Chicago Bears: Previews and projections for defense in 2018

Linebackers

Inside linebackers

Is it far-fetched to say that this just became the most interesting position group on the Bears defense? Probably not.

In particular, two of the Bears’ most interesting draft picks of 2018, Roquan Smith and Joel Iyiegbuniwe, are both inside linebackers. And depending on how the latter plays, they could end up being running mates for years to come.

For now, though, Smith will ride shotgun alongside veteran inside linebacker Danny Trevathan, who was one of the Bears’ best defensive players last season. And that duo will be formidable enough to deal with.

The speed and ferocity the Bears will possess at inside linebacker should be something to behold. And at least for now, the idea of having a healthy Nick Kwiatkoski and Iyiegbuniwe being the first guys off the bench at ILB should comfort Bears fans.

Smith will rack up the tackles and excel in coverage (let’s say eight passes defended, two interceptions). And Trevathan should produce similar numbers to last year in that department (five pass breakups, one pick), if not better.

Of course, if injuries force them into the starting lineup, as happened last year, we’ll have problems.

Speaking of which…

Outside linebackers

If there’s one potential weak spot on the Chicago Bears defense, it could be outside linebacker.

Yes, this unit still has the versatile, high-upside Leonard Floyd, but that alone comes with caveats.

For one thing, he still hasn’t proven as dominant as his potential would suggest he can be, though he’s shown flashes of greatness. This could be due more to the way he’s used more than his skill level, but he hasn’t come close to reaching the 10-sack potential he has.

Secondly, he still has to finish a season without bowing out due to injury.

And if he struggles with injuries again this season, there’s even more uncertainty behind him than there was last year.

Aaron Lynch could compliment Floyd really well and provide solid snaps on the edge, but he has to show that he’s the guy that posted six sacks as a rookie in San Francisco with Vic Fangio.

And Kylie Fitts has third-round talent but fell to the sixth round of the draft because of his own injury issues.

I’ve gone really high on Floyd before, but because of the number of roles they use him in, let’s pump the brakes on double-digit sacks for now. I’ll say nine sacks for Floyd, four passes defensed and that first interception he’s been looking for.

In short, the Bears could either really surprise teams with stellar play from their edges or have an abjectly terrible year marred by injuries. Okay, there could be some middle ground there, but I really see it being one of those extremes.

I’ve gone really high on Floyd before, but because of the number of roles they use him in, let’s pump the brakes on double-digit sacks for now. I’ll say nine sacks for Floyd, four passes defensed and that first interception he’s been looking for.

I could see Lynch posting four sacks, and Fitts, if healthy, could come off the bench to throw in four sacks as well. Truthfully, Fitts could realistically eat into Lynch’s snaps later in the year in pass-rushing situations. In that case, he could have a rookie year almost the match of Floyd’s seven sacks. But again, he has to stay on the field.