The Chicago Bears’ cornerbacks unit has a starting position to fill but appears ready to show the league that the unit is among the best in the NFL.
Last season, the Chicago Bears were tough to throw against. They ranked ninth in passing yards allowed and fourth in passing touchdowns allowed. They did that despite not being the turnover machine they were in 2018. After ranking first in interceptions in 2018, they tumbled to 25th in 2019.
Defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano wants to change all that. Last season was his first with Chicago. Despite adjusting to a new coordinator and suffering a spate of injuries, the defense did a remarkable job. They ranked fourth in points allowed and we saw what they did against the pass.
Kyle Fuller had another sparkling season in 2019. He recorded 82 tackles, 12 passes defended, and 3 sacks. He earned himself another Pro Bowl appearance.
After recording 66 tackles, 12 passes defended, 2 forced fumbles, and 3 interceptions in 2018, Prince Amukamara‘s numbers dropped to 53 tackles, 10 passes defended, 1 forced fumble, and no sacks in 2019. This offseason, the Bears decided to part ways with him.
A pleasant surprise was Buster Skrine. When the Bears signed him as a free agent last year, many fans scratched their heads. The Bears felt that playing on an elite defense would bring his game up. He tried to do too much when he played with the New York Jets struggling defense and his play suffered.
The Bears were right and Skrine had a strong season. One of the knocks on him was penalties. He was too grabby and paid the price. In 2019, he committed only one penalty, an offside on special teams in Week 2.
Kevin Toliver did a good job in the rotation. He proved to be a pretty good backup player for the unit.
Changes to the unit
As mentioned before, Amukamara found himself out of Chicago and now plays for the Las Vegas Raiders. That means there is a starting job up for grabs.
Toliver will compete for Amukamara’s old spot. However, the Bears drafted Jaylon Johnson in the second round (50th overall) of this year’s draft. Johnson is an athletic ballhawk who has the speed to keep up with any receiver. Additionally, he is a physical player, something that Chicago Bears fans are used to seeing from their defensive players.
-
Ep 163: Week 13 Studs and Duds
by Full Press Coverage on December 7, 2023 at 8:30 pm
Johnson is surely the future for the Bears’ defense. The question is when that future begins. Without preseason games, can Johnson win the starting job? We’ll see.
Another player in the mix is Artie Burns. Burns is trying to resurrect his career after flaming out with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He’s the favorite to begin the season as the starter but if he does he’ll only be a seat warmer until Johnson shows he’s ready to start.
Stephen Denmark, who spent most of his rookie season on the practice squad, appears to be Fuller’s backup. Secondary coach Deshea Townsend revealed that in a zoom conference with the media recently.
You know, Kyle’s job is to hold off Denmark. It’s Denmark’s job to take Kyle’s job. So we should have a whole room of competitors who think they’re starters. That’s what I believe in, that’s what I was taught.
Denmark has great size at 6-foot-2, 217 pounds. He is a converted wide receiver with 4.4-40 speed. The Bears love that he can keep up with speedy receivers deep down the field. They’re hoping he can step up in season two and help Fuller get some breaks throughout the season.
Latest Bears News
- Chicago Bears: Bold Predictions For Week 14 Game Vs. Detroit Lions
- Chicago Bears: Fields Not Worried About Future With The Team
- Chicago Bears: Stating The Case For Poles To Continue His Rebuild
- Chicago Bears: 5 Players To Watch In Week 14 Matchup Vs Detroit Lions
- Chicago Bears: Predicting How The Rest Of The Season Goes
Unless he has a superb training camp, Toliver looks to be a backup again. That isn’t a bad thing, however. He’ll still see a lot of snaps on the field.
Another player who may contribute as a reserve is the Bears’ fifth-round pick (163rd overall) in this year’s draft. He is another physical player who can make an impact if he shows that he’s ready for the big time he could push for some playing time.
If Johnson’s adjustment to the NFL is quick and the backups do enough to help the starters stay healthy and fresh the entire season then the Chicago Bears have themselves a very tough cornerbacks unit. Also, with a healthy Akiem Hicks together with Khalil Mack and Robert Quinn rushing the quarterback, the cornerbacks will have more opportunities to cause turnovers as the unit did in 2018. Harassed quarterbacks tend to make mistakes and this group can take advantage of those mistakes. Fans should have a fun time watching this cornerbacks unit in 2020.
-
Ep 181: HOF Semifinalist Tiki Barber Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on December 8, 2023 at 3:13 am
Hall of Fame semifinalist and former Giants running back, Tiki Barber, […]
-
Ep 180: Hall of Fame Class Of 2024 Semifinalists Discussionby Full Press Coverage on November 28, 2023 at 7:02 pm
Ira and Clark dissect the 2024 Hall of Fame class semifinalists. Learn […]
-
Ep 179: Hall of Famer Drew Pearson Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on November 22, 2023 at 5:14 pm
Hall of Fame wide receiver Drew Pearson returns to the show to talk to […]
-
Ep 178: Patriots, Eagles, 49ers, and More With Joe Bannerby Full Press Coverage on November 18, 2023 at 3:00 am
Former NFL executive Joe Banner returns to the show to talk with Clark and […]
-
NFL Week 14 Game Previewsby LandryFootball.com on December 9, 2023 at 2:00 pm
Several Week 14 games could be impacted by weather, which has been […]
-
Assessing the NFL Playoff Picture heading into week 14by LandryFootball.com on December 9, 2023 at 12:00 am
The Jaguars had a chance to seize control of the top spot in the AFC, […]
-
Ep 317: Week 14 Fantasy Football Previewby Full Press Coverage on December 7, 2023 at 4:04 am
-
Ep 316: Week 13 Fantasy Football Previewby Full Press Coverage on November 30, 2023 at 4:08 am
-
Ep 315: Week 12 Fantasy Football Previewby Full Press Coverage on November 22, 2023 at 3:46 am
-
Ep 314: Week 11 Fantasy Football Previewby Full Press Coverage on November 15, 2023 at 3:18 am
-
Ep 200: Week 14 @ Giantsby Full Press Coverage on December 8, 2023 at 9:54 pm
In this solo Senra show, your host Kyle Senra talks about the upcoming […]
-
Ep 199: Week 13 Instant Reactionsby Full Press Coverage on December 4, 2023 at 11:32 pm
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
-
Full Press Islanders - 12-8 - Big win over Columbusby Full Press Coverage on December 8, 2023 at 5:00 pm
A different ending as the Blue Jackets gave us all a scare but the Isles […]
-
Full Press Wild - 12-8 - Recapping the Wild shutout loss to the Canucks.by Full Press Coverage on December 8, 2023 at 3:00 pm
Loss, Vancouver, shutout, win streak broken. Learn more about your ad […]
-
Full Press Kraken - 12-8 - home loss, New Jersey, Evans debutby Full Press Coverage on December 8, 2023 at 3:00 pm
Recapping the home loss to the Devils. Learn more about your ad choices. […]
-
Full Press Hurricanes - 12-8 - The Hurricanes Lose the Shutout, the 2-0 Lead in the Third Period, & Ultimately, the Game.by Full Press Coverage on December 8, 2023 at 2:15 pm
Calgary dug themselves a two-goal deficit in the 1st period, but answered […]
-
Full Press Blackhawks - 12-8 - The Blackhawks finally get in the win columnby Full Press Coverage on December 8, 2023 at 2:00 pm
Recapping the Chicago Blackhawks’ win against the Anaheim Ducks, Connor […]
-
Renegades Of Puck Ep 832by Charlie Saunier on December 8, 2023 at 9:11 am
Ep 832 The Renegades Of Puck Recap 5-1 Vs Bolts Preview Leafs & Talk […]
-
12/8 - Patriots Outlast Steelers, Week 14 Picks and Previewby Full Press Coverage on December 9, 2023 at 5:57 am
Ian and John react to the Patriots win over the Steelers, Belichick's […]
-
12/5 - MNF Reaction, Endless QB Debatesby Full Press Coverage on December 5, 2023 at 11:28 am
Ian and John discuss the Bengals OT victory over the Jags and more […]
-
12/4 - Chiefs/Packers, Patriots, and Week 13 Reactionsby Full Press Coverage on December 4, 2023 at 5:26 pm
Ian and John discuss the Packers win over the Chiefs, the Patriots […]
-
12/1 - NFL MVP, Week 13 Picksby Full Press Coverage on December 3, 2023 at 2:18 am
Ian and John discuss the ever-changing MVP race and give their predictions […]
-
11/28 - MNF Reaction, State Of The NFLby Full Press Coverage on November 30, 2023 at 3:49 am
Ian and John react to Monday Night Football and discuss more of the state […]
-
11/27 - Thanksgiving Recap; Jalen Hurts, NFL News and Notesby Full Press Coverage on November 27, 2023 at 10:43 pm
Ian and John recap Thanksgiving weekend, discuss Jalen Hurts' moment, and […]
-
Ep 2: Top 5 Super Bowls Of All Timeby Full Press Coverage on February 7, 2023 at 3:26 pm
Ian Glendon and John Sapochetti give their Top 5 Super Bowls of all time. […]
-
Ep 1: The Top 10 Quarterbacks Of All Timeby Full Press Coverage on January 12, 2023 at 8:42 pm
On the first episode of 'According To Who?', host Ian Glendon and John […]
-
Ep 194: Kevin Nash Part One - Big Daddy Coolby Full Press Coverage on December 9, 2023 at 3:00 pm
-
Pacers vs Lakersby Broken Controller Media on December 9, 2023 at 11:00 am
-
12/8 - Patriots Outlast Steelers, Week 14 Picks and Previewby Full Press Coverage on December 9, 2023 at 5:57 am
-
Ep 200: Week 14 @ Giantsby Full Press Coverage on December 8, 2023 at 9:54 pm
-
Full Press MMA - 12-8 - The New Irish Prime Minister?by Full Press Coverage on December 8, 2023 at 5:55 pm
-
Rockets at Nuggets - Mavericks at Trail Blazers - Clippers at Jazzby Broken Controller Media on December 8, 2023 at 4:00 pm
-
Cavaliers at Heat - Bulls at Spurs - Kings at Sunsby Broken Controller Media on December 8, 2023 at 3:15 pm
-
Knicks at Celtics - Warriors at Thunder - Timberwolves at Grizzliesby Broken Controller Media on December 8, 2023 at 2:15 pm
-
Hawks at 76ers - Pistons at Magic - Raptors at Hornets - Wizards at Netsby Broken Controller Media on December 8, 2023 at 1:40 pm
-
CM Punk and Randy Orton Return To WWE as Momentum Swingsby Full Press Coverage on December 7, 2023 at 1:00 pm
Jim Biringer is back once again joined by Teddy Repantis as they discuss […]
-
AEW Full Gear 2023 Review and Roman Reigns Inflated Title Streakby Full Press Coverage on November 22, 2023 at 1:00 pm
Jim Biringer is back once again as he breaks down AEW Full Gear 2023. What […]
-
Ep 194: Kevin Nash Part One - Big Daddy Coolby Full Press Coverage on December 9, 2023 at 3:00 pm
Kevin Nash had quite a journey to the NWO. In part one of our two-part […]