Bears to hire Indianapolis Colts DC Matt Eberflus as head coach

The Chicago Bears will hire Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus as their head coach, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Eberflus, 51, also was considered a candidate for the Jacksonville Jaguars' head-coaching vacancy. He will join new general manager Ryan Poles in taking over a Bears team that went 6-11 in 2021 under Matt Nagy and has missed the playoffs in nine of the past 11 seasons.

Eberflus has spent the past four seasons as the Colts' defensive coordinator under coach Frank Reich. His defenses finished in the top 10 in scoring three times, including being tied for ninth in 2021 at 21.5 points per game.

Looks like the bares will be going back to the tough defense mantra they have been known for.

I'm surprised they're not getting an offensive guy to develop their QB. I don't know what the Colts are doing on defense, but their results have seemed pretty good.

Of course, they also have the Jaguars and Texans in their division.

I just tried to research the Colts defensive system, and it seems like it's a simple 4-3 defense, that's extremely heavy on
~ physical play
~ speed
~ zone coverage,
Basically heavy zone coverage deep, to keep the ball in front of you, and use speed and physicality with tackling.

There taking away the deep plays and giving you the short plays, betting you can't keep consistently getting 1st downs that way, as their speed and tackling with get you before the 1st down.

I wondered how that scheme would work against the wide zone offenses (which the Packers run), which sort of focus on getting the ball to those short plays... and looks like they went 2-4 against wide zone teams in 2021, giving up 25 points in each loss, and in their wins, they gave up 30 points to the Jets and 18 to the 49ers.

In 2020 they did better against the wide zone offense, going 4-2 including beating the Packers, but they still have up at least 27 points in two of those wins, including to the Packers.


So I don't think that's the best scheme against the wide zone, but if he's got a physical DL and speed he can do a lot with a little, and ILB Roquan Smith certainly has the speed, and he's good two good edge rushers...

Akim Hicks is a FA (and reportedly wanted out of the Bears) so I'm guessing on defense, DT will be an area they make sure to shore up, as that system just like they did with the Colts, trading a 1st round pick to get a physical dominant DT.

The Bears new GM and head coach have the same last name as the last GM and head coach.

My friends in Indianapolis are baffled by his hiring.

They felt that in big games, their defense was woefully unprepared.
Other than their strong performance against Buffalo, they gave up quite a few points.
I believe the consensus is/was that the Colt defensive personnel is very strong.

Martha Careful;447614My friends in Indianapolis are baffled by his hiring.

They felt that in big games, their defense was woefully unprepared.
Other than their strong performance against Buffalo, they gave up quite a few points.
I believe the consensus is/was that the Colt defensive personnel is very strong.

Just wanted to welcome you to the site!😁

Martha Careful;447614My friends in Indianapolis are baffled by his hiring.

They felt that in big games, their defense was woefully unprepared.
Other than their strong performance against Buffalo, they gave up quite a few points.
I believe the consensus is/was that the Colt defensive personnel is very strong.

Thank you