Nov. 16--If you're curious, the interception Willie Young made with 4 minutes, 14 seconds left Sunday at the Edward Jones Dome was the first of his six-year career. Young made the play with keen instincts, dropping into coverage and being right in the passing lane as St. Louis Rams quarterback Nick Foles darted a pass over the middle toward Wes Welker.
Young snatched the throw, then broke loose the other way for 39 yards, doing everything he could to score. Yes, the Chicago Bears defender asserted, he was sniffing the end zone the whole time. And obviously creating a takeaway to seal a dominant 37-13 win felt fulfilling. But, Young demanded, no one should get any crazy ideas just because his 2015 interception total now matches his sack total.
As a reporter approached to recap the interception Sunday, Young nodded.
"You got your recorder on?" he asked. "Let me tell you something, man. I can't lose my identity. At this very moment, I've got (as many) plays in the secondary (as) I do in the backfield. But I am technically a defensive end. This is a worldwide alert. I am a defensive end. I repeat: defensive end. I'm not a linebacker. Although I am capable of making plays in the secondary, I am a defensive end. Let's not forget that. I want to give a shout out to all my fans right now. And let's not get this thing confused now."
It's been a taxing year for Young, who battled back from a torn Achilles tendon that he suffered last December but then had to accept a position change -- from end to outside linebacker in the Bears' new 3-4 scheme. That has meant reduced playing time. It has also meant months and months of studying to reduce his discomfort in his new role.
"Absolutely this has been a different year for me," Young asserted. "It's been nothing but different. It's a big difference for me even still right now, still adjusting and trying to take advantage of opportunities when I get them. That's key. It's not a surprise to me that I have playmaking ability. But more so it's where I'm making plays at now more than anything."
More often that not, the Bears prefer to use Young as a situational pass rusher. But when duty calls, his responsibilities as an outside linebacker must be remembered.
Who knows what Young's future holds beyond this season? It would come as no shock if he left the Bears after two seasons in Chicago, seeking a better fit and an opportunity to regularly rush the passer again. As a defensive end in a traditional 4-3 system.
But Young is also staying fully invested with the Bears right now and enthusiastic about the direction the entire defense is trending right now.
"It's one day at a time," he said. "And it's continuing to do the best that we can to build chemistry throughout the entire defense."
Sunday's pick, Young acknowledged, was the byproduct of the right defensive call by coordinator Vic Fangio coupled with his own understanding of what to do given the Rams' alignment. But as for the premise that Young may be carving out a new niche for his pro football career? Young shakes his head.
"I can hear it right now. Willie Young: outside linebacker. Interception. Fourth quarter. Returns it for (39) yards. Outside linebacker. No. No. Defensive end. Defensive end Willie Young is how it should read. Defensive end Willie Young had the interception and the big return. Not OLB."
dwiederer@tribpub.com
