Shortly after the Chicago Bears traded away linebacker Jared Allen, fellow linebacker Willie Young requested to be traded from the team, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Like Allen, Young prefers to play defensive end in the 4-3 as opposed to outside linebacker in a 3-4, according to the report.
Willie Young reportedly asked to be traded after Bears moved Jared Allen
After Jared Allen was moved to a team with a better scheme fit, Willie Young reportedly asked the Bears for a trade as well.
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When the Bears sent Allen to the Carolina Panthers for a sixth-round pick, the fact that he wasn't a great fit as an outside linebacker was immediately noted by analysts. When Jon Bostic was traded away later that same day, it was again recognized that he wasn't a great fit for Vic Fangio's defensive scheme. Now you have Young, who would clearly have benefited from Allen's trade as far as playing time is concerned, wanting out for the same reasons.
Young put up a career-high 10 sacks playing defensive end in Chicago’s 4-3 defense a season ago. A seventh-round pick in 2010, Young played in 15 games last season and seemed primed to take on a larger role this year until the new coaching staff was brought in.
In addition to the two trades that have already been made, there were also reports that the Bears would be willing to move running back Matt Forte if the price is right. That doesn't mean he's necessarily on the trade block and the team is actively shopping him, but with Chicago sitting at 1-3 on the season in a tough division, one has to wonder if the Bears will start looking to the future and pick up some more draft picks going forward.
As far as Young is concerned, Florio reports that the Bears are not officially having a fire sale, but they’ll “listen to anyone who makes an offer.” Young really does seem like a better fit in a 4-3, and if a team that runs that scheme feels the same way, they may be willing to offer up some value for the Bears as they are completely without answers at this stage of the season.
Chicago is coming off its first win of the season, a 22-20 defeat of the Oakland Raiders, but it’s unlikely they’ll experience a resurgence going forward.
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