Eddie Goldman’s opt out of the 2020 season created a hole in the middle of the Bears’ defensive line. And while plugging Bilal Nichols into the nose tackle is an outside-of-the-box idea that could work, it’s still quite a gamble.
With that in mind, Chicago could still opt to bring in another body to eat space, clog the line, and make plays at the point of attack in Week 1 against Detroit.
Perhaps one possibility could be Damon “Snacks” Harrison, whose tweet in response to a Bears fan piqued my interest:
That’s a option as well https://t.co/ahpG5pVcGD
— Damon Harrison Sr. (@snacks) September 8, 2020
You have my attention, Mr. Harrison!
The Bears could use a more traditional nose tackle. Fittingly enough, that’s the position Harrison plays. Before leaving Detroit, Harrison chimed in to explain one of his beefs with the team was that they played him at a 3-technique defensive lineman instead of nose tackle. It’s possible that could help explain why Harrison had a down year in Detroit last season and was “hell-bent” on getting out of town.
Earlier in the offseason, I built a case for the Bears rolling the dice on Harrison. And what I wrote in early August remains true a month later. The Bears still have a need and Harrison remains a fit. That the revenge factor could be something that’s in play makes it all the more intriguing.
Don’t get me wrong. Nichols could be really good in this new role, but he is unproven. And because the Bears’ defense figures to do the heavy lifting (again) in 2020, adding a proven player at that position would really help round things out.
After all, who couldn’t use some “Snacks” on a Sunday? Surely, the Bears could…