It will be a bit before Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen can get everything aligned, install his system and rearrange all the pieces to his liking.
But out of the gates, as the Bears jumped into the first phase of their offseason program, Allen at least has been able to communicate his vision.
“It was very direct,” linebacker Tremaine Edmunds said Tuesday. “It’s understanding where we’re at as a football team and understanding how we’re going to get there. Obviously the message is the message: ‘We want to win and we want to win now.’ I think saying that and being blunt with it is what we needed to hear.”
The new Bears coaching staff, with Ben Johnson at the forefront, isn’t offering an ease-in orientation. Instead there has been a push for urgency plus directives for players to attack the spring in order to put themselves in position to contend in the fall.
That’s true on both sides of the ball. And while so much of the conversation will center around Johnson’s supervision of the offense and his high-priority work in developing quarterback Caleb Williams, Allen’s defense has its own opportunity to set a tone.
As the offseason work continues, here are four key questions about the Bears defense that are worth exploring.
1. How much does Allen’s early messaging to players matter?
It matters. It definitely matters.
Sure, April speeches inside meeting rooms go only so far. And it’s important to keep such discussions inside the proper frame.
But one of the biggest initial responsibilities for any new coaching staff is to create belief. And listening to Edmunds talk Tuesday, it’s clear Allen’s “win and win now” rhetoric was well-received.
“Because that’s our mindset going into it,” Edmunds said. “Especially the guys who have been here. We want to win. And we have the pieces to win. I think knowing the coaches understand that coming in, it’s not like, ‘Oh, we’re going to take the (slow route).’ It’s like, ‘Nah, this is what we’ve got. Now let’s put the plan into action.’”
Allen’s experience and credibility offer momentum. Between two failed stints as a head coach — most recently with the New Orleans Saints — he was a coordinator for eight seasons with the Denver Broncos (2011) and Saints (2015-2021) and has established a reputation as an aggressive play caller who wants his defense in attack mode.
Step one during the spring has been to grab the attention of his new players.
“I can tell just by his energy, his passion, the way he communicates, the tone in which he communicates,” Edmunds said. “It’s all geared toward, ‘Nah, we want this to happen right now. We’re not waiting for anything. Let’s hit the ground running.’”
2. What will be the most notable elements of the Bears’ defensive DNA?
Under Allen, the Bears will be in man-to-man coverage much more often. That means a heightened responsibility for the cornerbacks — and two-time Pro Bowl selection Jaylon Johnson should become a centerpiece of much of what the Bears try to get done.
Johnson’s eyes lit up Tuesday when he talked about his expectation to “travel” more with opponents’ top receivers.
“You lock up the No. 1 guy,” Johnson said. “No. 1 on No. 1. That’s what I am looking forward to the most. That’s what I train for. That’s what I work hard for.
“For me, it’s going to be about that. Being ready to go out there and lock up, challenge guys, make things harder for the offense and mess up timing.”
Johnson believes his skill set is ideally suited for Allen’s defense. Admittedly, he’s still learning what the demands will be for the corners.
“Technique and consistency,” Johnson said. “That’s it. With a lot of repetitions, that’s something you have to be really good at.
“Being really good down after down just takes consistency. It takes being in shape. It takes a certain level of mental and physical strength. I know what it looks like personally, playing that position my whole life. It’s just being prepared for that mentally and physically.”
3. What else will be important to Allen’s defensive approach?
“Speed. Speed. Speed,” general manager Ryan Poles said at last week’s NFL owners meetings.
Keep that in mind as the Bears set their draft board and look to upgrade their defensive talent and depth later this month. It’s also a reason the team was attracted to defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo in free agency, guaranteeing him $32 million on a three-year, $48 million contract. That was a bet that Odeyingbo’s burst and speed will fit well with how Allen plans to utilize him.
Poles has been impressed with how well Allen has communicated his defensive vision. In addition to putting a lot on cornerbacks’ plates, he has a specific style he wants to establish up front.
“He wants a very aggressive and attacking defense,” Poles said. “Especially on the defensive line. It’s attacking the man in front of you. Not so much playing laterally, two-gapping or even penetrating in gaps. It’s really just attacking the offensive lineman in front of you and creating disruption in the run game.
“Then also (it’s being able) to bubble back into the quarterback’s feet to make it uncomfortable there too. That mentality is definitely going to be there. That’s something we’ll get done.”
Ben Johnson has been pleased with his early connection to Allen.
“He is very passionate about what his side of the ball is going to be about,” Johnson said. “Physicality is No. 1. Relentless pursuit. … He has been doing this for a long time at a high level.
“And it’s really fun to be able to sit in meetings with him because he knows exactly what he wants from each position. He is very detailed. He is very defined. I am very encouraged, from just the little snapshot that I’ve had with him, with the direction that side of the ball can go.”
4. What might that mean for the NFL draft?
It’s no secret the Bears are looking to add more firepower to their defensive line. And an intriguing list of prospects could be available to them at No. 10.
That list starts with defensive tackle Mason Graham, a two-time All-American at Michigan. Graham might not have prototypical size at 6-foot-3½ and 296 pounds with 32-inch arms, but he more than makes up for it with his instincts, tenacity and an elite understanding of leverage.
Other defensive tackles who could be worth a longer look in the first two rounds include Mississippi’s Walter Nolen, Michigan’s Kenneth Grant, Oregon’s Derrick Harmon and Toledo’s Darius Alexander.
Edge rushers potentially on the menu for Days 1 and 2: Georgia’s Mykel Williams, Texas A&M’s Shemar Stewart, Tennessee’s James Pearce Jr., Boston College’s Donovan Ezeiruaku and Arkansas’ Landon Jackson.
The Bears also might look to add depth at safety and linebacker but could wait until Day 3 to do so.
And back to cornerbacks for a moment. From a traits standpoint, file away East Carolina’s Shavon Revel Jr. as a big, fast, aggressive corner who could be an attractive Day 2 option as a fit for Allen’s defense. Kentucky’s Maxwell Hairston also might be worth consideration with one of the Bears’ two second-round picks.
