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Opportunity for some Chicago Bears to step up

According to Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, Sam Acho will move into the vacant starting outside linebacker spot vacated by Jared Allen, who was traded to the Carolina Panthers on Monday.

“(Acho's) had the most experience playing in this type of defense,” Fangio said of his base 3-4 scheme. “So he's picked it up fast and is very comfortable in what we are doing and is very knowledgeable and does a solid job when he's out there.”

The 6-foot-3, 257-pound Acho had 7 sacks as a rookie in 2011 with Arizona after the Cardinals drafted him in the fourth round (103rd overall) out of Texas, but he's had just 6 since.

Allen's trade creates more playing time, not only for the 26-year-old Acho but for other younger players who could be part of the Bears' future.

Willie Young (29) and Lamarr Houston (27) also are expected to get more snaps. Young was inactive last week, and Houston played just four snaps in the season opener and 18 in Week 2.

“The trading of Jared Allen opens the door a little bit,” Bears coach John Fox said. “We had a pretty good player, in my estimation, that we had in street clothes Sunday in Willie Young.

“They're making the transition to outside linebacker in the 3-4; we need to take a look at them, and we will.”

Not only are Young and Houston transitioning to outside linebacker from defensive end, they're both coming back from season-ending surgeries in 2014, an Achilles for Young and a knee for Houston.

Acho has battled back from a bout of mononucleosis that sidelined him for the last two preseason games and the regular-season opener. But now he's ready for a bigger role on a team that has to battle back from an 0-3 start.

“The great thing about this adversity is, we're in it to win it,” Acho said. “We're not here to play around. We're here to win, and I think you've seen that by some of the moves that have been made upstairs.”

No one has come out and said it, but it's easy to read between the lines and see that linebacker Jon Bostic (traded to New England) and safety Brock Vereen (waived) were lacking in some of the qualities — among them, toughness and speed — that Fox and general manager Ryan Pace have prioritized as they endeavor to change the culture at Halas Hall.

“Everyone in (the locker room) understands we're a performance-based business,” Fox said. “And any move we make, contrary to what might be out there, we believe betters our football team. I'll leave it at that. They understand that — and I know I do.”

The two newest Bears — safety Chris Prosinski and linebacker LaRoy Reynolds — bring an ability to make plays on special teams, which has been lacking.

“One great thing that coach Fox said is that the guys that are in this locker room, the 53 guys on this team, have a chance to change things,” Acho said. “We're the ones who are in between the white lines.

“That really motivated me and motivated the guys on this team to understand that every time we get on the field we have the opportunity to change the outcome.”

The next opportunity will be Sunday at Soldier Field against the Oakland Raiders, who have won two straight after an opening-day defeat.

• Follow Bob's Bears and NFL reports on Twitter @BobLeGere.

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