Green Bay Packers: Ranking the NFC North defensive lines

CHICAGO BEARS

Upon being hired to coach the Bears in January 2015, John Fox’s most challenging task was to reconfigure a broken defense that had just surrendered 442 points in 2014, the second-most in franchise history.

Fox’s defensive coordinator, Vic Fangio, introduced his 3-4 scheme to an organization that had never veered from lining up its defense with an even-man front.

In order to carry out their mission of restoring the toughness and intimidating nature traditionally associated with a Bears defense, Fox and Fangio needed to find a quick and stout nose tackle that could cover two gaps along the line of scrimmage.

They placed that responsibility in the hands of the 336-pound rookie Eddie Goldman, who wasted no time in picking up the new scheme and started 12 games. In addition to showcasing the ability to dig in his heels and hold his ground, the young buck exhibited the quickness to run to the ball after shedding his blocks.

It became quickly apparent that Goldman was much more than a stay-at-home space eater; his bull-rushing prowess, in fact, netted him 4.5 sacks.

Deciding which down linemen would be flanking Goldman in base packages was an arduous undertaking made no less difficult by GM Ryan Pace, who thought that signing 31-year-old Ray McDonald would be a great idea.

McDonald already had four prior arrests on his record and went on to earn himself a fifth two months after joining the Bears as a result of assaulting a female who was holding an infant at the time of the attack.

Holding on to 34-year-old Jeremiah Ratliff was another blunder on the part of team decision-makers, as the mercurial defender was reportedly released in late October after showing up in no condition to practice during the week. Police had to be called to ensure that he wouldn’t try re-entering his former squad’s facilities.

The Bears turned to Jarvis Jenkins to man one of the defensive end spots. In his 15 starts, the former Redskin was effective in using his hands to win inside battles and also displayed great awareness in reading the offense.

Chicago let Jenkins slip away to the Jets in free agency in favor of upgrading with Akiem Hicks, who brings length, strength and versatility to play multiple positions.

The one-time Patriot and Saint is also a superior pass rusher, as evidenced by his 18 pressures on just 167 rushes last season, giving him an 8.5 productivity score, according to Pro Football Focus. His grade was seventh-best among interior linemen.

The other component of Chicago’s starting trio is the 29-year-old Mitch Unrein, a Fox favorite from his days in Denver. Unrein is a steady contributor who has plenty of strength to excel at the point of attack … just don’t ask him to win with quickness.

Behind the top guys are a youthful bunch led by Will Sutton, an undersized performer at six-feet, 303 pounds. His best feature is his acceleration off the snap, but that quickness didn’t help get to the quarterback in 2015, as he came up empty in the sack department.

Sutton does occasionally flash the instincts to deflect passes, but he seems to be better suited to play as a three-technique in a 4-3 alignment.

Backup nose tackle Terry Williams is a 344-pound wide body that spent most of his time on the practice squad last season. Affectionately known as “The Swamp Monster,” Williams will need to show better stamina if he hopes to earn a bench spot on the active roster.

Ego Ferguson should be extremely motivated during the upcoming training camp since he’s been a bust thus far both on and off the field. Along with serving a four-game suspension in 2015 for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs, the LSU product has looked rather stiff and will need to use his hands more effectively if he hopes to make the club.

Greg Scruggs is an injury-prone 25-year-old end who spent his first four years with the Seahawks. His length and versatility could come in handy if he manages to stay on the field.

Cornelius Washington came into the league with outstanding measurables, but is lacking in terms of instincts and the technical side of the game. His value lies in his efforts as a special-teams contributor.

Third-round pick Jonathan Bullard profiles as a game wrecker, who notched 17.5 tackles for a loss as a senior in the SEC. He has the lower-body strength to anchor and set the edge versus the run as a classic 4-3 end.

But the pride of Gainesville is scheme-versatile enough to handle two gaps in an odd-man front. An added bonus is Bullard’s non-stop motor and toughness to play through pain.

All in all, this line is very young and unproven. Making a full transition to a 3-4 scheme typically takes two years, which puts the Bears at the halfway point in their drastic makeover.

Improving their overall standing in stopping the run is the next step. Ranking 22nd or lower in that area will not cut it in 2016.