Chicago Bears close to finding solution at safety positions

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- The Chicago Bears threw numbers at their perennial problem of finding legitimate NFL safeties and believe they see evidence of a solution at a position the franchise was not solid for nearly decade.

Free-agent acquisition Quintin Demps and fourth-round draft pick Eddie Jackson from Alabama are making immediate impacts while joining holdovers Adrian Amos, Chris Prosinski and Harold Jones-Quartey. Second-year defensive backs Deon Bush, Deiondre Hall and DeAndre Houston-Carson are also in competition after starting out last year as cornerbacks or playing both spots.

"I feel that the potential to be better is there, both with the additions of Demps and Jackson along with the growth of Bush, Amos, Quartey, Prosinski, DHC (Carson) - all those guys I think can grow," defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said. "So I feel better about it."

Amos started all but two games his first two seasons, and knows it's going to be difficult hanging onto a starting spot.

"There's so many good players," Amos said. "It's probably better that this year there's a lot more competition. That just shows we'll have a lot of depth coming forward this year."

Quarterbacks generally found it difficult to beat safeties deep in scrimmage, particularly Jackson and Demps. Jackson displayed a nose for the ball both in deep coverage and in the red zone.

Jackson watched at OTAs and minicamp while healing from a broken leg suffered at Alabama, but his rapid improvement is obvious since joining training camp practices full time in the first week.

"He has good ball skills, that was a check in his corner there from the get-go," Fangio said. "Obviously (he's) a guy that catches punts, so he's got good ball skills and he does have that. He's got good range. He's athletic.

"He played some corner in college so we've seen some of that athletic ability. We'll just have to see him tackle. We can't afford to have anyone out there that can't tackle, so tackling will be a determinant factor for him."

Mindful of this concern since before the draft, Jackson said he wanted to address it. He did so at Saturday's (Aug. 5) live scrimmage at Soldier Field with a tackle for loss.

"That was something that a lot of people were second-guessing," Jackson said. "I've just got to come here, be real physical and that's something I can say I've really been working day-in and day-out at in practice, especially since pads came on. Everyone's been taking notice."

Jackson came up with several interceptions in 7-on-7 or non-contact scrimmage with the full squad. It's often said playing in Nick Saban's Alabama scheme makes players more NFL ready.

"When guys leave 'Bama, especially on the defensive side of the ball, when they go to the NFL they adjust very well," Jackson said. "I think I agree with that, because we run a tough scheme at Alabama.

"There's a lot of formation changes, shifts and things like that."

Jackson appreciates the help he gets from Demps, who led all NFL safeties in interceptions last year (6) while with Houston.

"He's a great leader for us," Jackson said. "He tells us every day, 'Weve got to get better. Let's tackle. Let's wrap up. When you come down, let's make sure you take the right angle. Or if you've got someone on the sideline, use the sideline.'

"Just things like that. And especially us being a young group of DBs, an older guy like that, you just gotta listen."

At Alabama, Jackson said there were Green Bay safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and the Giants' Landon Collins providing such guidance.

"It's the NFL, it's a grown man's game," Jackson said. "So having someone like that, or an older guy who's been in the league a long time to show you the ropes, it really does (help)."

A pairing of Demps and Jackson might be ideal, since Demps played strong safety last year during his big interception season. He played both positions in the past at times, as well.

But head coach John Fox must decide if the Bears want to risk playing a rookie as the last line of defense at free safety, or possibly keep Adrian Amos in the starting lineup.

The Bears played eight each of the last two seasons, a franchise record low for 16 games. Amos made no interceptions and forced one fumble during two seasons as a starter.

"Being a young player, he's probably not as consistent as you'd want," Fox said. "But he's been a good football player for us, started two years and we'll see where the competition falls."

The shortage of turnovers forced by the Bears defense last year - a league-low 11 - led to turning back the clock.

"I think taking away the ball is just a mindset," cornerback Prince Amukamara said.

Defensive backs are imitating former Bears cornerback Charles "Peanut" Tillman, and often try punching the ball loose at what seems to be the end of a play.

"I mean, the most famous one here is the Peanut Punch," Amukamara said. "So guys have been starting to bring that back. We've been getting the receivers and the running backs a little mad, but they know that we're just trying to get better at that.

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Safety Deiondre Hall was a rookie project at cornerback last year and now in his second year and the same at safety.

"He's learning the safety position," Fangio said. "It's new for him. He didn't do it at all last year. He did it a little bit in the spring. Coming off his (ankle) injury he wasn't allowed to practice a whole lot. So he's behind in that process, but he does have some potential back there as a safety."

Fangio likes Hall's height (6-2), arm length and range.

"As a safety, you've got to be a smooth operator; you can't have mistakes," Fangio said. "Learned back in pee-wee football, somebody's dad told you, 'you're the last line of defense.' Well, it's true. You can't have mistakes back there, and we'll see how he tackles."

Tackling is what Fangio will be looking at with Hall.

"Tackling as a safety is much different than tackling as a corner," Fangio said. "As a corner, you're coming from outside in; safety it's coming right at you a lot of times, so much different tackling. We'll see how he stands up when that happens."