Bears, star Montez Sweat working on versatility
The Bears are getting creative in their push for edge-rush oomph.
They plan to have Montez Sweat, their star defensive end, move around the line like at no other point in his career.
“We want flexibility where we can align him,” defensive coordinator Eric Washington said Tuesday after the team’s fourth training camp practice. “We want to utilize his skillset against the offensive line — and not just specific to one position.”
That includes moving him from one side of the line to the other — or from edge rusher to tackle — in specific moments. The latter would be a change for Sweat; he’s played 3,395 career snaps; all but 75 have been with him lined up outside the tackle.
“What we’re doing defensively is different than what he’s done in his career,” Washington said. “There’s some different subtleties and different things. He’s a quick study. He’s paying attention. He’s picking things up. … He’s not hesitant … to ask questions and to say, ‘Listen, I want to get this right. What does this mean to me? How does it fit into the overall construct?’”
Washington has been impressed by Sweat’s ability to adjust in the offseason following a career year. Sweat, who signed a four-year, $98 million deal after being acquired via trade on Halloween, led both the Commanders and Bears in sacks last year.
“I really appreciate the fact that he’s embracing that challenge, and everything he’s doing to make his game as well-rounded as possible,” Washington said.
The Bears are still searching for edge rush help — particularly on passing downs, when they could kick end DeMarcus Walker inside to tackle.
General manager Ryan Poles said last week that the Bears “will always have our eyes on the list of players that we could potentially bring in” at the position. Emmanuel Ogbah, perhaps the biggest free agent name available at the start of camp, signed with the Dolphins on Tuesday.
Yannick Ngakoue, who had four sacks for the Bears last year and remains their most likely free-agent target, also worked out for the Dolphins. The Bears helped him rehab from a broken ankle this offseason.
Only one other current Bears defensive end beside Sweat and Walker boasts more than two career sacks: free-agent addition Jacob Martin, who has 18 in six seasons. Dominique Robinson, Khalid Kareem, fifth-round pick Austin Booker, Carl Jones Jr. and Daniel Hardy have combined for two.
Washington praised Martin’s speed and athleticism.
“He’s an excellent space player,” he said. “But he’s really sturdy at the point of attack. Those types of things you really need to have. I mean, we can anticipate his role being as a three-down defender.”
Not if the Bears can add someone else. Moving Sweat around — even if the Bears have already signed an end by Week 1 — will add the element of surprise.
“Offensive line doesn’t know where to go — and we know exactly where they’re going to go,” nose tackle Andrew Billings said. “He’s going to be on this side? OK, I’ve got the one-on-one. … They’re going to flip the whole call because (Sweat) is going to be somewhere else.”
It pulls attention away from the other defensive linemen.
“it would do a lot,” defensive tackle Gervon Dexter said. “Just because when you have a guy who can play the whole line it will create one on ones.”
Washington likes Sweat’s approach thus far in training camp.
“He’s extremely talented physically,” he said. “That’s a great base and foundation to have. But you have to combine that with some other things.”
Sweat — and his teammates — are working on it.
“You see players like (Sweat) on defense, and that’s something the defense has to grow around,” Billings said. “We’re going to do that.”