The Chicago Bears currently have veterans Jared Allen, Lamarr Houston and Willie Young competing to be one of the team's starters at outside linebacker this season, but third-year man David Bass is on the verge of earning a significant role in Chicago's new 3-4 defense.The Oakland Raiders selected Bass in the seventh round of the 2013 draft, but he was waived by the team at the end of the preseason. The Bears claimed him off waivers prior to the start of the 2013 season, and he has appeared in 20 games over the course of the last two years for Chicago.He was a solid contributor during his rookie season and came away with his first career interception against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 11. He struggled to earn playing time behind Allen, Houston and Young last season, and he spent part of the year on the practice squad until Houston suffered a torn ACL against the New England Patriots in Week 8.Like Allen, Houston and Young, Bass is making the move to outside linebacker, and head coach John Fox talked about Bass' progress during the team's minicamp in June."I think hes worked very hard," Fox said about Bass, per Kevin Fishbain of ChicagoFootball.com. "[Outside linebackers coach] Clint Hurtt and [defensive coordinator] Vic [Fangio] have done a good job working with those guys and teaching them. I think sometimes new is better, and hes taken to it pretty well.Even though playing time could be hard to come by this season, with guys like Pernell McPhee, Allen, Houston and Young ahead of him on the depth chart, Bass has a chance to find a role this season if he can improve in a couple of areas.Pass CoverageThe biggest adjustment for all of Chicago's new outside linebackers in 2015 will be having to drop into pass coverage.Bass has felt comfortable with the transition to outside linebacker this offseason, but he admitted he still needs to improve against the pass."Coverage aspect of it," Bass said when asked what has been the toughest part of his transition to outside linebacker. "In the run game, I'm still setting the edges, coming inside, playing whatever my gap is.Just getting used to knowing where Im at, who Ive got when Im back there in coverage.Bass is a fluid athlete who moves well in space, but he will have to prove he can handle matching up with a speedy running back or tight end in the passing game. He showed off his good hands when he picked off Joe Flacco back in 2013, but he needs to work on his technique in order to be successful against the pass.If Bass wants to earn a spot in Chicago's rotation at the position, he will have to prove he can read and react to passing plays, and he will also have to prove he can flip his hips and work down the field against a running back or tight end.Bass is not the most athletic outside linebacker on the roster, but if he can improve his technique and instincts, he could become a key part of Fangio's scheme because of his versatility.Rushing the Passer Out of Two-Point StanceProving he can drop back in coverage will be crucial for Bass if he wants to solidify a role in Fangio's defense, but in the end, it will come down to his ability to get after the quarterback.Bass has spent his entire career rushing the quarterback from a three-point stance, but the Bears will ask him to rush the passer from a two-point stance in the team's 3-4 defense this year. Even though he is learning to play without a hand on the ground, he doesn't think the move will change the way he gets after the quarterback."It's the same. I'm just in a two-point stance," Bass said. "We're still getting off. We're still trying to get to the quarterback. So same goalwe just alter our stance a little bit."Bass has been impressive at times during training camp while playing outside linebacker, and he recorded a sack in practice Monday morning, according to Adam Hoge of WGN Radio:Even though Bass said playing out of a two-point stance is similar to playing out of a three-point stance, he did mention he feels more explosive playing out of a three-point stance."I like it because I get to see everything," Bass said about playing out of a two-point stance. "However, I feel like I get more burst if I am in a three-point stance."Playing out of a three-point stance allows pass-rushers to gain leverage and explode through opposing offensive linemen, while playing out of a two-point stance puts a bigger emphasis on technique and fundamentals.Though the team will ask the young outside linebacker to rush primarily out of a two-point stance this season, he did admit he could get some work out of a three-point stance in certain sub-packages."Depending on if it's nickel or not, I still have the ability to get down in a three-point stance," Bass said.Fangio's defense is classified as a 3-4, but he is not afraid to mix up his looks up front. During Fangio's time in San Francisco, he often lined up outside linebackers on the line of scrimmage in three-point stances.If Bass proves he is better at rushing the passer out of a three-point stance, Fangio will do his best to put Bass in a position to succeed this season.Chicago's outside linebacker corps is a crowded group, but if Bass can utilize his athleticism in the passing game and improve as a pass-rusher out of a two-point stance, he has a chance to find a role in Chicago's defense this season.All quotes obtained firsthand by the author unless otherwise noted.Statistical information courtesy ofNFL.com.MattEurichis a Chicago Bears featured columnist for Bleacher Report and a member of the Pro Football Writers of America.Follow @MattEurich.
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