he still has the chops to play himself. He failed to record an interception last season with the Jacksonville Jaguars after the New York Giants decided to let him go.

While many felt he didn’t play well in Jacksonville, Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio felt otherwise.

"Thought he played better last year than he had earlier in his career. And hopefully he’ll be able to continue that here and maybe play his best. He should be in his prime."

For his part, Amukamara feels Fangio’s system is perfect for him.

"You get to have vision, you get to see the ball and you get to make plays on the ball. You get to challenge the receivers. I would say Vic is similar to (Giants defensive coordinator Steve) Spagnuolo … just because they don’t like to wait for the offense to attack them.They like to attack the offense. They’re sending blitzes from all sorts of directions and are not making the pocket comfortable for the quarterback."

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Hopefully, Amukamara and Fangio’s system are a perfect fit. IF Fangio gets the best out of him, Chicago Bears fans will be happy. So will Pace, and his seat would stay cool.

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