Stout defense will always be a defining characteristic of the Chicago Bears. It is typically indicative of their overall team success and it is their best weapon come Winter. Once a week, every week, we’ll look at a different position of their 2009 assemblage.

Defensive End — Pretty simply, in 2008 this defensive group did not get to the quarterback with their usual frequency. For example, from 2005-2007, the defensive ends were responsible for, on average, 18.83 sacks; compare that to only 12 last year.

To be fair, the team’s overall sack total was drastically down as well, but the defensive ends clearly had a down year. Insert Rod Marinelli.

Without going through Marinelli’s extensive coaching repertoire–as for better allowing us to forget last year’s abominable effort–his prowess for extracting the best out of defensive lineman is obvious.

All the defensive ends should benefit from Marinelli’s presence: Mark Anderson should regain the form that made him the pass-rushing terror he was in his first two NFL seasons; fourth-round draft pick Henry Melton should refine his technique to get the most out of his freakish size and athletic ability; and two veterans, Alex Brown and Adewale Ogunleye, should be inspired to push themselves after combining to record an underwhelming 11 sacks last season.

Ervin Baldwin and Joe Clermond provide depth and special teams ability, and newly re-signed Israel Idonije, although primarily projected to play defensive tackle, can be a viable asset on the outside.

The Bears clearly have the weapons and the oh-so-important depth on the ends of the line, and in turn, Marinelli certainly has the tools to exploit their abilities; the key thing will be to see it all actualized.

You see, the defensive ends are the catalyst of the Bears cover 2 defense. Their ability to “swim upstream” and get to the quarterback subsequently affects the linebackers and secondary’s prospect of making plays.

And with a shaky secondary, this will be utterly crucial.