It was no secret that if the Chicago Bears were to have success on defense considering some of the unit's on-paper shortcomings, it was going to start with their ability to pressure the quarterback. And while it remains a work-in-progress, defensive coordinator Dennis Allen is encouraged by what he's seen:
"It’s still a work in progress, but I do feel like we’re getting better. I feel like when we do a good job of allowing front and coverage to work together, then we’re able to affect the quarterback. We’re not hitting him on every snap, but we’re able to affect him and I think that’s really what you’re trying to do."
The Bears put a pair of sacks on the stat sheet in Week 1 against Carolina but were also only able to muster pressure at an 11.6
percent rate in the win. That number jumped up to 16.7 percent in Week 2 against the Vikings, where they were able to get to Carson Wentz to the tune of three sacks.
The jump in pressure rate, though, is a bit deceptive, as defined as including a hit or a sack. There's also a broader measure of pressure rate that factors in hurries. Given that the Bears are hurrying opposing quarterbacks at a 23.9 percent rate that trails only the Panthers, that wider definition works to their benefit. That version has the Bears at a 37.3 percent clip through two games, which is behind only the Raiders and Vikings. By that measure, Allen appears to be actually under selling his defense.
In any case, the team's fourth-ranked 38.8 percent blitz rate leads one to believe that Allen intends on continuing to grow the defense's standing on the pass rush end of things. That he noted the Bears' lack of a quarterback hit on every snap may allude to his intentions as a playcaller in continuing to drive the pressure created. We'll have to see how that takes shape beginning on Monday night against Philadelphia.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Dennis Allen believes Bears' pass rush is 'getting better'
