Bears will try Shea McClellin at linebacker

Posted by Mike Wilkening on February 20, 2014, 3:14 PM EDT
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The Bears are trying Shea McClellin at a new position.

McClellin, the club’s No. 1 pick in 2012, is moving from defensive end to linebacker, head coach Marc Trestman and G.M. Phil Emery said Thursday at the NFL Scouting Combine, according to the club’s website.

Via ChicagoBears.com, Trestman and Emery both said that McClellin will get a look at strong-side linebacker as well as middle linebacker.

“His athleticism allows him to pressure the quarterback,” Emery said, per ChicagoBears.com, noting that the club would use McClellin a variety of ways. “We want to put him in position where he can make more plays overall.”

Finding a way to get more out of McClellin must be a major goal for the Bears in 2014. The 6-foot-3, 260-pound McClellin has recorded a combined 6.5 sacks in 28 regular-season games as a pro.

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28 responses to “Bears will try Shea McClellin at linebacker”

  1. NOt sure if this will work. With him at Middle and Bostic and Briggs on the outiside it could be big time. Khaseem Greene could spend time learning from Briggs.

  5. McClellin played some LB on gaudy blue fields – but this sounds like a hint of desperation. They drafted him as a DE and heir apparent to Peppers — and the fact they’re shelving those plans is not a positive sign for “Da Bears.”

    When the Cowboys moved Randy White from LB to DT, a terror was born. I don’t see it happening with McClellin.

    [No Bears hater/lover — my team hales from the AFC]

  7. Sending a 260lb DL is like begging the offense to run at him, they wonder why they had issues on defense?

    He need to improve a lot if the Bears want a defense to get better.

  8. Coachspeak for he was a washout at DE and now we have to somehow justify his salary and our choosing him in the 1st rd.

  11. Two years too late. This guy had 3-4 Pass Rushing Outside Linebacker (e.g. Clay Matthews) written all over him the moment he got drafted out of Boise St.

    Of course, Bears management, in its neverending wisdom, decided to stick this tweener in at Defensive End in a 4-3 scheme. Hence, you’ve gotten a predictable 2 years of nothing out of this guy.

    Unless the Bears are planning to go with a 3-4 defense and use him as a pass rushing OLB, this will go down as yet another wasted 1st round draft pick for Chicago.

  13. I think putting him in the middle could be a mistake. But, the battle at the outside could be good between him and Bostic. I still believe they should re-sign DJ Williams but I doubt they will if they’re planning on re-building the D through the draft.

    SN: Where were y’all on this story? They announced this decision at the end of the season at the same time they announced Jay Cutler signed his contract…Oh, that’s why.

  14. That’s the first step.

    Step #2 is when they release him after he fails at that position.

    Step #3 has him out of the league in less than 3 years.

  18. Do you guys not pay attention when this happens elsewhere? At least they are trying him at another position. It can work, and I’ve seen my team do it twice in the past year…ending with great results.

    Case in point #1, Jerry Hughes. He, like McClennin, was drafted in the 1st round as a defensive end/pass rusher. He did nothing in his first few years with the Colts. Buffalo trades a backup MLB for him, out him in position to succeed…and he comes away with 10 sacks this year.

    Case in point #2, Aaron Williams. He was drafted as a CB, labeled a bust after a couple years…got moved to SS and came out with his best season yet this year.

    If the kid can play, they’ll figure it out…that’s why they are NFL coaches…and being a CFL follower, Trestman is a hell of a coach.

    I expect this kid to surprise people this year…just give him time to develop.

  19. McClellin is a bust , period. However , taking Alshon Jeffery in the second round that year more than makes up for it. Jeffery may have been the best pick of the entire 2012 draft , based on where they took him.

  21. The kid has decent speed, but no upper body strength. For his sake, I hope he’s in the gym right now working on his flexibility and strength. If not he will be out of the league. Good kid who just might need the right coach to flip the switch for him.

  22. They just need Bob McGinn to write a column about how worthless Shea is every week he plays. So he has 3 sacks, knocks the oppo QB out of the game, and effectively knocks the other team out of the playoffs.

  23. The Bears made the playoffs? What team did he knock out? I guess being a gabbert supporter explains a lot.

  25. At least the Bears are willing to admit their mistake.

    Now if only the Packers would wise up and move Nick Perry back to more of a 4-3 RDE or at the very least a 1 gap 3-4 RDE,then maybe they could get the production out of him they anticipated when selecting him in the first round.

    Shea McClellin
    28 games played
    44 tackles 6.5 sacks 1 FR.
    19th pick 1st round.

    Nick Perry
    17 games played
    46 Tackles 6.0 sacks 3 FF 2 PD.
    28th pick 1st round.

    Im not sure which pick was worse, the guy that has been hurt two years in a row (Perry) but has similar production in 11 fewer games or McClellin.

  26. They should have tried a new coordinator too.

    Mel Tucker didn’t look worthy of coming back and a 3-4 defense wouldn’t be a bad idea to get more out of McClellin.

    To get more out of our players Wade Phillips, Raheem Morris, Jim Schwartz, or Dick Jauron should have been brought in.

  27. This kid was put in the wrong position to begin with. Lovie was too stubborn to move him, saying Shea will be lining up with his hand in the dirt! I coulda told him that he was gonna get swallowed week in and week out by opposing BIGGER OL. All I can say is DUHHHH! He should’ve been backing up Urlacher years ago! I really dislike the Bears front office and owners but oh well, whatcha gonna do?

  28. Unless they were going to switch to a 3-4 they should have never drafted him. What makes it worse is they passed on Chanlder Jones who has been a great pass rusher for the partriots.

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