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Chicago Bears: Finding The Defensive Flash Point

By Erik Lambert

Sep 11, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Chicago Bears defensive end Akiem Hicks (96) celebrates after Houston Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler (17) is tackled during the second quarter at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 11, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Chicago Bears defensive end Akiem Hicks (96) celebrates after Houston Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler (17) is tackled during the second quarter at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 16, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) celebrates a fumble recovery with Houston Texans cornerback Johnathan Joseph (24) during the second quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Texans beat the Browns 23-7. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 16, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) celebrates a fumble recovery with Houston Texans cornerback Johnathan Joseph (24) during the second quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Texans beat the Browns 23-7. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

HOUSTON TEXANS:  2011

The year began well for the Texans when they managed to haul in a quality free agent from the Cincinnati Bengals in cornerback Johnathan Joseph. He had nine interceptions across his two previous seasons before joining the team. Then things hit overdrive when the team scooped up Wisconsin defensive end J.J. Watt in the draft. With their arrival the team jumped from 29th in points allowed to 4th.

DENVER BRONCOS:  2011

Another defense that got their spark that year. For Denver it of course began with #2 overall pick Von Miller. It was clear to everybody he was a future stud pass rusher. What nobody knew at the time was the premier corner would arrive from an almost polar opposite direction. Chris Harris Jr. arrived as an undrafted free agent from Kansas. Their presence turned the 32nd ranked defense into the 24th in one year and then the 4th by the second.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS:  2011

Sensing a pattern here yet? Can it really be a coincidence that three of the best defenses in the NFL were hatched in the same year? Well the Seattle Seahawks can say they were part of it. Their case is a bit more unique. They had their pass rusher in place with veteran defensive end Chris Clemons. It was the overlooked drafting of cornerback Richard Sherman out of Stanford that soon caught peoples’ attention. The defense went from 25th the year before to 7th that season. Then when Clemons was supplanted by Michael Bennett in 2013, they moved up to 1st overall.

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