Dennis Allen's scheme might be the perfect match for a Bears young defensive back to get his career on track ahead of a critical season
Heading into the 2025 season, the Chicago Bears are sitting in a much better spot when it comes to how the offense and defense should look under new head coach Ben Johnson and new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen.Offensively, the unit plans to be all about precision and focusing on the details to get the results. […]
Heading into the 2025 season, the Chicago Bears are sitting in a much better spot when it comes to how the offense and defense should look under new head coach Ben Johnson and new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen.
Offensively, the unit plans to be all about precision and focusing on the details to get the results. Defensively, the unit's mindset is all about being aggressive and physical.
Allen has already previously mentioned that he wants to bring the aggressive-nature back to the Chicago Bears defense, similar to how they used to look years ago.
Having some strong and physical defensive linemen and punishing linebackers is a start. But, that mindset extends to the defensive backs too.
Safety Jaquan Brisker, who already plays with a physical-edge, aligns with that mindset as does cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon, who each love to set the tone early in games as well.
Another defensive back who fits well in this style of defense is third-year cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, someone Johnson talked about specifically on Wednesday.
"What we love about him is that he's got some length and he's not afraid, which I think those are two things that you really need to play particularly the style of corner that we're looking for," Johnson said about Stevenson. "Guys that will come up, they'll challenge, they'll get hands on. Press man-to-man is something that we're going to do a healthy amount of and we feel like he fits that mold really well."
Playing closer to the line of scrimmage and pressing wide receivers will be a stark change compared to the conservative zone coverages the unit ran under former head coach Matt Eberflus over the last few years.
This new style is something that fits the players better and allows them to tap more into that aggressor mindset.
"His defense allows you to go out there and build your confidence up week after week playing man-on-man on any receiver," Stevenson explained to reporters. "Building that confidence up allows you to make the plays or take the certain risks that you want to take."
On the flip side, it also creates more personal accountability. In a press-man scheme, if you're off your mark or slip up, you're going to get beat by the man in front of you and it's going to be noticeable on the tape.
"I enjoy it," Stevenson added. "It gives me room to improve on himself because if I get beat that means I did something in my technique that created a flaw to allow you to win."
When it comes to technique, defensive pass game coordinator and defensive backs coach Al Harris has been the mastermind harping on all the little details, and his words hold more weight given the fact he's been there and done that as a former player.
"Just some of his little pointers with how you line up and how you look at the stance and look at the splits. Just pretty much understanding the system more than the player," Stevenson said. "He's teaching all of that… I know he's going to be on me everyday and all day. And I appreciate that because if I allow him to teach me, he can take me to where I want to go."
All of these changes will lead to major results, especially for Stevenson going into a critical third season. After a rough going in 2024 filled with many mistakes and multiple learning opportunities, Stevenson is a player looking to prove himself now as someone who can be a reliable defender for this team going forward.
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They’re going to be fun to watch.
