Dennis Allen likes what he sees from Bears defense at camp

Ariana Pensy · Correspondent · 1 day ago

CHICAGO - Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen has a lot to be pleased about with the start of training camp.

His defense has been doing well so far with multiple interceptions, including from linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, who is expected to play a key role in the defense this season.

“I anticipate him being an exceptional playmaker for us. He’s got size, he’s got range, he’s got speed, a lot of the things that we’re going to look for in terms of it,” Allen said. “It’s hard to throw over him. He’s got a lot of length there in the middle of the field. So, I’m excited to see what he can do and obviously, that was a good start. But, we got a long way to go.”

Unfortunately, Chicago will be missing a paramount piece of their defense for some time. Pro Bowl cornerback Jaylon Johnson is on the Non-Football Injury (NFI) list with a leg injury. He is unclear when he will return.

However, Johnson’s injury is not something that concerns Allen, as he knows Johnson is an intense player who is working to return to the team as soon as he is able.

“I know Jaylon’s going to do everything he can to get himself back and get himself ready as quickly as possible. He’s a consummate professional. So, I feel good about him being ready when his body’s ready to go. So, from that standpoint, not a ton of concern there and I think really for us, our focus really has to be on the guys that we have out here right now,” Allen said. “We’re going to work on coaching the hell out of them and getting those guys better and sometimes you have to face some adversity and how do you overcome that? And we’ll get a good opportunity to see who wants to step up in his absence. So, that’s where we’re at on that.”

One bright side with Johnson being out is that it spices up the competition between Tyrique Stevenson and Terell Smith for the No. 2 cornerback role since both these players could be seeing reps at the No. 1 cornerback slot.

Both players have a similar build as they are both six feet and within a few pounds of each other.

However, his unforgettable disaster on the Hail Mary against the Washington Commanders, it seems clear Smith most likely has the edge as far as maturity. Stevenson’s production also sharply declined from his rookie year in 2023 to last season. Both these factors could give Smith the edge in training camp.

“(Smith)’s got some of the characteristics that we’re looking for in our corners,” Allen said. “He’s got size, he’s got speed, he’s got length and those are things that I think are important to play that position for us and our style of defense and so, we’re going to let these guys go out and compete, really at every single position, and then let the chips fall where they may.”

Allen is a seasoned defensive coordinator who has been around a lot of different teams. Throughout his years in the NFL, he has found that the best teams have been the ones led by the players.

The addition of defensive lineman Grady Jarrett in the offseason shows their dedication to having a player who can lead by example and be a strong presence.

“I think the best teams that I’ve ever been on have been player-driven, player-led and so, I think that has to happen naturally. I don’t think that’s anything that you try to force to happen. I do think we have some guys on our team that have some leadership qualities and it’s kind of our job as coaches to try to foster that a little bit,” Allen said. “Give them some freedom to make some checks, make some adjustments, see how they handle it. But, I feel good about the type of guys that we have in our building. I think we have a lot of guys that love football, a lot of guys that are willing to work, a lot of guys are willing to sacrifice for each other and for the team and I think those are things that we’re going to need to count on throughout the course of the season.”