After the Chicago Bears dismissed Alan Williams during the 2023 season, head coach Matt Eberflus assumed control of the defensive play calling. While that would not change going into 2024, he knew he had to find another defensive coordinator to help shoulder the workload. Rather than simply promote from within, Eberflus decided to seek an opportunity to upgrade the staff. After a few interviews, he pounced on the chance to bring in Eric Washington from Buffalo. Not only was the man well-versed in the Tampa-2 defensive scheme, but he was also a renowned defensive line specialist.
His presence could go a long way in helping the Bears develop some of their young draft picks like Gervon Dexter and Dominique Robinson. In the case of the former, the influence is already being felt. Dexter has six pressures and two sacks through his first two games. Rookie Austin Booker showed loads of promise in the preseason. However, maybe the most encouraging update came in Houston, where another prominent draft choice flashed significantly before an injury forced him from action.
Eric Washington is living up to his reputation.
Zacch Pickens only got to rush the quarterback four times last Sunday. Even so, he still had two pressures. It was a small sample size but a good reminder of how talented the young man is. Washington is good with all defensive line positions. Yet his track record shows that he is often at his best with defensive tackles. Henry Melton in Chicago, Kawann Short in Carolina, and Ed Oliver in Buffalo are three prominent examples. Everybody knows about Dexter. They often forget Pickens was a 3rd round pick. Chicago has high expectations for him.
Sadly, he won’t play this week due to a nagging groin injury. It delays the chance to see how much progress he’s making. Eric Washington and the coaching staff must be careful with him. Groin issues can linger if not dealt with properly. Whenever he does get healthy, the flashes he showed suggest he needs more snaps in the rotation. If he takes the same path of improvement as Dexter has, the Bears’ defensive line could be one of the most dangerous in the league.
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@Rocketretard You can’t wait till the Bears win what, you idiot? You think Matt the moron Eberflus is seriously ever going to go toe-to-toe with the likes of Kyle Shanahan and Jim Harbaugh in the playoffs agnd lead the Bears to the promised land? You absolute meatball dolt, ur the kind of braindead NPC doofus the MCaskeys have built an empire on. And my man TGena is right, this yet another pathetic “article” by the clickbait king Lambert -put it up there with his other Pulitzer winning pieces like how Dominique Robinson is terrifying offenses around the league, how the… Read more »
@Jordo —
I didn’t mean to break your heart.
But if you think I wrote something that isn’t true — go ahead, point it out.
I’ll be waiting. . .
My main thing is hoping the O-line looks something like one. Other teams have less talent and look better. Hopefully it was about the competition and not having the plays down. Seems like the D got their act together. Tory is a weapon for sure.
I’m with you jordo….let’s not bother with the fact the team is on the upswing. Let’s just be negative about everything. Can’t wait till the Bears win again. Then we get ghosted by the twit twty…Gena and self centered sally.
Wait-what?
Gena, all you do is complain. Why the fuck do you spend half your day on this site if all it does is piss you off? Maybe find something else to do. Same with sally.