McManis understands the nuances of kick coverage like releasing off the line of scrimmage, pursuing the ball carrier under control and taking proper angles. Is his role vital enough to change the outcome of games? Probably not. But it is important, given how the Bears’ identity is anchored on defense and how the offense has failed to score more than 16 points in three out of four games. Matt Nagy has acknowledged the importance of field position particularly with the way his team is playing.