The Chicago Bears defense isn’t perfect. It has certain flaws, but most believe its strength lies in the secondary. Cornerback Jaylon Johnson is one of the best in the NFL. Kyler Gordon has emerged as a top nickel corner as well. Kevin Byard remains one of the more dependable safeties in the league. Jaquan Brisker is a playmaker when healthy. It is a talented and diverse group. The arrival of new secondary coach Al Harris only figures to make them better. He is widely regarded as one of the best in the league.
Many people want to know whether this group can get better. Is there something missing? That is what Jeff Hughes of Da Bears Blog asked a friend inside the league. Initially, the answer was simple: Give them a good pass rush, which hasn’t been the case too often over the past two years. Then things took an interesting turn.
Tell me something you would like to add to the secondary. “A rare question from you that I like. The easy answers are health and pass rush, but I would like to see the whole group play with more aggression. Get up on the line of scrimmage and hit some people. Don’t let guys run free on the shallow cross. They have good players at the safety spot, but **do they have a punisher? Do they have someone the receivers fear? I don’t think so.**“
Having talent is one thing. Inspiring fear is another. All great defenses have at least one player of that type. The Bears should know this better than anybody.
The Chicago Bears may have that guy. There is one issue.
He can’t stay healthy. Brisker is a tough, physical safety who plays with the aggressive mentality that good enforcers have. Unfortunately, his body hasn’t been able to hold up to that playing style. He missed all but five games last year with a concussion and multiple games in 2022 and 2023 as well. If the same trend holds this year, what the executive said will be accurate. Every great Chicago Bears defense had that violent presence on the back end. It was Richie Petitbon in the 1960s, Gary Fencik in the 1980s, Mike Brown in the 2000s, and Adrian Amos in the 2010s. If Brisker is up to filling that role, it’s a safe assumption the Bears will go looking for it next year after he hits free agency.
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