WhoDat!656

Sedrick Ellis was a Bear for just a matter of hours on Wednesday but the veteran defensive tackle already knew the 2013 schedule for his new team. One game, at least.

“I think you know which game I’m excited about,” Ellis said, laughing.

The “which game” is the Oct. 6 game in Soldier Field against the New Orleans Saints, the team that made Ellis the No. 7-overall pick of the 2008 draft. Ellis had a few good years with the Saints before changes in the coaching staff produced changes in the defensive schemes, which were accelerating this year as New Orleans switches to a 3-4 scheme.

That was enough for Ellis, who had visits with the Detroit Lions and New England Patriots (two 4-3 teams) but opted for a one-year deal in Chicago with the Bears’ one-gap attacking scheme.

“That was part of the reason I picked Chicago,” Ellis said. “Mainly it was because of the way I know their defensive line plays. They allow their guys to do what defensive linemen are supposed to do, and that’s rush the passer, gets sacks and put pressure on the quarterback while playing the run on the way. I haven’t had the chance to do that the last couple of years.”

The plan is to play Ellis, 6-1, 307 pounds, at the “three-technique,” although Ellis has played and is willing to work at nose tackle. Henry Melton is the starting three-technique; Stephen Paea is the No. 1 at nose tackle. Ellis projects to be their backup in a three-tackle rotation.

“He’s veteran player, he’s got versatility,” said defensive coordinator Mel Tucker. “We feel like he can give us some stoutness inside, and also give us some rush inside. He’ll have an opportunity to come here and prove what he can do, and compete. That’s what we’re looking for.”

Players are rarely given to predictions. Ellis was not giving a specific number for sacks, tackles or anything else. But he was almost offering a guarantee that his production will increase as a Bear.

“Definitely,” he declared. “In fact I’m almost guaranteeing that it will because this is the style of defense that caters to defensive linemen getting up the field and playing fast, which is what I got drafted for in ’08 and the last couple years I haven’t been able to do that as much. Now I’ll have my chance.”

New Bear Ellis circles Saints game, issues (almost) guarantee | CSN Chicago

"A Veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America" for an amount of "up to and including my life."

|Mitch|

Good Luck to Ya!

AllSaints

Omg you suck Ellis !!!!! Your garbage thanks for,doing nothing n new Orleans

Saintaintso

whats he going to do besides get flatlined ? We let him go for a reason ... Tons more worried about Julius rather than Ellis ...

ChrisXVI

This guy is talking out of his a$$. I'm looking forward to the Bears game too because it'll be another one that we won't have to worry one bit about playing good defensive tackles.

saintfan

If he's right I'll tip my hat to him and acknowledge we didn't put him in the best position to use his strengths.

But I don't think he's right...

papz

I'm having trouble understanding all of his excuses.

Hasn't he been playing the 3 technique all these years and asked to rush the passer while playing the run? That's pretty damn generic for all 4-3 3 technique tackles. You can't even begin to tell me that he wasn't allowed to do those things especially with Greg Williams. All we did was try to attack... with everyone.

You sucked... man up and just admit it. Stop making lame ass excuses. It's sad that it takes playing against his former team to get all motivated. Not even a contract year could do that.

I feel ashamed to have been open to the idea of bringing this finger pointing, excuses making, underachiever back to our team.

Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but some abuse the privilege.

All little common sense goes a long way.

burningmetal

It's funny how he says he "picked" the Bears. I'm almost willing to bet they were the only team who offered him a contract. And as for his belief that he'll have a big year... He said that before every season with us, and it never came close to happening. Now he acts as if the Saints wronged him, when it is he who failed the Saints.

Go ahead and circle that game, Ellis. Nobody cares.

Seer1

I know where we're running that day.

Euphoria

Never lived up to what he was suppose to have been... all hype.