Bears expect 'big jump' from Jared Allen despite demotion to subpackages

The Chicago Bears are transitioning to a 3-4 defense, a process that isn't typically a smooth one.

One of the players likely to be most affected by the scheme switch is veteran defensive end Jared Allen, whom the Bears recently paid an $11.5-million roster bonus. 

Allen has played in a 4-3 his whole career and doesn't have a natural position in a 3-4. He's too small to play 3-4 defensive end and is not a great fit at outside linebacker. Besides, the Bears don't have a place for Allen at linebacker after committing to Lamarr Houston and Pernell McPhee as starters.

This leaves the soon-to-be 33-year-old Allen as a subpackage player with a lofty salary. Despite a likely reduction in snaps, new Bears head coach John Fox said he expects big things from Allen. 

"He’ll get that opportunity to compete, and he can be one of those guys who makes a big jump," Fox told Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun Times.

"Physically, he had a rough year last year," Fox added. "In particular for big guys or really any position, your weight, your strength level, all those things physically have a lot to do with how you perform on Sundays.

"In his case, he got pneumonia and lost 19, 20 pounds, and in the middle of a marathon, that is hard to recover from. That’s an analogy I use for a football season. So I don’t know if it was his best season. (But) there are reasons (for his struggles), not excuses."

Allen is reportedly healthy and has a good perspective on being a role player, so perhaps he will thrive in his new role.  Previously, he said he will retire if he can't be effective on the field.