Here comes the 3-4

[emperorjones]

The Chicago Bears announced Tuesday they have reached an agreement with Clint Hurtt to become the club’s outside linebackers coach.

Hurtt served the 2014 season on former head coach Marc Trestman’s staff as the team’s defensive line coach.

Under Hurtt’s direction in 2014, the Bears increased their sacks from 31 in 2013 to 39 with 35 of the club’s sacks coming from the defensive line.

Chicago’s designation of Hurtt as outside linebackers coach signifies the Bears could be moving to a 3-4 front under new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, whose background is rooted in the scheme.

I guess we'll see in free agency. If we start adding LBs...

[RedBulls23]

I imagine Lamarr Houston will be moving to OLB at times as well. Hopefully he can stay healthy, because I think he will have a good year.

[heir_jordan22]

Lamar Houston will be a fulltime DE. That's what he played in Oakland and that's what he does best. He should get back up to around 300 lbs and he'll be good

[patryk7754]

Man i really hope we try to trade for Bortland and go after Justin Houston

[TNBT]

So here we are two months later, and are we any closer to knowing how our guys are going to line up in this coming season in this new formation? Like I know McClellin, Bostic, Greene, etc will stay at LB, but what about Allen, Houston, Young, Jenkins, McDonald, Washington, Ferguson, Sutton, McPhee, etc line up? Who will stay on the line and who will move to LB? And who will be first string, second string, etc at all of these new positions?

Have we heard anything even remotely definitive from the new coaching staff?

[heir_jordan22]

I think all the LBs from next year will be inside LBs. All the DEs will move to OLB except Houston and possibly Washington. I think all of our DTs will move to DE except possibly Ratliff and Ferguson. I think a lot of unexpected cuts will take place.

Sutton, Allen, and McClellin could be the surprise cuts.

[heir_jordan22]

I think Houston and McDonald will be the starters at DE. The NT will be someone who isn't on the roster yet. McPhee will start at LOLB, like the staff has said, but I think in passing situations he will slide to DE and either McDonald or Houston will slide in to NT, putting all three of them on the line and a situational pass rusher at OLB.

[heir_jordan22]

I don't think our starting NT or ROLB are on the roster. Like I said above I think McPhee will drop to DE in passing situations and a situational guy will take his spot at OLB. Allen, McClellin, Young, Bass and Jones will all be fighting for that opportunity (unless one of them wins a starting ILB spot).

[emperorjones]

Fox has stated that Houston will be at OLB, not DE. And today he says this:

Brad Biggs
‏@BradBiggs
John Fox says #Bears will start Shea McClellin at inside LB but he will be worked outside as well.

So if Shea is Inside, then we pretty much have our ILBs set for 2015:

Bostic, Shea, Mason, Jones & Greene.

[heir_jordan22]

Fox has stated that Houston will be at OLB, not DE. And today he says this:

Brad Biggs
‏@BradBiggs
John Fox says #Bears will start Shea McClellin at inside LB but he will be worked outside as well.

So if Shea is Inside, then we pretty much have our ILBs set for 2015:

Bostic, Shea, Mason, Jones & Greene.

I saw that a while ago but I don't see it shaking out that way by the start of the regular season. Fox has said repeatedly that no final decisions will be made til they see the players on the grass.

Houston got the big contract because of his performance as a 310 pound 3-4 DE and was forced to lose weight and switch to 4-3 DE. We know that didn't work out. And now he's expected to take his hand off the ground?

I just don't see it

[heir_jordan22]

If they do force him to play LB I think they are putting him in a position to be expendable because there are other players on the roster who will fill that role more effectively at a much lower price tag.

[emperorjones]

I actually don't think Houston will start.

I wouldn't be surprised if Jones moved outside as a starter as our speed rusher OLB now that Fox says Shea is going to be inside.

[City of Trees]

McClellan at ILB doesnt sound very appealing to me. He doesn't scream someone who can get off a block with strength. I thought he would fit better at OLB

[emperorjones]

I think when the new staff comes in and reviews your film and says you'll play ILB and then goes out and signs an ILB to start at your position - they've given you a headsup to put your house on the market and start packing your bags.

[heir_jordan22]

I think when the new staff comes in and reviews your film and says you'll play ILB and then goes out and signs an ILB to start at your position - they've given you a headsup to put your house on the market and start packing your bags.

I agree. Everyone knew he was a cut candidate anyway and that's just another sign

[clancyphile]

Is anyone else here not sold on the 3-4 alignment as a base defense? I'm sorry, I just don't see it working soon enough - there's gotta be a lot of roster turnover needed, and there seems to be too much dead cap space.

Maybe Da Bears should've stuck to a 4-3 variation... the 46 or something.

[RedBulls23]

Is anyone else here not sold on the 3-4 alignment as a base defense? I'm sorry, I just don't see it working soon enough - there's gotta be a lot of roster turnover needed, and there seems to be too much dead cap space.

Maybe Da Bears should've stuck to a 4-3 variation... the 46 or something.

No...the new coaching staff needs to implement their system. All the FA signings they have had are people that fit into the 3-4 anyways. And then Pace will draft accordingly as well.

[BR0D1E86]

Is anyone else here not sold on the 3-4 alignment as a base defense? I'm sorry, I just don't see it working soon enough - there's gotta be a lot of roster turnover needed, and there seems to be too much dead cap space.

Maybe Da Bears should've stuck to a 4-3 variation... the 46 or something.

If the Bears had the personnel to be better than a bottom 2 or 3 defense in the 4-3 I'd agree with you. They stunk. I really don't care either way what system they run. It just needs to be run better than the last few seasons.

[City of Trees]

Looks more like they will show more of a hybrid D this season as they transition to a base 3-4