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Chicago Bears’ Defense Will Thankfully Look Vastly Different In 2015

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Unless the Chicago Bears somehow reel off seven consecutive wins, this season is over. The Bears will not be playoff-bound and need to look ahead to 2015. Fans are not happy with the results of this season, so exactly how much is going to change?

I have said all along that Marc Trestman is going to return. The McCaskeys are not going to eat the two years remaining on his contract, and based on the fact that the Bears just defeated the Minnesota Vikings, with other winnable games on the schedule, the Bears are going to finish a bad, but not embarrassing 6-10, perhaps 7-9 and GM Phil Emery will stand by Trestman.

Offensively, the Bears have just about everyone under contract including Jay Cutler. Expect Cutler to be back whether you like it or not; the Bears just committed to him, and they are not going to throw in the towel one season into his new contract. Matt Forte, Martellus Bennett, Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery are all under contract for 2015.

Forte and Jeffery will both be free agents after next season, so the Bears need to consider what they want to do long term with both of them: if they want to keep them both, negotiating contract extensions this offseason would be wise before they can test the free agent market. The Bears’ offensive line also should be back, and they should only improve with another year under their belts playing together. Only Roberto Garza is a pending free agent. With the contracts the way they are and Trestman probably staying for another season, there will be little to no change offensively. Defensively is another story.

You can expect that the scapegoat for this disappointing season is going to be Mel Tucker. The Bears’ defense has not improved and has been embarrassed on two occasions. Let’s be honest; they are going to be embarrassed again at some point again this season, perhaps by Drew Brees or perhaps by the Dallas Cowboys, but this defense is going to be ignited for 40 or more points again at some point.

The Bears will bring in a new defensive coordinator (preferably someone from outside the organization) to change the scheme and try and bring some bite back in the Chicago defense. The personnel on the defensive side of the ball could see massive change, though the defensive line shouldn’t see too much change. Jared Allen isn’t going anywhere. Willie Young was a great signing with a great cap number, and you can bet the Bears will hold onto their young defensive tackles to go along with Jeremiah Ratliff. Unfortunately, the Bears have so much guaranteed money left with Lamarr Houston that it’s doubtful they release him, although keeping him on the roster serves little to no purpose.

The linebacking corps should see a serious shake-up. Lance Briggs is a free agent, and there is a better chance that the Bears bring back Otis Wilson to play outside linebacker. Briggs has checked out on this season and his skills have diminished. He will be shown the door, as should DJ Williams, who is also a free agent, and the Bears will have little use for the veteran linebacker. Jon Bostic will return, and it will be interesting to see if the Bears are willing to cut ties with Shea McClellin or give him another go.

It’s also possible to see McClellin return in a diminished role if the Bears don’t want the cap hit of releasing him with one year left on his contract. The Bears will have an opportunity to vastly overhaul the linebackers this offseason whether that be through the draft or via free agency, but this group needs a serious upgrade.

In the secondary, Tim Jennings and Kyle Fuller are going to be the cornerbacks. The Bears will give Charles Tillman a chance to give it another go if Peanut wants a spot on the roster, but the safety position is going to change. Chris Conte is almost assuredly gone as he is a free agent, and although Brock Vereen and Ryan Mundy are both under contract, going forward with them as the starting safeties is a recipe for disaster. This is another position that the Bears will certainly address in the offseason.

With the Bears’ entire offense basically under contract, Emery can spend the entire offseason finding a new defensive coordinator and working on improving the defense via free agency and the draft. This unit will look vastly different in 2015, and for Bears fans, that’s a very good thing.

Bill Zimmerman is a Chicago Bears writer for www.RantSports.Com. Follow him on Twitter, like him on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google.

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