The most persistent concern of the Chicago Bears 2018 offseason remains so even after free agency and the draft. Most football fans understand basic realities of the game. After the obvious choice of quarterback, the second most important position on the field is the edge rusher spot. If you can’t pass the ball, you at least have to have men in place who can make sure the other team can’t either. Many feel the Bears didn’t adequately address this problem. Veteran Sam Acho begs to differ.
The concerns were already there before the offseason began. Yet they really went to the next level when three of their top contributors over the past few years was gone from the roster in the space of days. Pernell McPhee and Willie Young were cut. Lamarr Houston became a free agent. This left Leonard Floyd as the only man on the roster with any credible experience and he’s coming off a season-ending knee injury.
This was likely a reason Acho was re-signed. However, it did little to assuage fears about the positions’ situation. On paper, it seemed like the Bears lacked both frontline talent and critical depth. Given how injuries struck last season, this felt like playing with fire. Acho though doesn’t seem the least bit concerned.
Sam Acho insists the Bears got a steal in signing Aaron Lynch
The most notable addition to the pass rush after its purge was former San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Aaron Lynch. Drafted in the fifth round back in 2014, he’d spent a year under Vic Fangio and collected six sacks as a rookie. After Fangio left though he steadily declined. Over the past two years, he has just 2.5 sacks. That doesn’t seem to discourage Acho though. He thinks the Bears got a potential stud.
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“I think Aaron Lynch is a pretty awesome pass-rushing ‘specialist,’ to be honest. I remember watching him when I was in Arizona, he was playing in San Francisco, and I was thinking, ‘Man, this dude is a beast.’ He reminded me of Aldon Smith, with the raw athleticism. So I’m happy they brought him in, Isaiah [Irving] is growing, Leonard is a beast.
And I’m pretty good. And the young guys can contribute. But Aaron is pretty awesome.”
The intriguing part about Lynch aside from his talent is the fact he just turned 25-years old. He’s still quite young and already has four years of experience. He proved he could be productive as a reserve pass rusher under Fangio as a rookie. What could happen if he ends up starting across from Floyd? This could explain, to a degree, why the Bears haven’t been more active adding to the position.
