Free agency didn’t start well for the Bears this past March. A number of the top free agents they reportedly had targeted, including all the highest rated cornerbacks signed with other teams. Stephon Gilmore went to New England. A.J. Bouye headed down to Jacksonville and Logan Ryan signed on with Tennessee. It looked like Chicago was about to strike out in the worst way. Thankfully the Prince Amukamara signing happened shortly after.
Though he wasn’t considered at the same level as those other names, the veteran former first round pick had played well in the past. His brief run in Jacksonville the year before had been solid. About to turn 28-years old, he was entering the prime of his career. If nothing else he would give the Bears much-needed stability on the back end.
What many people may not know is the team got some extra assistance in the deal from an unlikely source.
Prince Amukamara signing was aided by other NFL coaches
Speaking with Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times, Amukamara made a rather interesting revelation. As it turns out what sold him on the deal with Chicago was the assurance from other coaches he knew that he’d love playing for Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. That much of what he did scheme-wise was a great fit for what the cornerback preferred to do on the field. It was just a natural fit.
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“Former coaches told him how much he’d like playing for the Bears’ defensive coordinator. Like that of former Giants coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, Fangio’s scheme allows Amukamara to watch the quarterback’s eyes and more aggressively pursue a pass.
“You get to have vision, you get to see the ball and you get to make plays on the ball,” he said. “You get to challenge the receivers. I would say Vic is similar to Spagnuolo … just because they don’t like to wait for the offense to attack them.
“They like to attack the offense. They’re sending blitzes from all sorts of directions and are not making the pocket comfortable for the quarterback.”
Finding the right fit is key
Amukamara played just one season for Spagnuolo in 2015. However, it almost ended up being the best of his career. Through 11 games he’d picked up 63 tackles, an interception, a forced fumble and 10 passes defended. He was on pace for career highs in all of those categories when he unfortunately got hurt and missed the rest of the season. Pro Football Focus ranked him as the 17th best cornerback that year despite missing five games.
Fangio does have a reputation for getting the most out of defensive backs. Including turning ones who might be on the downside of their career into top performers. A perfect example was Carlos Rogers. In 2011, the veteran former first round pick (sound familiar?) had spent six rather unremarkable years with the Washington Redskins. Much of that time marred by injury. Sound familiar? He chose to sign with the San Francisco 49ers that year in hopes for a fresh start.
Under Fangio’s direction, he produced the best season of his career with six interceptions and a Pro Bowl nod at the age of 30. Keep in mind Rogers had eight interceptions total in his career prior to that season. Knowing that makes this little venture by the Bears with Amukamara seem a little more enticing by the minute.
