Could the Bears' 2021 season come down to rediscovering the pass rush?
Most agree that irrespective of how far the Bears offense comes this season they absolutely must have a return to 2018 form from the defense if they are to have any hopes of contending this year.
With the addition of a rookie 38-year old defensive coordinator with just eight years NFL experience, the loss of All-Pro cornerback Kyle Fuller, the loss of his game by All-Pro safety Eddie Jackson and 31-year old Pro Bowl defensive tackle Akiem Hicks coming off back-to-back injury laden seasons some would argue the odds are not in their favor.
But ... if Khalil Mack, Roquan Smith, Robert Quinn, Hicks, Jackson, Eddie Goldman, Danny Trevathan, Tashaun Gipson and Jaylon Johnson all play to their ceilings this group could actually be better than the '18 group.
What beyond good health might that take?
The two most important contributions will have to come from Desai and a rediscovered, rejuvenated pass rush.
After working as a defensive quality control coach in 2018 alongside Desai and then assistant outside linebackers coach and pass rush analyst the last two seasons, the Bears have made Bill Shuey the outside linebackers coach this year, a key cog in improving the pass rush.
Asked why he thinks Shuey can handle the top spot on defense Shuey says, "You know my first year here, Sean and I actually shared an office. So, I got to learn early on how detailed of a guy, and how efficient of a guy Sean is.
"He's a smart guy. Obviously Sean's background with Vic, with Chuck, and then prior to that, he's had some opportunities to be around some really great coaches."
Desai's top qualification for the job may have been his mentor, Vic Fangio who orchestrated that '18 'D' and lead it to 3rd in the NFL in sacks with 50, just two behind the Steelers and Chiefs league best 52.
Chuck Pagano's defenses notched just 32 (24th) and 35 (17th) sacks respectively in 2019 and 2020 as the Bears dropped from 3rd in total defense in 2018 to 8th in 2019 and 11th last season.
Obviously Robert Quinn has to be better this year but he wasn't here in 2018.
While Mack has had a few less sacks ('18 - 12½ and 13½ TFL's, '19 - 8½ and 13, '20 - 9 and 15) it doesn't come close to explaining the overall loss of pass rush.
Hicks was actually second on the team in '18 with 7½ sacks but contributed just 1 in 2019 and 3½ last year and Smith was third with 5 sacks but has just 6 since.
Bilal Nichols with 5 and Mario Edwards Jr, with 4 were the only other Bears with more than 2½ sacks last year.
Shuey isn't worried about motivating Mack. "He's an interesting guy because he's so intrinsically motivated to be the very best.
"So for me, it's to be a support for that, and to your point, to challenge him, he sets the stamp - the crazy thing is those guys that are great and elite, they typically are going to be their own toughest critic."
The other edge(s) Desai could have are the addition of Jeremiah Attaochu and development of Trevis Gipson.
Shuey was frank talking about prized pupil Gipson saying "I think Trevis is on the right path, but obviously he has a ways to go and he will tell you that.
"He's working hard and he's learning along the way, so the key is if you make a mistake, just don't repeat the mistake."
But Attaochu arrives ready to go with 20½ career sacks including 3½ and 5 the last two seasons for Fangio in Denver and as Desai said, "He's had some success.
"He adds a veteran savviness to the room, to get him inculcated into our culture and bring him along, and he's got some history in terms of some of the things that we do and some experience there, so that's going to help him."
The good news Bears fans is talent isn't the issue, there is more than enough here for the defense to be special.
Health, age, playing to their peaks and whether or not the boss knows what to do with that talent will dictate how far this group can carry this team.
• Twitter: @Hub_Arkush