The accolades continue to pour in for safety Adrian Amos, whose resurgence has lifted the Chicago Bears’ defense to new heights.
Pro Football Focus placed Amos on its midseason All-Pro Team, in part because of how he’s stepped up to face (and conquer) the challenges set in front of him this season. Sam Monson explains that even though opposing quarterbacks have made Amos one of the most oft-targeted safeties (11.5 snaps in coverage per target is a lot), Amos has allowed just 0.21 yards per coverage snap – which stands as the 11th-lowest among safeties.
Amos was a two-year starter before losing his spot to rookie Eddie Jackson earlier this year, only to return to the lineup in place of Quintin Demps who went on injured reserve with a broken arm. The third-year Penn State product has always been a sure-handed tackler, but his improvement in the passing game has made the Bears’ defense one of the first half’s most pleasant surprises.
One explanation for the improved secondary play (which isn’t limited to Amos) is that the front seven has taken major strides in the pass rush department, thus, leading to a more opportunistic secondary. Leading the charge is second year edge rusher Leonard Floyd, who CBS Chicago’s Chris Emma writes is adapting and improving. Floyd recorded a sack in each of his last two games and in four of his last five. Brandon Staley, who is in his first year as Bears outside linebackers coach, sees Floyd as a player with a lot of talent who is just starting to scratch the surface of his potential and will continue to do so as he gains experience. “The more experiences that he has, the more aggressive that he’s going to be and the more he’s going to be able to counter those double-teams and some of those designer protection plans for him,” Staley told Emma.
JJ Stankevitz of NBC Sports Chicago writes about a play that underscores how great the Bears’ defense has been this season. Stankevitz details how the Bears stopped Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton on a 4th-and-short by stopping the QB Power play, which often leads to a first down. Naturally, Leonard Floyd was in on the play … as were Eddie Goldman, Akiem Hicks, Danny Trevathan, and Adrian Amos. The improvement of the Bears defense has come from players taking steps forward and producing when called upon. This particular play highlights something GM Ryan Pace has done well since taking over in Chicago, and that’s scoop up high-end defensive talent via the draft (Goldman, Floyd, Amos) and in free agency (Hicks, Trevathan). That this defense is playing well because those players are leading the way is no coincidence.
(Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
Perhaps there is something to be said about Floyd’s week-to-week development as he learns the ropes in the NFL in just his second year. Since starting the season with three consecutive weeks without a sack, Floyd has five since the team’s Week 5 contest against the Green Bay Packers. The Bears were facing a decimated line then, and could be in a similar position again because Green Bay is without starting right tackle Bryan Bulaga, who suffered a torn ACL in the Packers’ loss to the Detroit Lions on Monday Night Football.
Bulaga isn’t the only high-profile Packers player who will miss Sunday’s game. Michael Cohen of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports tight end Martellus Bennett is out too, meaning there will be no Bennett reunion at Soldier Field this weekend. That obviously hurts the Packers’ passing game, but also the offense’s ability to help the line protect the quarterback by chipping with tight ends.
As we know all too well from watching a John Fox coached team pick up three relatively ugly victories, there is more than one way to skin a cat win football games. It’s now up to Packers Head Coach Mike McCarthy to conjure up a winning game plan without a quarterback. “We had an injury to Aaron Rodgers and nobody’s stepped up,” McCarthy told reporters in Green Bay. “No group has stepped up yet. We’ve had two games that were very similar in nature.
Luis C. Medina, who you can find on Twitter at lcm1986, has been covering the Chicago Bears at Bleacher Nation since 2017. Since then, he has written about 3 head coaches, 5 play-callers, and 11 starting quarterbacks. Previously, Luis wrote about the Cubs and MLB at BN (2015-16) and worked in the Chicago Tribune sports department (2011-16). He also co-hosted a Cubs postgame show, Outside the Ivy, in 2019.
The latest from NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero is QB-heavy. And if you're a fan of the Chicago Bears, you will want the section dedicated to Caleb Williams. There is all sorts of good stuff about his play style, background,...
I'll say this about Taylor Swift: Surprise dropping a double album (with the second installment dropping at 1 a.m. CT) prepared me for how to best piece together Bears content at an unholy hour next week while simultaneously trying to...
I'm starting to wonder if maybe University of Texas star Byron Murphy II fits the bill as a Chicago Bears draft target.. In his latest at NBC Sports Chicago, Bears insider Josh Schrock wonders if Chicago's football team could be...
The idea of the Chicago Bears drafting a butt-kicking offensive tackle is something that continues to pop up. Perhaps Notre Dame's Joe Alt is something on the team's radar. NFL Network draft guru Daniel Jeremiah opines Alt could be someone...
The winds of change are howling through Halas Hall. After years (decades) of searching, the Chicago Bears appear set to finally land their franchise quarterback, Caleb Williams, with the top overall pick. This signals a new era for the Bears, but the...
The Chicago Cubs finished a winning road trip with a series win against the defending NL champs. Taylor Swift has a new album that drops at 11 p.m. CT. And the Chicago Bears will usher in a new quarterback era...
Only one week remains until the biggest event of the NFL offseason — the 2024 NFL Draft. Caleb Williams is going first overall unless something totally unexpected happens. But outside of that, there are still so many questions left to...
I had a great visit with my therapist today. Between that and an afternoon cold brew, I've got enough in me to power through an evening Bears post. Let's dig into some recent mock drafts that are giving off a...
For all the discussion about the big three wide receivers who could be on the Chicago Bears radar on NFL Draft weekend, a different high-profile pass-catcher is apparently garnering some interest from the team. All-American tight end Brock Bowers had...
The Chicago Bears continue building out their organizational staff around President Kevin Warren. And their latest addition arrives to Halas Hall with three Super Bowl rings in tow. The team announced the hiring of Ted Crews, who has spent the...
In Game 1 of the opening round of the NBA Playoffs, the New York Knicks will go up against the Philadelphia 76ers.In their last time out, the Knicks won on Sunday 120-119 against the Bulls in overtime. The 76ers' last...
The New York Mets (11-8) and Harrison Bader, coming off a four-hit game, are underdogs (+157) on the moneyline and will look to upset the Los Angeles Dodgers (12-10) on Saturday at 4:05 PM ET on WPIX.Los Angeles' Gavin Stone...
The Arizona Diamondbacks (10-11) and Ketel Marte (four hits last time out) are favored (-122) on the moneyline for their matchup with the San Francisco Giants (9-12) on Saturday at 4:05 PM ET on ARID.Arizona's Zac Gallen and San Francisco's...
The Houston Astros (7-14) are favorites (-181) on the moneyline when they take on the Washington Nationals (8-11) Saturday at 4:05 PM ET, live on SCHN.Houston's Ronel Blanco and Washington's Trevor Williams have been named the starters for this contest.Astros...
The Pittsburgh Pirates (11-9) stumble into Saturday's matchup with the Boston Red Sox (11-10) looking to break a four-game losing streak. The contest starts at 4:05 PM ET on SportsNet PT with the Pirates listed as -121 favorites to right...
The Houston Astros (7-14) visit the Washington Nationals (8-11) for an away game at Nationals Park on Saturday. First pitch is at 4:05 PM ET.The Astros will give the nod to Ronel Blanco (2-0, 0.86 ERA), who is eyeing win...
The San Francisco Giants (9-12) play at home against the Arizona Diamondbacks (10-11) at Oracle Park. The game is set to begin at 4:05 PM ET on Saturday.The Diamondbacks will give the ball to Zac Gallen (3-0, 1.64 ERA), who...
The New York Mets (11-8) visit the Los Angeles Dodgers (12-10) on Saturday at 4:05 PM ET and look to build on a five-game winning streak.The Dodgers will give the ball to Gavin Stone (1-1, 3.68 ERA), who is eyeing...
The Pittsburgh Pirates (11-9) look to end a stretch of four losses as they match up against the Boston Red Sox (11-10) on Saturday at 4:05 PM ET.The Pirates will call on Mitch Keller (2-1) versus the Red Sox and...
The Chicago Cubs (12-7) hope to avoid an upset as -205 favorites when they take on Bryan De La Cruz (with homers in two straight contests) and the Miami Marlins (4-16). First pitch is at 2:20 PM ET Saturday, live...
NEWSLETTER
