Picks again not aplenty for Chicago Bears
Detroit Lions Pro Bowl cornerback Darius Slay has 7 interceptions through 14 games. That's 1 more than the Chicago Bears have as a team.
This lack of pass pilfering is nothing new for the Bears. In 2015, they set a franchise low with just 8 interceptions and then tied that record for futility last year.
Unless they suddenly develop a knack for larceny, the Bears will set another new low this year.
Rookie safety Eddie Jackson has 2 interceptions; no one else has more than 1. In the past seven games, the Bears have managed just 2 interceptions.
So why haven't they picked off more passes, given that the defense is No. 5 in the NFL in sack percentage and generally gets good pressure on quarterbacks.
"That's a good question," defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said. "We've had our opportunities to have more. We haven't made the plays, or finished them off in some instances. We need to come up with more. That's a valid point.
"Some of our guys historically haven't gotten many in their careers. That's part of it. But we need to get more."
Fangio has a valid point himself. The only player on the roster with a track record of picking off passes is safety Quintin Demps, and he has been on injured reserve since Week 4.
The 10-year veteran intercepted 15 passes in the four years before joining the Bears, but he didn't get any in his three games before suffering a broken arm.
Safety Adrian Amos, who is expected back this week after missing three games with a hamstring injury, got the only interception of his three-year career in Week 6 and returned it 90 yards for a touchdown.
Seven-year veteran cornerback Prince Amukamara has been a starter since his second season, but he has just 7 career interceptions - none since 2015.
Kyle Fuller, the other starting cornerback, had 4 picks as a rookie in 2014, including 3 in his first three games. But he has just 3 since then, including 1 in Week 13 against the San Francisco 49ers.
Still, the Bears are above average overall on defense and respectable against the pass. They're No. 10 in passing yards allowed and 16th in average gain allowed per pass.
"We've made some strides in our secondary play from last year to this year," coach John Fox said. "That's evident in some of our statistics. We've had our hands on our share of balls; we just haven't come down with them. That's something that we definitely can improve at."
Fox is correct about showing some improvement. Even though only two teams - Oakland and Atlanta Falcons with 4 each - have fewer interceptions than the Bears, they have recovered 13 fumbles, more than any team in the NFL.
The good news on the interception front is that this week they face the Cleveland Browns and rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer, who has thrown an NFL-high 19 interceptions.
"We just have to be where we're supposed to be," Fangio said, "and if there's a chance to get an interception, we need to take full advantage of it."
Bears interceptions
(the short list)
S Eddie Jackson 2
S Adrian Amos 1
CB Bryce Callahan 1
LB Danny Trevathan 1
CB Kyle Fuller 1
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