The Chicago Bears have made a splash among free agents by adding defenseman Larry Ogunjobi to the team, who is signing a three-year, $40.5 million contract.
With a 4-3 defensive move, the Bears blocked a dominant 3 in Ogunjobi, who was instrumental in the Bengals’ Super Bowl last year.
Of course, this isn’t the big offensive move that many fans were expecting on the first day of free will. But the addition of Ogunjobi reinforces an important need for a defensive line and indicates that Chicago’s defense can be strong even after losing several key players in the starting lineup.
Here are four reasons why Bears fans should be thrilled with the addition of Ogunjobi to the defense:
1 Ogunjobi – high-quality 3-technique
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When the Bears move into a 4-3 defense, it is important to use the correct 3 technique to take the inside of the defensive line. The fact that Chicago went all-in on Ogunjobi says a lot about how they see him as the answer to the 3-tech position. And he certainly fits the bill that Eberflux is looking for in defense.
“You have to do a few things as a 3 technique,” said Eberfluss, explaining what he was looking for in a 3 technique at the Recon Syndicate. “No. 1, you have to win the one-on-one match, okay? And when they run away from you, you should be able to stay in gap B. It’s that simple.”
That’s what the Bears get with Ogunjobi.
2 Ogunjobi destroys the interior
AP Photo/Jeff Dean
Back at the Intelligence Syndicate, Eberfluss explained what he was looking for in 3 techniques back in the Syndicate, and it all came down to one word.
“It’s devastating,” he said. “You have to be destructive.”
Well, one quick look at the record and the Bears definitely have the same thing with Ogunjobi. He’s impressive as a hitter, but he’s equally dominant against a quarterback.
3 Ogunjobi ends his career year
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Ogunjobi had a breakout year with the Bengals last season when he hit 49 tackles, 12 tackles to lose, 7.0 sacks, 16 QBs and 40 total pressing. He was instrumental in the Cincinnati Super Bowl, although his season was cut short with a foot injury in the first round of the postseason. Now Eberflux, in his prime, gets a quality 3-technique for his new defense.
4 Ogunjobi is still young
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Ogunjobi will be 28 years old at the start of the 2022 season, so he’s still young enough to get another deal with the Bears in the future. He replaced Akim Hicks, 32, who had recently struggled with injuries but remained dominant on the pitch. Perhaps the addition of Ogunjobi will have the same impact as the arrival of Hicks in 2016.