Following an offseason of change that saw the departures of key veterans, the Chicago Bears have one of the youngest rosters in the NFL. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing, especially for Matt Eberflus’ defense, which has historically succeeded with young players in place.
Eberflus told reporters last week at mandatory minicamp that he’s not afraid to play younger players, which is the antithesis of former head coach Matt Nagy.
“We’re not afraid to put young guys in there and let them go and let them play,” Eberflus said.
That mindset has to do with Eberflus’ system, which relies on fundamentals and techniques that puts young players in a position to thrive.
“If you look back at our system, we have played young players fast, and they have played very well,” Eberflus said. “That’s what the system does. It’s a system where we rely on techniques and fundamentals and the coach/player relationship, and that’s important to us. It’s a partnership, and we’ve been able to do that.”
The Bears have some key veterans in place, including linebacker Roquan Smith, cornerback Jaylon Johnson and safety Eddie Jackson. But they also have plenty of young talent on the roster that’s going to be key to the success of the defense. That includes top draft selections cornerback Kyler Gordon and safety Jaquan Brisker.
