There is no question Dennis Allen is a strong addition to the Chicago Bears coaching staff. Before he became head coach of the New Orleans Saints, he was regarded as one of the best defensive coordinators in the league. His defense ranked in the top 10 in every category. Imagine what he could accomplish with the talent the Bears have assembled and what they could still add this coming off-season. However, it might be important to remember Allen's ideas on personnel likely don't parallel Matt Eberflus.
Former NFL safety Matt Bowen indicated as much during an appearance on 670 The Score. The ESPN analyst loves Chicago's hire but did suggest some roster tweaks might be coming, particularly in the secondary. The focus is on finding safeties who are interchangeable when it comes to playing coverage or stopping the run. As for the cornerbacks?
They must be capable in man coverage.
“But I really loved the Dennis Allen hire also. I can remember back to when I was doing the matchup show at ESPN, this was 2018, 2019, 2020, when Dennis Allen had one of the best defenses in the NFL. And what he used to do to Tom Brady when Tom Brady was in Tampa Bay (from 2020 to 2022). You’re talking about high-level scheme and high-level player deployment. That’s what you’re going to see out of this defense – a lot of multiple fronts, a lot of stunts, a lot of overload to get home to the quarterback. Your safeties have to be interchangeable in this defense. That’s a position you want to play. That’s a playmaking position in this defense. Because they’ll do a lot of two-high shells, they’ll rotate or spin down late, they’ll cut crossers, they’ll rob in the middle of the field. They’ll put their safeties in position to make plays on the ball. On the outside at the corner position, you want physical, aggressive corners that can play press, that can open and run and that can challenge consistently.
Dennis Allen could be exactly what Tyrique Stevenson hoped for.
Coming out of Miami, most draft experts felt the 2nd round pick was at his best when allowed to play physical press-man coverage. The problem is that Eberflus didn't run that kind of defense. It was often a zone system in the Tampa-2 variation. That didn't serve Stevenson well, who'd shown bad tendencies to suffer busts in coverage when playing that style. If what Bowen says is true, Allen will allow the third-year cornerback to finally play more to his natural ability. Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon have no problems in man coverage as well.
As for the safeties, that is a bit trickier. Kevin Byard fits the interchangeable role Dennis Allen prefers but turns 32 this year. Jaquan Brisker has that capability as well. Unfortunately, he missed most of this season with a concussion. Could Allen urge the Bears to make a change at safety? Maybe not this year. However, it wouldn't be surprising if they lay the groundwork for changes by drafting some depth or insurance.
