Let’s take an early look one of the most crucial positions for the 2017 Chicago Bears: outside linebacker.

With Chicago Bears’ preseason game finally upon us at last (!), we at Da Windy City are previewing every position group ahead of the 2017 season. We have already looked at the whole offense (quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends and offensive linemen) and the defensive line. Today, we focus on the Bears’ pass-rushing outside linebackers and what their expectations are heading into the season.

The Makings of Dominance…

Along with the defensive linemen, the outside linebacker group may be the biggest key to transforming the Chicago Bears defense into a top-ten unit. Providing a dominant pass rush will be necessary to slow down high-octane aerial attacks and offer some protection for an average secondary against teams like the Atlanta Falcons and Green Bay Packers.

At least on paper, this linebacker unit has the talent to help the Bears’ defense make the leap from below average to really good.

The line starts behind second-year starter Leonard Floyd, last year’s ninth-overall pick, who just might be the best football player on this football team. His rookie season, though uneven, showed plenty of promise, as he dominated mid-season and finished with seven sacks. As his confidence grew, we saw his combination of speed and agility start to overwhelm offensive tackles.

Now, with a new year on the way, Floyd is looking to add brute force more consistently to his arsenal.

After struggling somewhat against NFL competition due to his slight frame, he made a concerted effort to get bigger for this season. Now, after playing last season in the 230-pound range, Floyd sits at around 250. He’s still long and lanky, but there’s no doubt that his body looks more like that of an NFL linebacker now.

Even more encouraging, though, is that the extra weight hasn’t slowed him down. In fact, Floyd has arguably looked just as fast as, if not faster than, his rookie self.

Not exactly going out on a limb but Leonard Floyd looks like a beast. Health willing, he's going to ascend as fast as he bends edge. #Bears — Arthur Arkush (@ArthurArkush) August 4, 2017

TE trifecta for Leonard Floyd in 1:1 pass rush drills, beat Zach Miller, Daniel Brown and Dion Sims. Stab and swim, good leverage and bend. — dan durkin (@djdurkin) July 29, 2017

That right there sounds like Floyd could start stealing sleep from opposing offensive coordinators this season.

And while Floyd clearly leads this group, the Bears also has excellent depth at outside linebacker on paper. For one, before he missed most of last season, Pernell McPhee was one of the most disruptive pass rushers in the league just two years ago. Willie Young quietly led the team in sacks last year with 7.5 and continues to play well when given his chance. And Lamarr Houston had a huge 2015 after recovering from the first of his ACL injuries, registering eight sacks.

Basically, every one of these four players has shown the potential to dominate within the last three years. So, assuming they all stay on the field, the Bears’ outside linebackers should have a far more prolific year than in 2016.

…If They can Stay Healthy

Of course, all the rosy expectations for the outside linebackers depend on the unit actually staying healthy. As such. it’s already a bad sign that one of their starters, McPhee, might miss a big chunk of games for the second year in a row.

Specifically, though McPhee had no structural damage to his balky right knee, concerns about “irregularities” in his physical landed him on the PUP list. Of course, that could lead to the Bears waiting on him until midseason again just like last year. How much longer will the Bears stay patient with McPhee, despite his excellence when healthy?

Speaking of bad knees: how will Houston return from his second torn ACL in three years?

Somewhat fortunately for him, McPhee’s unavailability opens the door for Houston to make the roster a bit wider. But if he’s counted on for extended snaps to spell Floyd or Young, can he produce? If he can’t, that means more defensive snaps for Sam Acho, who’s more adept at special teams than linebacker. Furthermore, Houston didn’t do much in preseason or his regular season games before his injury. As such, it’s fair to be a bit concerned about what he’ll be now.

Also, we can’t forget about Floyd’s concussion history, which can rear its ugly head at any time. To be fair, Floyd has acknowledged the part that poor tackling form played in his head injuries last year. Aside from bulking up, he also made a concerted effort to improve his fundamentals in that aspect. So from that standpoint, one has optimism that he can avoid similar issues due to bad technique. But avoiding concussions altogether, even on seemingly innocuous plays, will still take some luck.

As with last year, health may be a further limiting factor on an already limited ceiling for the 2017 Chicago Bears. Hopefully, it doesn’t stunt the growth of what could be a significant strength for this defense.

So, What Can We Expect?

With McPhee out for the time being, the success of the Chicago Bears’ outside linebacker unit leans overwhelmingly on Floyd. And he may very well be good enough to bear that burden and more.

Before camp, I predicted the possibility of a 10+ sack season with at least one interception. Based on some of the reports I’ve heard, maybe I underestimated him. I’ve even heard some venture that he could threaten Richard Dent‘s season record of 17.5. Throw in his improving versatility as a cover man, and we could be looking at the next Bears defensive superstar.

Any kind of notable leap would help the unit given McPhee’s uncertain status.

We saw the spikes in production from Floyd when McPhee returned to the lineup last year, and one would hope that they continue to play well together when both are in the lineup. The question remains: how much will they actually share the field? In his absence, Floyd will have to pay it forward, taking pressure off of Young, Houston and Acho so they can make plays.

If they can take advantage of the 1-on-1 matchups they get opposite Floyd, the pass rush could possibly still thrive despite being shorthanded. And if the team gets a healthy McPhee back, the hunt is on. Then, may opposing offenses beware the Chicago Bears.