3 things to watch for in the Chicago Bears 2nd preseason game
By Todd Welter
The Chicago Bears will see Trevis Gipson, Terrell Lewis, and Rasheem Green.
The Chicago Bears pass rush was terrible last season. The team produced just 20 sacks last year with Jaquan Brisker leading the team with four. When a safety leads the team in sacks, you know you got an awful pass rush.
The defensive line accounted for just 10.5 sacks. That is bad considering the success of the defensive scheme is built on pressuring the quarterback with the front four.
Much like the offensive line, the defensive line was also overhauled in the offensive. Defensive tackle Justin Jones is the only remaining starter.
He will attempt to play the three-technique defensive tackle–the engine of the defense. Andrew Billings was signed in the offseason to play the nose tackle.
Poles drafted Gervon Dexter Sr. and Zaach Pickens to hopefully be starters one day at defensive tackle (and for one of them to be a game-wrecking three-technique).
Yannick Ngakoue and DeMarcus Walker were signed to one-year deals to improve the pass rush coming off the edge.
Walker had a career-high seven sacks last season for the Tennessee Titans. Ngakoue has registered eight sacks or more in his seven seasons.
Second-year player Dominique Robinson should make the team based on his potential.
That leaves last year’s starter Trevis Gipson and veterans Rasheem Green and Terrell Lewis–both were signed in the offseason as free agents–for the final edge rusher spots on the roster.
Gipson regressed last season and posted just three sacks. The first unofficial depth chart had Gipson buried on it. He responded with a sack and wreaked havoc against the Titans last Saturday.
Lewis is having a strong camp and was impressive against Tennessee with two sacks along with a forced fumble.
#Bears pass rusher Terrell Lewis joined @BernsyHolmes to discuss his performance in the preseason opener and what it's like rushing against Justin Fields in practice. Rewind: https://t.co/hDb793Y3Fn pic.twitter.com/0WQG371DHk
— 670 The Score (@670TheScore) August 14, 2023
Green has 17 career sacks with 10 coming in the last two seasons. He was listed as the starting edge rusher against the Titans since Walker and Ngakoue both missed the game. His pass rush win percentage was better than Lewis’ last Saturday.
Pass rush win% per @pff
— Unbearable Sports (@UnbearableSport) August 13, 2023
23.1% D'Anthony Jones
23.1% Jalen Harris
21.9% Trevis Gipson
20% Rasheem Green
16.7% Bravvion Roy
11.1% Terrell Lewis
10% Andrew Brown
7.1% Travis Bell
4% Gervon Dexter
3.1% Zacch Pickens@trevisgipson was a force especially when you factor in his snaps
All three will need to continue to show they can help generate a pass rush. It is possible the Chicago Bears could keep all three on the final roster before the regular season starts.
It is probable the team will carry at least six edge rushers so that leaves the three battling it out for the final two spots.