Even one of the NFL’s best defenses isn’t immune to change.
That’s the challenge the Bears defense faces heading into the 2019 season as it acclimates to Chuck Pagano’s defensive scheme.
It can be both a blessing and a curse coming into the situation that Pagano has joined.
On the one hand, the pieces remain in place to continue to build this defense into the best in the league. But on the other hand, given the success of last season, there’s an expectation for this unit to have similar dominance.
But there’s a belief in the locker room that Pagano can keep the Bears defense on track.
“If there was anybody that was going to replace Vic (Fangio), it was Chuck,” Akiem Hicks told reporters Thursday. “He is a great team guy, he’s a great players coach, he’s a great communicator. When you come into a situation like ours, where we’ve already had a top defense, you’ve got to be able to come in and approach it just like he has. I think that he’s done a great job. Man, I can’t wait to put it out on tape.”
As the Bears begin training camp, there is a definitive goal that this unit hopes to obtain by the end of camp.
When asked where he was at this point in Pagano’s defense, Hicks said, right now, he’s a solid C. But the goal is to better that grade by camp’s — and, ultimately, season’s — end.
“We’re looking to get in the higher B’s before training camp is over and hopefully an A+ by time the season’s done.”
While there are sure to be bumps along the way, the goal is to see tangible progress.
With the Bears in their Super Bowl window, there’s no room for error. Not with the talent on this team.
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