The Bears have everyone pulling in the same direction. The problem is the secondary may not be healthy enough to join in.
Ben Johnson changed the culture in Chicago in year one, winning the NFC North after years of misery. New signings Neville Gallimore and Cam Lewis have already bought into the vision.
Both see something different in this building.
Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images
Gallimore, who signed over the off-season, could not hide his enthusiasm.
'The standard here is just different. The culture. The mindset. There is no gray,' he said. 'It's "This is how we play. This is our standard. This is what we're trying to accomplish." So you're not going to come in here and do your own thing.'
Lewis, formerly of the Bills, knows what a winning franchise looks like. He sees the same hunger in Chicago.
'Everybody was fighting for the same goal,' Lewis said. 'To have that camaraderie all the time, even when we're not on the field, makes you want to play for your brother. I think that's what we're trying to do here as well.'
Both are ready for bigger jobs. Gallimore steps into a larger defensive tackle role after the trade of Gervon Dexter , while Lewis covers a secondary that is already short-handed.
That is where the season could fall apart.
Coby Bryant is out for the foreseeable future, and Kyler Gordon has no timetable to return. Even Jaylon Johnson and Tyrique Stevenson have been banged up recently.
NFL.com's Jared Dubin spelled out the danger.
'It's going to be a pretty big mess on the back end in Chicago, and that could undermine the defense,' he wrote.
Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The offense can carry the weight. Caleb Williams set the franchise passing record with 3,942 yards last season, and Johnson has talked about chasing the 2013 Broncos' points record.
One bold projection even has Chicago becoming the first team in NFL history with a 4,000-yard passer, a 1,000-yard rusher and three 1,000-yard receivers.
All of that means nothing if the defence cannot hold.
The Bears open against Carolina on September 13. Nine days out, the culture is in place. The health of the back end is the piece that could decide everything.
Read more:
