Ryan Poles went out and got Jeffery Simmons, and suddenly the Chicago Bears are being discussed as legitimate Super Bowl contenders. Not that they weren't already making noise at 5-2, but adding one of football's premier defensive tackles certainly changes the conversation.
There's plenty to like about the move. Simmons gives Dennis Allen something his defense has been missing, a legitimate interior pass rusher who can disrupt an offense without sending extra defenders after the quarterback.
But while everyone celebrates Chicago's newest acquisition, there's a problem that hasn't received nearly enough attention.
The Bears can't stop giving up explosive plays.
And unless that changes, all the talent Poles has assembled might not be enough.
Bears' Super Bowl hopes could be derailed by struggling secondary
Chicago is allowing 8.7 yards per pass attempt, the worst mark in the NFL. Opposing quarterbacks have repeatedly found opportunities to attack downfield, often turning otherwise manageable situations into enormous gains.
That's a troubling statistic for a team with championship aspirations.
Consider what's waiting Monday night.
Seattle receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba has already accumulated 867 receiving yards and 8 touchdowns through seven games. He's coming off a 150-yard performance against Kansas City and is threatening to rewrite the NFL record books.
Now he gets a Chicago secondary that has struggled to prevent big plays.
Jaylon Johnson hasn't been particularly consistent, either. Opposing quarterbacks have produced a 113.1 passer rating when targeting him this season.
That's not what the Bears envisioned from their highest-profile cornerback.
And it's certainly not encouraging when the next opponent features arguably the most dangerous receiver in football.
The concern goes beyond Johnson, though. Chicago's tackling has been questionable at times, and communication breakdowns have allowed receivers to find open space.
Simmons isn't fixing any of that by himself.
Jeffery Simmons can't solve every problem for the Bears
There's an argument that improving the pass rush will naturally help Chicago's secondary. Quarterbacks forced to throw earlier have less time to find receivers developing downfield.
Fair enough.
But that assumes Simmons can consistently get home before opposing quarterbacks exploit favorable matchups.
What happens when an offense uses quick throws? Or when Smith-Njigba catches a short pass and turns it into a 40-yard gain because somebody misses a tackle?
Those plays don't disappear because Chicago added another expensive defensive lineman.
The Bears have already demonstrated they can generate pressure. Allen has manufactured sacks through creative blitz packages and disguised coverages, even without Simmons.
Preventing explosive plays has been another story.
Chicago has allowed a completion of at least 40 yards in 5 of its first 7 games. That's an awfully dangerous habit to carry into January, when opposing quarterbacks become less forgiving.
And that's where the Super Bowl conversation gets uncomfortable.
The Bears don't need their secondary to shut down every elite receiver they face. Nobody realistically expects that.
But they can't keep surrendering huge chunks of yardage and expect Caleb Williams to bail them out every week.
Poles deserves credit for recognizing that his defensive front needed another difference-maker. Simmons could prove to be exactly that.
Still, Monday's matchup with Seattle should tell us considerably more about Chicago's championship prospects than any introductory press conference.
If Smith-Njigba spends the evening running through the Bears' secondary, nobody will care how impressive Simmons looked in his debut.
Chicago might have fixed one weakness while leaving its most dangerous one untouched.
| More Bears on DaWindyCity |
Add us as a preferred source on Google