Cal Football: Top 10 most valuable Bears in 2009 - No. 5

June 16, 12:52 AMCal Bears ExaminerRob Calonge

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If you see linebackers making plays, you have
Hill to thank.

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As we roll along on our list of top-10 MVB's (most valuable Bears), you may have noticed that talent isn't always going to help a player's ranking.  As I've said before, this list is about the irreplaceable players at critical positions for the Bears.

Also, let me reiterate that I believe everyone on the team plays an important part, and is valuable in what they contribute to the team - in many cases, you're only as good as your depth.  With that said, I'll go ahead and catch those up who have missed the last five on the list.

At No. 10, Bryan Anger and his ability to change field position started the list.  Cal's passing game was a problem last year, so the speed receiver needs to come up big in 2009 - which is why I selected Marvin Jones, (or whoever wins the job), at No. 9.

With special teams and offense represented early, No. 8 put the defense on the board with Tyson Alualu.  With all three teams represented, I went back to special teams.  The placekicker, (Giorgio Tavecchio or David Seawright), came in at No. 7 - because you need to score points every chance you get.

At No. 6, Syd'Quan Thompson gave the defense their second player on the list.  While Thompson is arguably the best player on the team, his fellow teammates' abilities to cover for him dropped him.

Some might think that offense is next, but it's not.  My next selection was one that I had trouble deciding on.  My decision is still questionable in my mind, because I think he might be underrated on this list.

Checking in at No. 5, I selected nose guard Derrick Hill.  I know that some of you might be thinking, "How is he more important than Syd'Quan Thompson?"

Bear with me and I'll try and explain, (no pun intended).

In a 3-4 defense, the linebackers are supposed to make the plays, with a key emphasis on 'supposed to'.  The defensive coordinator is asking three guys to do the same work that four would do in the 4-3 - and they're doing it minus 300-pounds of help in the interior of the line.  This is where Hill's value comes into play.

As you can see above, Hill isn't going to put up eye-popping stats from his position.  His job is to fill the middle, keeping his man (or men) from reaching the second level and laying out the linebackers or defensive backs.

Don't take my word for it.  I'll re-quote Joe Collier, the man credited for teaching Bill Bellichick the 3-4.  You know the guy.  The guy who has won four Super Bowls with castoffs and some players deemed 'unworthy' for a pro defense.  Here's what Collier said:

The nose tackle and the inside linebackers, those are three guys that are very important. But when you go through it, the nose tackle is probably the single-most important guy.

He has to hold it all together and make it so the guards can't get out on the inside linebackers. Let me put it this way - the nose tackle can make the inside linebackers look pretty good, and if your inside linebackers look pretty good, you're going to play pretty good defense.

The Bears use a nose guard, rather than a nose tackle, but the importance still applies.  The basic difference between the two is scheme, but they are both responsible for taking on multiple blockers at the point of attack, preventing runs up the middle, and recognizing screen passes.

It doesn't matter how good the rest of your team is if you can't stop the run.  In order to do that, the Bears need a stout player in the middle of their defensive line, taking on the center and a guard, and sometimes both guards.  This is what makes Derrick Hill so important / valuable to the Bears.

It's also why I considered moving him up on the list.

~Check back on Wednesday for No. 4~

* Edit - Sorry, but I'll be publishing No. 4 on Thursday.  When I wrote this story, it slipped my mind that I'll be attending the Oakland Raiders OTA on Wednesday.  Gotta' get up early so I'm going to hold back a day so that I can do it right.