Where Inexperience Can Weigh Down Bears Defense

An interesting dynamic exists at defensive tackle for the Bears.

It started in May once work began for veterans alongside rookies.

Defensive tackle Justin Jones saw three players drafted who play his position or even could play nose tackle, and despite knowing he is in the second year of a two-year contract and they could eventually replace him, he says he's all in at advancing their abilities.

School is in session with Jones bringing along second-round pick Gervon Dexter Jr., third-rounder Zacch Pickens and seventh-rounder Travis Bell.

"I was excited, you know, especially the fact that Zacch Pickens kind of reminds me of myself when I got drafted," said Jones, also a third-round pick. "I came in, I was like 312 (pounds), third-round pick, coming out of the Carolinas of course.

"So explosive guy, strong hands, still kind of some things you gotta get better at, but he's going to be a good player in this league. And I think the same thing for Gervon. I tell him all the time: Soak this stuff in because you've got a room with vets who are willing to teach you and willing to help you and willing to pull you along and get you where you want to be."

It doesn't always work this way.

"I've heard stories where vets don't want to help the young guys because it's always a 'Oh he's gonna take my job' and 'Oh he's gonna come do this.' "The way I was raised in this league, it's never like that. It's each one teach one."

Or two or three in this case.

When Jones sees Dexter, he sees someone unique, with size, strength and speed ability.

"I haven't seen anything like him in a very long time and I don't want to put anything in a box with him but the closest person I can see him as is like a leaner Linval Joseph -- just the fact that he's a big, strong guy who can move.

"If you've ever seen him run in a straight line, and just like run, I'm pretty sure he's probably beating a lot of people on our team."

Dexter's 40 time was 4.88 seconds, and Pickens was nearly (4.89) as fast.

As naturally talented as Jones sees Dexter, it's apparent the Bears believe he has a long way to go before he'll be threatening to take any veteran's job.

"He's doing a lot of pilates," coach Matt Eberflus said. "He does a lot of those things. He's working on his lower flexibility. We think that's important for all the big guys to do.

"He's really learning how to take off. At Florida, he was more of a two-gap guy. So he was more square, moving with the offensive linemen not moving off the movement and the ball in take off position."

The most basic things of Football 101 are being approached with Dexter.

"We elongated his stance a little bit to help him do that," Eberflus said. "We've moved him around a little bit.

"He's playing nose, he's playing three (technique). We've moved him around some there. What I like most about him is his hustle. Man he hustles. He's got his track shoes on and he is running out there, which is great to see from a guy who is 308, 6-foot-5. It's good to see."

Considering the Bears ranked last in sacks and next to last in stopping the run, the more players who help teach the rookies the better.

And it needs to be a rapid education at defensive tackle.

The Starters

Justin Jones: No. 93, the 6-3, 309-pound defensive tackle, played the three technique in a 4-3 base scheme that uses a one-gap approach for the first time last year and made a team-high 12 tackles for loss of his 52 tackles. He had three sacks, tying for most by a defensive lineman. Eberflus said Jones needs to improve at the scheme still, but overall was happy with the sixth-year veteran. The view from Pro Football Focus of Jones' season was a bit different. They graded him tied for 111th out of 127 defensive tackles, nose tackles or 3/4 ends they assessed.

Andrew Billings: No. 97, a 6-1, 311-pound nose tackle who started his career with three seasons in Cincinnati, a year in Cleveland and then last year played for the Raiders. With Las Vegas, Billings earned high PFF marks as the 16th best defensive lineman for 2022. He finished the season with 39 tackles and a sack and largely played the role as a roadblock in Patrick Graham's defense, much like Dalvin Tomlinson had done in that coordinator's scheme with the Giants. Billings, who has played at 328 pounds in other systems, had opted out his first year in Cleveland in 2020, then suffered a season-ending lower leg injury and played only six games, before he went on to the Raiders. He had also missed his rookie year with a meniscus injury in 2016. The nose position was a real Bears problem last year as former tackles Armon Watts (102nd), Mike Pennel (111th) and Angelo Blackson (122nd) were among the bottom of the 127 interior defensive linemen PFF graded.

The Backups

Gervon Dexter Jr.: No. 98, the 6-6, 312-pound rookie defensive tackle was the 53rd player chosen in Round 2 and second Bears pick this year out of Florida. In three seasons for the GHators, Dexter made five sacks, 10 1/2 tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries and two pass deflections to go with 125 tackles. He played in a two-gap system that didn't allow him to attack off the snap into a gap as freely, although he did some of this when Dan Millen was head coach in 2020-21 before the Gators changed coaches.

Zacch Pickens: No. 96, a 6-4, 300-pound rookie third-round tackle chosen 71st overall in the draft by the Bears, their fourth pick overall in 2023 out of South Carolina. Playing in a system where he was allowed to attack, Pickens had 7 1/2 sacks and 11 1/2 tackles for loss in four seasons for the Gamecocks. He had 131 total tackles, four pass breakups and two fumble recoveries.

Travis Bell: No. 73, a 6-1, 310-pound rookie nose tackle from Kennesaw State drafted in Round 7 at 218th overall. He has played both nose and three technique. He made 124 tackles, 24 1/2 for loss, with 11 sacks, a forced fumble and two recoveries at the Division I FCS school. He was the first player ever drafted from this school.

Andrew Brown: No. 92, a 6-3, 296-pound fifth-round draft pick of the Cincinnati Bengals in 2019. He hasn't made an NFL impact and bounce from the Bengals to the Texans, Cardinals practice squad and Chargers before signing with the Bears last year at the end of November. He got into five games and made a tackle. In four seasons he has been in 28 NFL games with one start as a Bengals rookie. He has 32 career tackles, one sack and three QB hits.

Donovan Jeter: No. 67, a 6-3, 325-pound former Washington Commanders undrafted free agent out of Michigan. He played in one game last year for Washington and had one tackle for 18 defensive plays and seven special teams plays. He had been on the Commanders' practice squad and then was released in October before coming to the Bears during the offseason.

Bears 2023 Defensive Tackle Prospectus

The group of interior players has been completely gutted since last year with the exception of their one bigger free agent acquisition, Jones. Billings could make a huge difference in their run defense, which, in turn, can impact every aspect of how they play because stopping the run puts them in pass rush mode. Jones could make a jump in his play with the benefit of a nose tackle who can keep centers from providing a double team on the three technique. Both Dexter and Pickens could benefit the line as the season progresses and they gain some experience, particularly Dexter because of his size/speed combination. Overall the athleticism and size is better than last year but the inexperience both in scheme and in the NFL with the rookies could make it a few games before the dynamic begins to have an effect. What also needs to be remembered is one, if not both, starting defensive ends Rasheem Green and DeMarcus Walker, will sometimes move down into the tackle position in pass rush situations. So defensive tackles won't need to play as many reps as with some teams. Either way by mid-season, if not October, a real impact will be noticed.