Houston understands Chicago Bears' need for speed
BOURBONNAIS — When the Chicago Bears moved up in the first round to take outside linebacker Leonard Floyd with the ninth overall pick, veteran outside linebacker Lamarr Houston wasn't offended.
Despite all the chatter about how the Bears needed an elite athlete and quick-twitch specimen like Floyd to kick-start their pass rush, Houston didn't take it personally, even though he led the Bears in sacks last season with 8.
That included 7 in the final nine games, when he was a full year removed from the torn ACL that ended his 2014 season at the midpoint.
“I never take it as a personal attack or anything like that,” Houston said after a training-camp practice as he prepares for his seventh NFL season, his third with the Bears.
“It's a business, and we're here to play for the Super Bowl. So, if we need more speed, we need more speed. I think we can always build a better team every year. We're here to win, and that's what we're always building toward.”
Because Houston is in a better place physically — as is fellow outside linebacker Willie Young, who suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon late in 2014 — the Bears' defense should be in a better place.
“A year ago, Lamarr and Willie could have started on PUP (physically unable to perform list),” coach John Fox said. “We didn't do that, but we babied them through the whole preseason. Just them being a year ahead of where they were a year ago is critical.”
Forcing turnovers is, by far, the area of the Bears' defense with the most room for improvement. The Bears had just 7 take-aways last season; only four teams had fewer.
Players who can pressure the quarterback — such as Houston, Young, Pernell McPhee and, hopefully, Floyd — are essential to causing turnovers.
“Adding pass rushers helps that,” said Bears general manager Ryan Pace. “You've got to hit the quarterback a lot of times to create turnovers. Hopefully we're getting in that direction.”
Houston spent extensive time in the off-season making sure his body was ready to play a full season. His training included extensive core-strengthening and stability training.
“A lot of people say that in your second year of ACL recovery, you're still actually rehabbing it and building strength,” Houston said. “I feel strong starting off.”
Houston's energy sometimes extends beyond the end of the play. He has been an active participant in the many scuffles that have broken out during training-camp practices, often flashing moves that could make him a natural for professional wrestling down the road.
Houston said his system for rehab was simple.
“Pray,” he said. “Pray and work hard, that's all you can do, man. Thank God I haven't had any setbacks, just steady working.”
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