One of the Chicago Bears’ least surprising signings though the first wave of free agency was former Indianapolis Colts defensive End Al-Quadin Muhammad, who spent the last four years working under new head coach Matt Eberflus.
Muhammad comes to Chicago not only with an understanding of Eberflus’ scheme but knowing what to expect from his new head coach. And it’s clear that Eberflus is a “high-energy” guy who “brings the juice.”
“The appreciation I have for Coach Eberflus is the love that he has for the game,” Muhammad told reporters Sunday. “He’s the same guy every day. High-energy guy. He brings the juice. Nobody wants to win more than Eberflus, and I think a lot of people around here are going to see that. We’re all in this business to win, to win a Super Bowl. He’s going to give you his all.
“I mean, who wouldn’t want to play for a guy that brings the juice, that wants to win, that’s the same guy every day?”
The Bears are making the transition from a 3-4 to a 4-3 defense under Eberflus. Muhammad said that Eberflus’ scheme wasn’t difficult to learn, but it’s going to require some buy in from the current crop of players.
“I had to figure out the message that (Eberflus) was giving,” Muhammad said. “And I had to figure out how to do it on a consistent basis. I had to figure out how to do it every day. I had to change my perspective, change my mindset and I had to really just buy in.
“It wasn’t hard to buy in because the way the scheme is set up. If you’re not playing at a fast pace, you’re not running to the ball, punching at the ball, stripping at the ball, just 11 guys to the ball, you’re not going to play. I bought in to that immediately and I train that way during the offseason. Getting to the ball is always on my mind.
“That’s pretty much what he’s about, just having eight, nine, 10, all 11 guys to the ball. You’ve got a special defense if you’ve got 11 guys running to the ball.”
