The Bears defensive line got rewarded in two ways this week and now defensive end DeMarcus Walker would like to see one more thing.
"Let us go," Walker said. "Let us rush. Let us go."
In Walker's view, the Bears have earned the right to rush the passer because they've stopped the run and the statistics say this. The pay day given Thursday to one of their best run stuffers, nose tackle Andrew Billings says it, too.
Now, with Montez Sweat on board as an edge rusher, it's time to go after the quarterback.
"That's definitely one of the things to do—get to the quarterback and get them more affected and just you know, get to winning, too though, I mean most importantly. I can have 10 sacks in a game and lose the game and I'd still be pissed. You know, just getting some wins and turn this thing around."
The comment about getting to the passer is interesting because it suggests the Bears coaches might have been a bit too concerned about stopping the run and held back the pass rushers. Considering the defense finished 31st against the run last year, who could blame them?
Being ranked third in the league against the run at 78.7 yards per game can be deceiving. It can mean opponents see a weaker pass defense and attack that repeatedly instead of worrying about trying to run. The Bears are poor now against the pass, ranking 30th overall and last in sacks. But their run defense's 3.26 yards per carry allowed is best in the NFL.
So it's not a case where their run defense has flaws that aren't getting exposed while teams pass on them. They've simply been that good against the run.
It's been five straight games allowing below 100 yards rushing and none of the last four opponents went over 54 yards rushing.
"That's definitely our demeanor every single week, is making sure that first of all you got to stop the run and you got to earn the right to rush the passer," Walker said. "Shout out to Andrew Billings, man. Seriously. Shout out to that guy."
Billings' contract extension for a reported two more years and $8 million, $6 million guaranteed, shows how much emphasis the Bears place on stopping the run.
Another big contract should be coming for Sweat, who now is in a rotation at defensive end with Yannick Ngakoue, Walker and Rasheem Green.
The trade to get him here didn't bother the Bears defensive linemen already in place.
"Just competition, know what I'm saying?" Walker said. "Can't have enough weapons, especially at the D-line position. So, I mean, I'm definitely happy to have him come. Good talent. Been a fan of his. It's good to keep going on and add another talent to our roster."
Billings said his first reaction to another defensive lineman being added was to question it.
"It was just like, OK, first I've got to go watch him," Billings said. "So I started watching his film and I was like, 'OK, I see why they did it.' My reaction was good job on that."
Sweat's combine run in the 40-yard dash made him a celebrity of sorts with defensive linemen everywhere.
"Freak athlete," Walker said. "What'd he run, a 4.4 in the combine? I mean that, I'll never forget that."
Bears offensive coordinator Luke Getsy was offensive coordinator at Mississippi State when Sweat was in his last year of college football at that school in 2018. He recalled how Sweat's speed was evident every day at practices when he didn't line up to run with defensive linemen. Instead, he ran with a "faster crowd."
"Like, the conditioning stuff, he would be with the DBs and keeping up with those guys," Getsy said. "He's always been an impressive guy and more importantly a great teammate.
"The cool part about him is I remember him as a college player being a great pass rusher. I think what he's done with his game since he's been in the NFL, he's become a great run defender as well. Having that dual threat, playing the game in all phases is really where he's developed."
So now they have a pass rusher who can play the run well, a defensive front that proved it could stop the run.
It's time to prove something else. It's time to rush the passer.
"That's the biggest challenge to the coaches, just let us go," Walker said. "Let us go and do our thing."
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