Chicago Bears: 5 offseason needs in 2020

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - DECEMBER 22: Khalil Mack #52 of the Chicago Bears rushes against Eric Fisher #72 of the Kansas City Chiefs at Soldier Field on December 22, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. The Chiefs defeated the Bears 26-3. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

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GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN – DECEMBER 15: Khalil Mack #52 and Akiem Hicks #96 of the Chicago Bears during the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on December 15, 2019 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /

2. Fortify the run defense

In defensive wizard’s Vic Fangio’s final season in the Windy City, the Bears allowed the fewest points in the league while only two clubs allowed less total yards per game. The 2018 NFC North champions also featured the NFL’s top run defense, surrendering just 80.0 yards per game on the ground.

Such was not the case this past year under new coordinator Chuck Pagano. For any number of reasons, including the absence of Akiem Hicks for the vast majority of the season, this unit just wasn’t as staunch when it came to shutting down a team’s rushing attack. The previous year, Fangio’s group limited 12 of its 16 regular-season foes below the century mark on the ground.

This past season, after limiting each of their first four foes under 100 yards rushing, the Bears surrendered an average of 115.5 yards per game on the ground in their final dozen outings – 10 of those games played minus Hicks. All told, Chicago limited only three of its final dozen opponents under 100 yards on the ground and it cost them dearly too many times.

And keep in mind that inside linebacker Danny Trevathan, who recently re-signed with the club, missed the season’s final seven contests. So was it a matter of just injuries that made this unit less formidable against the run or does the team need to beef up its front seven when it comes to this aspect?

Next: No. 1

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