March 29, 2024


Analysis

Shaw Local’s 2021 Bears report card: Defensive line

A solid-but-unspectacular season from the Bears defensive front

Chicago Bears defensive end Bilal Nichols carries the ball after recovering a fumble as Roquan Smith and Eddie Goldman block during their game against the New York Giants Sunday, Jan. 2, 2021, at Soldier Field in Chicago.

The Bears defensive line was adequate – even above average – at times in 2021, but it never reached the heights it might have if Akiem Hicks could have stayed healthy and Eddie Goldman hadn’t struggled to shake off the rust after opting out in 2020.

While we think of this group with three starters in the 30 front – Hicks, Goldman and Bilal Nichols – of a base 3-4 scheme, the Bears defense was actually in sub packages that employed a 40 front – with Robert Quinn really playing his standard right defensive end spot – at least 60% of the time.

If you consider Quinn’s record-setting Pro Bowl season, this group’s report card improves considerably.

Positives: When close to 100% healthy, Hicks was his dominant self and a force for defenses to deal with.

Goldman did play one of the better games of his career on Monday Night Football in Pittsburgh. And Goldman’s protégé, rookie seventh-round pick Khyiris Tonga, logged significant minutes from early in the season and showed real potential to become a solid two-gap run stuffer who could eventually require regular double teams.

Nichols showed flashes of becoming a difference-maker and appears perfectly suited for the three technique in the Bears’ new 4-3 defense for 2022.

Angelo Blackson was a nice veteran addition as a lunch pail guy who showed up every time he was asked and provided great depth. He actually ended up playing 56% of the defensive snaps, second only to Nichols among defensive linemen.

Negatives: Hicks made it for just nine games and was unable to finish two of those, battling groin and ankle injuries. The Bears run defense suffered noticeably whenever he was off the field.

Goldman just wasn’t the player he was before his opt-out season other than occasional flashes.

Mario Edwards Jr. is a force rushing from the inside in passing situations, but he was suspended the first two games of the season. When he returned he battled costly and silly penalties on multiple occasions along with several of his fellow lineman.

Defining moments: 1. Goldman’s return at the beginning of training camp offered great expectations for the coming season.

2. Hicks pulled a groin on the first play of the Week 4 game against the Lions at Soldier Field. He missed the rest of the game as well as Week 5 vs. the Raiders. He returned too soon in Week 6 vs. the Packers and played well but aggravated the groin, causing him to miss Week 7 vs. the Bucs.

3. After surviving the 49ers in Week 8, Hicks then rolled an ankle in Pittsburgh during Week 9 and played only two more games the rest of the way. He ended up playing only 29% of the defensive snaps on the season.

Grade: B-

Contract status: Goldman, who is a potential cap casualty this offseason, along with Edwards Jr., Blackson and Tonga are under contract. Nichols and Margus Hunt are free agents. For the new 4-3 defense, defensive ends Khalil Mack, Quinn, Trevis Gipson, Sam Kamara and Charles Snowden are all under contract.

The plan: The key here is Nichols and taking personnel built for a 30 front and converting them to a 40 front. Ironically, while it leaves big gaps at linebacker, the current roster is better suited up front to play the 4-3.

You start with two All Pro defensive ends in Mack and Quinn, and Gipson is an exciting developmental No. 3 behind them.

As unlikely as it seems, if you re-sign Hicks you also have a Pro Bowl anchor at tackle. Assuming you can’t or don’t, Goldman could really stick out there too. Or even if Goldman becomes a cap casualty, Blackson can play the position, and Tonga could have an exciting future there.

The missing link is the crucial three technique. Nichols looks built to play it and maybe even excel, but will the Bears re-sign him and how much will he cost?

Edwards Jr. could play it in an emergency but doesn’t look to be a 60-minute guy. There’s really no one else on the roster.

Cincinnati’s Larry Ogunjobi and Buffalo’s Harrison Phillips are the only free agents as intriguing as Nichols, although it’s not clear Phillips is a natural three technique.

Hub Arkush

Hub Arkush

Hub Arkush was the Senior Bears Analyst for Shaw Local News Network and ShawLocal.com.