Chicago Bears safety Jaquan Brisker appears to want to play down by the line of scrimmage more. There, his physicality could perhaps make a more consistent and, perhaps, have an even greater impact. So much so that he shared a tip for Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen.
There is no shortage of respect from the Bears locker room for this coaching staff.
Still, there are some things that each player does well. But it can take time before the entire operation is working smoothly.
Jaquan Brisker Gets Honest in Bears Defense Amid Change
Bears Not Blitzing as Expected
Brisker initially shared a post on X from a fan that said, “They gotta let @JaquanBrisker get up on that LOS & play in that backfield. DA gotta take them chains off 9,” a reference to Allen sending Brisker to blitz – or at least present the threat – more often. The safety eventually undid the share.
Asked for his thoughts on his current usage, Brisker offered a response suggesting the share was more about being unleashed than a complaint.
“I feel like we’re probably just – we’re all getting to know each other, and things like that, and just getting to feel for the game, which is fine,” Brisker told Clocker Sports after practice on Wednesday. “I feel like when the time comes, everybody will have their share, everybody will be able to eat.”
Nick McCloud, filling in for Kyler Gordon at nickelback, leads the Bears with 2 blitzes.
One of the most highly anticipated staples of Allen’s defense is his willingness to send blitzes from different angles. That is supposed to include the secondary. But the Bears have the NFL’s lowest blitz rate entering Week 3, per Pro Football Reference.
Part of that is the Bears’ enduring multiple injuries at cornerback. Still, Brisker has blitzed once, which, to be clear, is more than he had through two weeks in either of his first two seasons.
It is just one less than he had by Week 3 in 2024.
Bears Using Jaquan Brisker Different From Early Career
Blitzing is not the only aspect in which the Bears would benefit from using Brisker closer to the line of scrimmage. It could also help with his run support, which the Bears could use, since they are allowing the 27th in rushing yards over the first two weeks.
According to Pro Football Focus, 52.1% of Brisker’s defensive snaps have come at free (or deep) safety this season.
That would be a career-high were it not for his 54.2% mark in a five-game sample size in 2024.
Brisker has been in the box for 33% of his snaps on defense. That is a career low for the former second-round draft pick (2022). It is an even smaller sample size than his 2024 campaign. So, Brisker’s mention of learning about each other is fitting.
Various Factors at Play for Jaquan Brisker
Brisker said he was happy to be back hitting before the season. Lining up near the line of scrimmage would put him in a better position to do so. However, the Bears could also be wary of leaving veteran Kevin Byard, whose coverage skills have waned, as the last line of defense.
However, Brisker is in the final year of his rookie contract and facing an uncertain future thanks largely to his injury history. Surely, he prefers playing to the best of his abilities.
Again, according to PFF, that is closer to the line of scrimmage.