The Chicago Bears made adding defenders a priority as soon as the free-agent market opened last month. They also needed enforcers, players who can step up, set the tone, and bring some contagious energy to the table. That's what head coach Ben Johnson meant when he talked about adding "trained killers" to the defense, such as new addition Coby Bryant.
There's also a good chance that the veteran safety will feel right at home after hearing Johnson's latest comments, via the Bears' official team site.
"When we watched the tape, we felt like that jumped off when Coby was on the field. He's a guy that comes out, whether he's playing quarters, playing the post, playing down in the box, he's coming down, and if he sees somebody, he's looking to light them up."Ben Johnson, Bears HC
Not only did he come with Super Bowl pedigree and impressive numbers, but Bryant's tape, Johnson said, showed that he played with the type of intensity he was looking for his team.
"My little exposure with (Coby) when he came in was, 'Holy cow, this guy has got the 'it' factor to him,'" Johnson said. "He's got some dynamic traits in terms of his personality that I think are going to rub off on our guys — and not to mention the way he plays the game is what we want our defense to look like as well."
Ben Johnson Already Singing Coby Bryan't Praises
Bryant often went overlooked last season, which is what happens when a player shares the secondary with superstars like Devon Witherspoon and Nick Emmanwori. However, make no mistake, he was as crucial to their 'Dark Side' Super Bowl-winning defense as his teammates.
He had a career-high four interceptions, playing and starting 15 games. He also had 66 tackles, four tackles for loss, seven passes defensed, and one forced fumble. Pro Football Focus gave him a 65.5 overall grade, ranking 45th among 89 strong safeties. However, his impact went beyond the stats.
Bryant was one of the quarterbacks of the secondary. He was a hard-hitting guy who was going to make a play when it mattered the most, and having someone who gives 100 percent on every single snap inevitably forces everybody else to step up as well.
The Bears gave up the fourth-most total yards per game (361.8) last season. They allowed the 13th-highest third-down completion percentage (40.8%), and the 10th-most points per game (24.4 PPG). They bent way too often, and while their inability to pressure the quarterback certainly played a role in that, mental miscues and a lack of focus also put them against the wall.
Bryant got a three-year, $40 million deal after the best season of his career. He'll have some big shoes to fill in Chicago after the exodus from the safety room, especially given that defensive coordinator Dennis Allen may not have the benefit of the doubt for much longer.
Bryant may not be a superstar or the flashiest guy in the league, but he's going to set the tone on every play, and that might be even more important to this team.