Time for Bears to be in a rush
After starting free agency with a flurry of activity in the opening hours, it's debatable whether the Bears have improved a defense that was one of the worst in team history last season.
First impressions?
General manager Phil Emery still has a lot of work to do, which he acknowledged multiple times Wednesday afternoon at Halas Hall when newly signed free agents Lamarr Houston and Ryan Mundy were introduced.
The biggest loss so far has been that of free-agent backup quarterback Josh McCown, who was nothing short of brilliant last season. But the heavy lifting in this year's rebuilding must be done on defense.
Adding Houston at defensive end and cutting Julius Peppers makes the Bears better against the run but might not help the pass rush. Houston joins two Bears tackles from last season who were re-signed before they hit the market: Jeremiah Ratliff and Nate Collins. Holdover nose tackle Stephen Paea remains, but the Bears still need a pass-rush presence.
Peppers could return at a greatly reduced salary, but that's unlikely. Pro Bowl tackle Henry Melton, one of the game's best inside rushers, is getting a lot of attention in the free-agent market, and end/tackle Corey Wootton, a 15-game starter, is also a free agent.
Former Vikings defensive end Jared Allen would bring immediate help in the pass rush, although Emery has vowed to get younger of defense, and Allen will be 32 next month. Still, Allen's has 11 or more sacks in seven straight seasons.
"We're going to look at a number of players," Emery said. "Obviously, Jared is one of those. Some of those players will find teams right away. Then there will be a settling-out period where they're going to look for the right fit. He would certainly have a good fit here and a great opportunity, so we'll see how that comes together."
It may take some time for the Bears to get the bargains they can afford, but they have more time than money.
Mundy presumably replaces Major Wright, the starter for the previous three years. Considering the poor play last season of Wright and free safety Chris Conte, it's hard to imagine anything but an improvement. Mundy comes with a reputation for physical play, especially vs. the run, although he is somewhat suspect in coverage.
Wednesday the Bears brought in some competition for Conte, when they snagged former Packers free safety M.D. Jennings, who started the previous 26 games for the Packers. But the three-year veteran has 1 career interception and 1 recovered fumble. The safety position looks different, but it remains to be seen if it's better.
At cornerback, Charles Tillman could fly south for a reunion with Lovie Smith in Tampa or sign with a contender that needs a big, physical corner to take the final step. But judging by the mega-deals already signed by comparable corners like Aquib Talib, Vontae Davis and Brent Grimes, the Bears cannot afford to replace Tillman in free agency.
"The draft has a lot more depth than what's available in the UFA (unrestricted free-agent) class," Emery said. "If we're going to make a major move, it would be more relative to the draft than it would be in UFA."
At linebacker, the Bears re-signed D.J. Williams in the middle, and he should retake the starting job that he relinquished to rookie Jon Bostic after six games when he landed on injured reserve with a torn chest muscle.
Free agent James Anderson, who started 16 games on the strong side last season, isn't expected to return. But, if Williams stays healthy enough to handle the middle, McClellin/Bostic could upgrade Anderson's former spot.
It's a start.
"We feel very good about the players we signed," Emery said. "But we've got a lot of work to do."