Bears' defense takes step in right direction

The most encouraging development for Bears fans sprinting to reboard the playoff bandwagon late Sunday was the performance of the defense.

It's the defense that will determine if this team improves on last year's 8-8 finish.

The offense was highly productive a year ago, and it will move the ball and put up plenty of points again. But finishing above .500 depends on the defense improving and, at least occasionally, sharing the load.

The supposedly new-and-improved "D" failed to show up in the season opener, but there were indications in Week 2 that this group is capable of making the nightmarish 2013 defense a distant memory.

Against San Francisco, the defense did at least as much as the offense to win the game. Without rookie cornerback Kyle Fuller's 2 interceptions and the field-position the defense provided, Jay Cutler likely doesn't have the opportunity to toss 4 touchdown passes.

When was the last time an offense scored 28 points with just 216 yards of total offense, as the Bears did Sunday? The only time in the past 14 games that the Bears' offense generated fewer than 300 total yards, it scored just 11 points in a 43-point loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 16 last season.

Against the 49ers, the Bears forced 4 turnovers; last season the defense managed that just once. The most notable general improvement was in the most basic of defensive skills.

"Defensively, it all starts with tackling. I thought our tackling was excellent overall against a very good running football team," coach Marc Trestman said. "Our guys ran to the ball (and) gang-tackled."

The standout individual performances came from players, such as linebacker Lance Briggs, who will be counted on the most as the season plays out.

The turnovers were created by players who must contribute for there to be any improvement. The original plan was for Fuller to be a part-time starter as a rookie. He would play as the third corner in all passing situations and be groomed as a full-time starter in 2015.

But Charles Tillman's season-ending ruptured triceps means the learning curve will be sharply accelerated for the 22-year-old. If Sunday was any indication, the first-round pick is a quick study and could minimize the damage caused by the loss of a team leader and cornerstone of the defense.

The other pick came from oft-maligned free safety Chris Conte, who now has an interception in three straight games, something even his most vocal critics must concede is an impressive accomplishment.

The hope is that the shoulder injury that knocked Conte out for the second half is a minor one. If not, the Bears have to be encouraged by rookie safety Brock Vereen's ability to play the nickelback spot in the second half Sunday after Tillman and backup cornerback Sherrick McManis went out with injuries.

The fourth turnover came when defensive end Jared Allen stuck his helmet on the ball, knocking it loose from Colin Kaepernick. It was the first impact play from Allen, whose reputation as a difference maker gave the off-season improvement plan instant credibility.

Two of the Bears' 4 sacks Sunday came from Willie Young, another off-season defensive-end acquisition. Despite not starting, Young has 3 of the team's 5 sacks through two games. He originally was penciled in as a starter (with free-agent Lamarr Houston) when he was signed, but when Allen was added Young became the third D-end.

After getting 1 sack on just 17 snaps in the opener, Young was rewarded with almost 40 snaps in Week 2 and doubled his sack output with the first multisack game of his career.

"We're getting to a place where we think we're going to have a pretty good rotation with the three guys," Trestman said. "(That) is not only going to allow them to have their legs as the season progresses, but they can have a little opportunity to rest during the course of a game.

"Longevity for our players, as well as being able to utilize their strengths, I think that's a good thing."

And a defense with a bite is a good thing for a Bears team looking to get over the hump.

• Tight end Blake Annen, cornerback Jordan Sullen and wide receiver Chris Williams were signed to the practice squad Wednesday.

The 6-foot-4, 247-pound Annen entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Philadelphia Eagles this year out of Cincinnati. The 6-foot, 200-pound Sullen originally signed as an undrafted free agent with the Denver Broncos this year out of Tulane.

Williams rejoins the Bears after being waived on Monday. He appeared in his first NFL game Sunday night. The Bears signed him off the New Orleans Saints' practice squad during the final week of the 2013 season. In the preseason Williams had 4 receptions for 94 yards, including a 73-yard touchdown and also returned 3 kickoffs for 81 yards.

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