When Chuck Pagano took over as the Bears’ defense coordinator, there were many that were concerned that Chicago’s defense would regress.
While two games does not make a season, it appears that the Bears — who returned 10 defensive starters this year — have picked up where they left off last season.
The Bears have allowed 12 points per game and two touchdowns in the first two games. In last week’s 16-14 win over the Broncos, Chicago held Denver to 6 points until the final two minutes.
While this Bears defense does not appear poised for significant regression, there is one area that they’ve been lacking in this season: Takeaways.
Last season, the Bears had a league-best 36 takeaways. But after two games, Chicago has only one, a Kyle Fuller interception against the Broncos.
But we knew heading into this season that the Bears defense most likely was not going to replicate its insane takeaways number. But still, one turnover after two games isn’t on par with what the defense has been bringing in terms of pressure.
Pagano promises that those takeaways will come for this defense.
“A batter is slumping and can’t put the bat on the ball and you press and the harder you swing, the worse it gets, you know?” Pagano said, via the Chicago Tribune. “So you just keep doing your job. Tight coverage mixed with rush. Pressure. Punching the ball out. The Peanut punch. All that stuff. Again, that’s a byproduct of what happens in practice.”
Watching the Bears defense, you’ve seen how close they are to forcing more turnovers, whether it’s Khalil Mack and Leonard Floyd getting from within an inch of the ball or Eddie Jackson just missing an interception.
The signs are there, the talent is there and the opportunity is there against this Redskins offense come Monday night. This could very well be the game where the Bears defense forces a multi-turnover game.
