The Bears finally got the kind of Devin Bush game they were waiting on in Week 9.
In Chicago’s ugly 27-24 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the linebacker delivered the clearest sign yet that Ryan Poles’ three-year, $30 million investment is starting to pay off. Bush had been mostly quiet early in the season, but that changed in a big way against Tampa Bay.
Bush was everywhere. He finished with a team-high nine tackles, two pass deflections and one tackle for loss, and Pro Football Focus credited him with a team-high three run stops while allowing four catches for 36 yards. It was the kind of all-around outing that showed off more than just one part of his game.
His speed stood out immediately. On a third-and-goal in the second quarter, Bush shot through the interior of the offensive line and dropped Kenneth Gainwell for a one-yard loss, a play that forced Tampa Bay to settle for a field goal. He also delivered a heavy hit on receiver Emeka Egbuka on a one-yard gain on a receiver run.
The Buccaneers had a hard time accounting for him because they had other problems to handle, too, including Jeffery Simmons, Montez Sweat and Austin Booker. Still, Bush kept showing up around the ball and making plays all over the field.
The performance fit a recent upward trend. Bush had already logged a sack in the Bears’ Week 8 win over the Seattle Seahawks, and the Buccaneers game gave him a season-high in tackles.
PFF graded Bush at 62.8 overall, which ranked 37th out of 76 eligible linebackers. His coverage grade came in at 69.4, good for 20th, while his run-defense grade was 52.3, ranking 63rd, and his pass-rush grade was 63.3, which placed 42nd.
A few things are helping him settle in. He looks more comfortable in the defense and appears to have a better feel for where the gaps are when it’s time to attack the football.
The talent around him is helping, too. Simmons has drawn enough attention to open things up for Bush, giving him more room to work and more chances to make plays.
Even with teams targeting him throughout the year, Bush’s coverage work has started to come along. His speed gives him a chance to stay with tight ends and running backs in passing situations, and that showed up again against Tampa Bay.
Now the Bears head into their bye week, and Bush will get a chance to rest after a bruising first half of the season. If this version of him sticks, Chicago has reason to believe the linebacker is hitting his stride at exactly the right time.
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