InternetFM.com

Hand Curated Radio

You are here: Home / Archives for Football

Football

Bears fall to Eagles in 2019 Wild Card

by

The Chicago Bears fell to the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2019 Wild Card that will be remembered in infamy.

Mitch Trubisky took over for the Bears’ offense at his own 42 with a chance to extend the Bears’ season and further silence his critics. His counterpart Nick Foles had just orchestrated what appeared to be the nail in the coffin of the Bears’ season until Tarik Cohen’s clutch kick return gave the Bears good field position. Trubisky merely had to get his team in field goal range to overcome a 16-15 deficit and set up a rematch with the Rams in the divisional round.

The second-year quarterback started the last drive with an incompletion to Taylor Gabriel to draw out the groans and rolling eyes of onlookers who have watched every throw of the season with bated breath. His next ball, a 25-yard beauty to Allen Robinson with 44 seconds left, sent a jolt of energy into Bears fans and a stone in the stomach of Eagles fans. Number 10 found Robinson to his right again, and after one last shot at the end zone to a streaking Anthony Miller with 15 seconds left, it was time for a 42-yard field goal. The young quarterback did exactly what was needed, setting up his team for the win with 10 seconds left. All Trubisky could now do was wait for the kick. Parkey trotted out with the season on the line and the opportunity to either be remembered in the same vein as Steve Bartman or become a Chicago hero.

Bears Quarterback Mitch Trubisky: SRN Broadcasting

Eagles coach Doug Pederson did what he was supposed to, namely, burn his last time out in an effort to ice the Bears’ kicker.

The all-too familiar sound of a Parkey kick nailing the upright sent Soldier Field into a pregnant silence, ending the Bears’ season in one of the most painful ways possible.

“That’s one of the worst feelings in the world to let your team down, so I feel terrible,” Parkey said. “I’m going to continue to put things into perspective. Continue to put my best foot forward and sleep at night knowing that I did everything in my power this week to make that kick. For whatever reason, it hit the crossbar and the upright. I still couldn’t do it. Yeah, I feel terrible.”

Logic dictates that Parkey’s career in Chicago is likely over, and the Bears’ biggest question mark entering the offseason is still finding a kicker, but let’s take an optimist’s approach. Super Bowl teams have great kickers like Adam Vinateri, Stephen Gostkowski and Justin Tucker. There is only one glaring hole on this Bears’ roster (There could be one more, depending on Fangio’s future), quite the turnaround compared to the offseason needs of years’ past. Much of their core is under contract through 2020 and Trubisky’s team-friendly rookie contract affords them wiggle room to add depth this offseason.

“(Chicago)‘s a place you want to play,” Allen Robinson said. “And I think just down the stretch you see how us teammates rally around each other… You saw a lot of guys make big plays last night from, Taylor, Me, Anthony Miller, Tarik (Cohen), Jordan Howard.”

Trubisky’s performance Sunday night had to be the biggest positive from Sunday night. A dreadful 13-of-23 for 105 yards stat line in the first half left the game tied at 3, but his second half performance was a major improvement, going 13-of-20 for 198 yards and a go-ahead touchdown. Most importantly, he put the Bears in position to win.

Bears coach Matt Nagy: SRN Broadcasting

“I was just telling somebody in there, no one, not one person truly knows how far that kid has come this year than me,” Nagy said. “I mean, we’re lucky. We’re lucky to have him. I’m looking forward to the future. I really am, with him, because the city of Chicago is lucky to have that kid at quarterback.”

“He’s a leader and he’s a heck of a football player and he’s the guy you want in your huddle in that situation,” Kyle Long said of Trubisky said.

The Mitch Trubisky-Allen Robinson connection was on full display Sunday night, with the two linking up 10 times for 143 yards and a touchdown. Trubisky found Robinson deep multiple times in critical moments, as Robinson routinely got behind Eagles cornerback Avonte Maddox.

“Yeah, just taking advantage of the backside match-up,” Trubisky said. “They do a great job of taking away the passing strength for us and just making you take away certain spots and throws. They were playing off of zone so we just had to find ways and get creative to get the ball to playmakers and A-Rob did a great job of running his routes and getting open, and I was just trying to put it in a spot for him to make plays. And he made a bunch of great catches, and like everything else, it starts up front with our guys giving me time.”

The Bears’ defense was as iron-clad as it had typically been, but the Eagles’ offensive line is one of the best in the NFL and allowed only one sack. Playoff games are often determined by who had more lucky bounces, and, well, the Eagles had the best one of all. The Bears can go into the offseason with their heads held high after winning the division in what was supposed to be a “first-step” year. Bryce Callahan and Adrian Amos are both free agents, but Prince Amukamara said on Monday that he and his teammates will do their best to recruit them. Next season may lead to some defensive regression, depending on who they can keep and especially wherever Vic Fangio coaches next year. But all that can be prevented if Mitch Trubisky is the quarterback the Bears think he can be. So, in regards to the fate of the Bears’ future, I’ll leave you with one final thought, a sentiment I’ve repeated all year:

It all comes back to Mitch.

Follow on Twitter: @crbevins11 @radiomogul

Hear audio from Adrian Amos, Prince Amukamara, Trey Burton, Allen Robinson, Kyle Long and Sherrick McManis:

2018 Chicago Bears lose wild one to New York Giants

by

The 2018 Chicago Bears fell to the New York Giants on Sunday in what can only be described as a bizarre game. There were trick plays, a backup quarterback, a defensive touchdown and even an onside kick. The Giants came out victorious in the end though, 30-27.

Though it was a win against a first-place team, Giants running back Saquon Barkley described it as “Just a win.” He added, “Any win in the NFL is amazing. It’s hard to win in this league. We’ve only got four. We were in a lot of situations to win a lot of these games and we weren’t able to do that before but we were able to do that today and that’s the only thing that matters.”

Bears coach Matt Nagy: SRN Broadcasting

Robinson and Cohen’s impact

The Bears entered Sunday without their starting quarterback Mitch Trubisky for the second straight week, which meant that backup Chase Daniel, now with a game of film, was the man for the second straight week. He struggled early but was able to keep it close, largely thanks to wide receiver Allen Robinson and running back Tarik Cohen.

Nagy’s offense doesn’t work with Daniel the way it does with Trubisky. Nagy can rely on Trubisky’s feet to extend plays and be a threat in the run game, and his arm strength and aggressiveness can be relied upon to take deep shots. The scrambling and deep-ball threats are enough to change a defense’s coverages and playstyle; Daniel’s limited ability makes defensive backs comfortable with bullying players at the line of scrimmage since a deep ball isn’t likely to come. They can also play tight man coverage because they don’t have to keep their eyes in the backfield in case the quarterback takes off running. Anthony Miller and Taylor Gabriel, both under six-feet, were essentially non-factors outside of the screen game because they can’t win physical battles like Robinson can. This meant Nagy had to get the ball to his most physically imposing receiver, Allen Robinson, and his shiftiest playmaker, Tarik Cohen.

“We just had a good scheme drawn up against their defense,” Cohen said. “Coach Nagy and Coach (Mark) Helfrich were calling the plays up for me, ones that were designed to go to me. Chase was making a lot of scrimmage calls just to get me open, so whenever he did that, it was my job to step up and make those catches.

Robinson’s size and catch-radius make him a good target regardless of how much separation he has, and that ability was put on full display Sunday when he had 79 yards and a handful of impressive and key receptions.

Robinson was targeted early and often because of his ability to make plays like the one above. He can make any throw easier, not just because of his massive 6’3, 211-pound frame, but also because of how he uses that build to his fullest advantage.

Cohen, being 5’6, is obviously nowhere near the same physical level as Robinson, but Nagy managed to bring out his biggest strengths. He had a matchup advantage against Landon Collins because of his quickness, and Nagy exploited this fact by going to Cohen in those favorable matchups. Cohen’s quickness allowed him to separate from players twice his size, and it left him open throughout Sunday.

Cohen had 186 total yards, 156 of which came through the air. He also threw the game-tying touchdown that sent it into overtime Nagy was forced into a difficult spot without his starter, but he demonstrated he can still put forth a productive offense without his quarterback of choice. Cohen and Robinson are two huge reasons why that was possible.

Peak weirdness

Right out the gate, it was clear this was not going to be a typical football game. The Bears opened the game with a pick-six on their first play from scrimmage by Giants linebacker Alec Ogletree. Chase Daniel took time to settle in, and coach Matt Nagy adapted to that by feeding Jordan Howard on six of seven run-calls on their first scoring drive.

“I thought Jordan ran the ball hard. I really did,” Nagy said. “In these conditions, there were sometimes — there was a few times where they stuffed the backs pretty good, and they were bringing some nickel pressures off the edge, but for the chances that he got when he had the football I thought he did a great job.”

The weirdness wasn’t Nagy leaning on the run game, though it’s definitely out of character for his offensive philosophy. No, the weirdness truly began when Bears defensive end Akiem Hicks was handed the ball from the one to score a touchdown at the end of the first half.

Hicks was clearly excited postgame, saying, “I was super excited, super excited to get behind our big fellas; our other big guys and let them get me to the end zone. It was pretty cool, man. It was a fun play and it was exciting.”

The Giants scored on their opening second-half drive with… a touchdown pass from Odell Beckham Jr. of course. The Bears’ secondary came up to stop the jet sweep Beckham Jr. was on and left Sterling Shepard wide open for an easy touchdown. The scoring would cease until late in the game when the Bears kicked a field goal with under two minutes left to bring themselves within seven. All hope seemed lost until Beckham Jr. let the roll by him on the onside kick recovered by Daniel Brown. The Bears marched down to the goal line yard line where they found Anthony Miller open in the end zone with time expiring. Who threw it? Tarik Cohen.

Cohen discussed the play: “That’s a play that we’ve had for a long time. I think we put it in (the playbook) in camp or the beginning of the season. It’s designed to go to the quarterback, and there’s a second read on there. They had covered Chase (Daniel), so… in practice, I actually had to throw it this week, even though Chase wasn’t covered (in practice), so it worked out.”

The Bears went on to lose in overtime. This was a game they probably should have won, especially given how ineffective Eli Manning was (Stats). The Bears didn’t do many favors for themselves, turning the ball over three times. The run game slowed down after an impressive first half, and with Daniel’s struggles, Nagy had to get creative. Tarik Cohen and Anthony Miller are the two toughest matchups he has, and he went to them often. He will probably regret he took to end the first half that allowed New York to run a play that set up a field goal, but his game plan showed a coach willing to adapt to what is on the field. Instead of forcing what he wanted to do, he let his two best playmakers, Robinson and Cohen, do their thing. The Bears lost, but they lost no footing in their division, as everyone else in the NFC North lost. Trubisky’s presence will make a big difference in the flexibility of the Bears’, and we will see just how much so come Sunday night.

Follow on Twitter: @crbevins11 @radiomogul

Hear audio from Matt Nagy:

2018 Chicago Bears get out of Detroit with a Thanksgiving win

by

The Chicago Bears celebrated Thanksgiving with a 23-16 win over the Detroit Lions. It wasn’t easy, and it certainly wasn’t ideal, but the Bears won their fifth straight game for the first time since 2012 and went three-for-three in their stretch of divisional games.

Tough circumstances

Chicago Bears coach Matt Nagy: SRN Broadcasting

The unfortunate timing of playing an early Thanksgiving game 80 hours after a Sunday night game was compounded by the injury to Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky. Backup Chase Daniel had to prepare for the third start of his now 10-year career at the drop of a hat. Daniel, the experienced professional he is, was prepared and played well enough for the Bears to secure a victory.

“You have no idea, especially when you don’t have any reps with these guys, in two days of walk-through practices, how it’s going to go,” coach Matt Nagy said. “No matter how much experience he has in his offense, you really, truly don’t know how it’s going to go. For him to be able to come out here and do what he did, protect the football and be a leader when he needed to be a leader, I thought he did a great job.”

Good teams find ways to win, and Thursday, the Bears took advantage of timely turnovers to find success. Late in the fourth quarter, Detroit had a chance to take the lead with the game tied at 16. Safety Eddie Jackson, however, had other plans in mind. The Lions lined up with two receivers and a tight end to the left, while the Bears were in man and sending Roquan Smith on a blitz. The two outside receivers ran inside routes, while the tight end, Michael Roberts, ran to the flats. The outside receivers pulled Prince Amukamara and Bryce Callahan to the middle of the field, freeing up the tight end. Jackson, manned up on Lorenzo, read the play and knew where the ball was going to be before it was thrown.  He jumped the route and had nothing but daylight on his way to the end zone to take a 23-16 lead after a Cody Parkey extra point.

The Lions weren’t done yet though, and they marched the ball all the way down to the Bears’ 11 with a chance to tie the game. Matthew Stafford, facing a third-and-nine with 1:11 left, overthrew his receiver and right into the waiting hands of Kyle Fuller for the game-sealing pick.

The situation wasn’t great, but Matt Nagy found a way to get his Bears a win. The defense shined and Daniel was efficient, and it was enough to get past the rocky road of misfortunes they faced.

Scheming a quarterback to success

There was doubt as to whether or not the Bears would continue their hot streak without Trubisky. Chase Daniel has limited game experience and a backup working efficiently is only something you can hope for. He answered the call, going 27-37 for 230 yards and two touchdowns.

“I thought, you know, at first we were a little off, Daniel said. “Whether it be timing or jitters for myself or what have you. You know the first quarter, until really the two or three-minute mark to go in the first quarter, we just didn’t play well. And it all starts with me, right? It starts with the quarterback and the offense, so I think it was knocking off a little rust, taking a deep breath in the pocket. You know there were guys were open all day.”

Daniel’s familiarity with Nagy’s system played a big factor in his success. The two go back to Kansas City and have a good relationship with one another. Daniel understands the intricacies of the offense such how to read the defense before the snap or what route concepts to attack against a certain coverage. This understanding allowed him to run it effectively.

“He was very comfortable,” Nagy said of Daniel. “He sees the field really well because he knows where to go with the football with coverages. We call him the MIKE doctor for making MIKE IDs with protections for a reason, because he sees things well,” the MIKE being the defense’s middle linebacker.

Indeed, Daniel made checks at the line of scrimmage and knew where to go with the ball before the snap. He was in command the whole time and took care of the ball, a tantamount ability that backups usually lack.

“The timing was going to be the biggest concern yesterday, right?” Nagy said Friday. “Just with him not having that with the guys since the preseason.”

What was most compelling about Daniel’s day was how Nagy schemed him to efficiency. Daniel delivered some tight-window throws, but Nagy used Taquan Mizzell Jr. and Tarik Cohen out of the backfield to perfection. The two touchdowns they scored were set up by carrying defenders to the middle of the field and leaking one of them out on a wheel route, which left them wide open in the end zone for an easy touchdown. Nagy called for a lot of jet-motion, which is when the quarterback motions a player across the formation before the snap. This helped identify the coverage and keep the defense off-balance as they account for the backfield movement. Trubisky can pull the trigger and hit his receivers down the sideline more effectively than Daniel, so Nagy used the middle of the field to his advantage with crossing routes and quick strikes to the middle. The screen game was also used point of emphasis, and in the end, the Bears got the win.

Eddie Jackson’s rise

Two years ago, first-round hopeful and Alabama safety Eddie Jackson was carted off the field after fracturing his leg against Texas A&M. He fell to the fourth round of the 2017 NFL draft, where the Bears traded up to draft him.

“Eddie Jackson. Eddie Jackson, he’ll make a play anywhere,” his teammate Akiem Hicks said. “We’ve got guys like that all throughout every position room. Guys that will come up with that clutch play and guys that it means a lot to. I think that’s what makes us special.”

The last time the Bears had a safety at Jackson’s level was Mike Brown, and even his physical style of play differs from Jackson’s rangy, ball-hawking playstyle. Today’s NFL and the evolution of the passing boom has placed even more importance on coverage safeties, and the Bears appear to have one in Jackson.

“He’s playing on another level right now,” Nagy said Friday. “He’s very instinctual. He’s playing with a lot of confidence. And I said yesterday that I haven’t been around too many guys or, you know, safeties or defensive backs that have the awareness and the instincts that he has.”

This season, he has as many touchdowns (three) as Julio Jones, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Keenan Allen. He has the most defensive touchdowns in the NFL since 2015 with five, despite being drafted in 2017. Additionally, he has four interceptions this year as well as a forced fumble and fumble recovery. It is safe to say that in only two years Jackson has elevated himself as one of the league’s best safeties.

Follow on Twitter: @crbevins11 @radiomogul

2018 Bears Hold Off Vikings, Quickly Prepare for Detroit

by

The Willis Tower illuminated in Bears colors Sunday night. Photo by the author.

The 2018 Chicago Bears earned an enormous divisional win on Sunday night, defeating the Rams 25-20. Now, they look toward this Thanksgiving for a meeting with the Detroit Lions.

The Willis Tower was illuminated with blue and orange lights after the Bears added a crucial win against the presumptive NFC North favorites, a sign of the excitement this city has for its beloved Bears. The vibe around Chicago is just… different. The buzz is no longer negative. There’s an excitement radiating from anyone wearing their Bears gear. Fans at Soldier Field talk about the path to the playoffs, not who they want to draft in the top-10.

The Bears aren’t supposed to be here. Even after the Khalil Mack trade, a wildcard birth was still an optimist perspective. The Vikings were in the NFC Championship a year ago, led there by Case Keenum. Replace Keenum with Kirk Cousins, and you have a machine on offense. Who was going to take that down?

The Bears did.

Khalil Mack did Khalil Mack things, forcing and recovering a fumble by Dalvin Cook to put a boot on a promising Vikings’ drive. He also added a huge sack and lived in the Vikings’ backfield. Akiem Hicks destroyed the Vikings’ interior all night and collected six tackles, five tackles for loss and a sack. I’ll let you read that again. FIVE TACKLES FOR LOSS. Leonard Floyd consistently had his paw in Cousins’s face and continued his strong play against the run, making two tackles for loss.

“Man, it’s just the will to win,” Mack said. “Will to win. Everybody want to be in position to win the game and you see the DBs and the linebackers and everybody working together. And it’s a real special thing to be a part of.”

Chicago Bears coach Matt Nagy: SRN Broadcasting

The Vikings made it interesting late, but much of that was due to the defense the Bears were playing. They switched to a prevent-heavy defense in the fourth quarter, which freed things up for Minnesota underneath and let them eat up yards on short throws and check-downs. This was where they found offensive success. That push, however, was made much more difficult because of Parkey’s final field goal.

“Obviously it was a lot of fun,” Parkey said. “I had a great snap, great hold from my guys and I went out there and made the kick.”

The secondary came to play, and Eddie Jackson’s fourth-quarter pick-six put a bow on the defensive important. But, who had the real icing score? That would be Cody Parkey, who responded from his blunderous performance a week ago by going three-for-three, the final of which put the game officially out of reach for the Vikings. The Bears won 25-20 and answered a lot of questions about their legitimacy in the NFC landscape, but they have a game to play in less than 72 hours.

“We’re on to Detroit,” coach Matt Nagy said. “It’s a really quick turn around. It’s important, and we have a plan in place with our trainers and strength staff of nutrition, and sleep, and rest, and mentally and physically making sure they’re taken care of.”

Yes, the Bears square off with the Detroit Lions for the second time in less three weeks this Thanksgiving. The quick turn around was only made quicker by the flexing of their game against the Vikings to Sunday Night Football. 

“This one here, when you just play somebody a couple weeks ago,” Nagy said. “There’s that fine line between chasing the cat’s tail as to what you think they’re going to do, what you saw or they think you’re going to do this, so you do this so you do that. Again, just, for us, let’s control what we can control.”

The Lions present similar challenges as they did when the two squared off in their last matchup, only this time, Lions’ cornerback Darius Slay Jr. will be active. He is one of the better cornerbacks in the NFL when healthy, and will take advantage of any catchable ball near him. He fortifies a secondary that is fairly solid when he is in, and his presence will more than likely be a big difference between the Lions the Bears played and the Lions they will play.

“You don’t know what they had, you know, prep-wise going into that game a couple weeks ago,” Nagy pointed out. “Did they load it up on the front end and then whatever they have leftover they go with so that’s completely new plays? Or is it similar concepts that they liked and changed in the personnel/formations?”

Kerryon Johnson has provided a rushing element the Lions have not had in the Matthew Stafford-era, but he may be out with an ankle injury this Thursday. Though he was largely nullified the last time these teams played, 14 rushes for only 51 yards, his absence makes the Lions’ offense that much less dynamic. LeGarrette Blount and Theo Riddick will get the bulk of the carries, each presenting their own skillset. Blount is the downhill, physical runner, while Riddick is more of an elusive receiving back.

“(Johnson) was really starting to come on… as an effective runner,” Nagy said. “But they have great runners back there and I know Theo Riddick and those guys will be- they’re good football players, good running backs. So, whether or not Kerryon Johnson plays, we’ll see, but they got good players there and they showed it against Carolina.”

Mitch Trubisky threw for 355 yards and three touchdowns against the Lions in a dominant 34-22 victory. They don’t have to deviate very far from their last gameplan to take a victory over an inferior opponent. There is, however, the possibility he does not play on Thursday, due to a recently injured right shoulder. Backup QB and nine-year veteran Chase Daniel will get the start if Trubisky is unable to go.

“[I am] really prepared,” Daniel said. “This week is a little bit different just cause it’s a short week. But I really haven’t changed the way I prepare. I prepare like a starter every week so, for me, it’s just another game,” he added.

Daniel was brought in largely because of his familiarity with Nagy’s offense, a system he has been in for much of his career.

“Nags and I go way back. He was my position coach for three years in Kansas City, obviously. And we stayed close for my time away in Kansas City. So, yeah, we have a great relationship. So, if it comes to that, you know, we trust each other pretty well so we know what each other likes and I think we’d just roll.”

“This is why you have a guy like Chase,” Nagy said. “You feel very comfortable with him. Chase understands. He’s been in this. He’s our oldest guy on the team. So, he’s got experience. Chase and I have a relationship, and a coach-player relationship going back to three years in Kansas City. I know Chase inside out, he knows me inside out.”

Regardless of who plays, the Bears’ defense is dominant enough to make it so they don’t have to light up the scoreboard to get the win. The gap between these teams is sizeable enough that a capable backup, as Daniel has been throughout his career, is enough to put the Bears in winning position, and to allow Bears fans to eat their turkey happy.

Follow on Twitter: @crbevins11 @radiomogul

Hear audio from Matt Nagy, Khalil Mack and Cody Parkey:

2018 Chicago Bears vs Minnesota Vikings preview

by

The 2018 Chicago Bears will face the Minnesota Vikings this Sunday night in the biggest game in recent Bears history. First place in the NFC North is on the line and the Bears have a chance to separate themselves by a game and a half against the presumed division favorites.

Vikings’ receiving corps vs Bears’ secondary

The Minnesota Vikings have a slew of pass-catchers that make them amongst the league’s best, featuring Adam Thielen, Kyle Rudolph and a newly healthy Stefon Diggs. Adam Thielen is tied for the league lead in receptions, is third in receiving yards, and is tied for fifth in receiving touchdowns. Rudolph is as steady as they come, finishing top 10 amongst tight ends in each of the past two seasons. Stefon Diggs, who has had over 700 yards in every season of his career, completes their three-headed monster with. Unlike last year, they also have an solid quarterback in Kirk Cousins, who leads the league in completions and is top 10 in yards and passer rating.

“They’re potent,” coach Matt Nagy said. “They can score right away… Both of those receivers with Thielen and Diggs, they’re just very natural receivers. They have excellent hands. Great route-runners. They understand how to beat zones. And then Kirk (Cousins) throwing the ball to them, he’s been doing it for a long time. He’s extremely accurate. He’s tough. He finds different ways to get the ball to those guys.”

The Bears, however, feature an impressive secondary that matches up well with the Vikings’ group. Thielen does most of his damage from the slot, where Bryce Callahan has thrived this year. Callahan gives some height to Thielen, but that has yet to be a problem this year when guarding taller receivers. Thielen gains separation with crisp route-running more than striking athleticism, so Callahan’s elite ability to remain in phase with receivers will only become more important on Sunday.

Stefon Diggs is a dynamic receiver who lines up all over the field, so he will likely see both of Kyle Fuller and Prince Amukamara. Neutralizing Thielen in the slot will give Diggs plenty of looks, as well as Kyle Rudolph at the tight end spot. The Bears’ secondary is capable of stopping the Vikings’ aerial assault, but it will take one of their best performances of the season to do so.

Mike Zimmer’s defense

Mike Zimmer ones one of the most creative defensive schemes in the league. He loves to get exotic with his linebacker alignment and uses a lot of pre-snap window-dressing disguise his looks.

Mitch Trubisky, photo by SRN Broadcasting

“We know we’re going against a great defense this week,” quarterback Mitch Trubisky said Wednesday. “Nothing comes easy against these guys, so we’ve got to be on top of our A-game as far as execution and just try to keep them off balance. There’s going to be a lot of adjustments on the fly. They’re probably going to show up and bring some new looks. And we just try to study as much as we can and we just got to get ready for a great challenge.”

Mitch Trubisky has struggled at times to account for exotic looks, but that was the Trubisky of old. He has played like a new quarterback of late and seems to have enough command of the offense to adjust to what he sees. He has looked comfortable enough in the offense to hang in the pocket and deliver the right throw, but Sunday will be his biggest test on validating that.

“When you can recognize hot throws and blitzes, that’s when they could slow down their blitz and they don’t want to blitz you as much cause you’re getting the ball out,” Trubisky said. “But once they get you, they keep bringing it.”

Tarik Cohen may be in for a big receiving day. The Vikings bring a lot of pressure from their linebackers, leaving little coverage out of the backfield. Additionally, for as great as Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks are, pass coverage is not their strong suit. Getting Cohen going can open up the offense and force the Vikings’ linebackers to abandon the blitz, which would give Trubisky more time to hang back and hit his receivers.

Getting to Kirk Cousins

As mentioned, Kirk Cousins adds a layer to the Vikings’ offense they didn’t have last year in Case Keenum. He makes more precise throws and is simply more talented than Keenum. What he lacks, however, is Keenum’s ability to improvise when the line can’t protect. And the offensive line has been the Vikings’ Achilles heel this season.

Khalil Mack off the edge is a force against any offensive line, but with the struggles the Vikings have had at protecting the quarterback, his impact will be magnified. Leonard Floyd has had success in his career against the Vikings, totaling three sacks in the two games he has played against them. Aaron Donald had two sacks and five tackles against Minnesota. Though Akiem Hicks is no Aaron Donald, he’s one of the next best things. He may be looking at a big game on Sunday.

All this put together bodes well for the Bears’ defense. If the offense gets ahead early, the Vikings will be forced to look for chunk plays. That means more time in the pocket, which means more time for the pass rush.

“If there’s a game where they struggled or they had points put up against them, these coaches are good coaches,” Nagy pointed out. “They understand that everyone looks at everything and so, they adjust.”

The Vikings’ game plan will likely revolve around the short game, similar to New England and Miami’s approaches. The Bears will have to take advantage of the five-step drops they do see. Taking away the pass will force Minnesota to run, something they’ve been unable to do. That will be compounded against a Bears defense that allows only 84 rushing yards per game, which is second in the NFL.

Follow on Twitter: @crbevins11 @radiomogul

Hear audio from Matt Nagy, Mitch Trubisky and Charles Leno Jr.:

2018 Chicago Bears vs Detroit Lions Preview

by

The first place Chicago Bears will take on the Detroit Lions in a match-up between first-time head coaches Matt Nagy and Matt Patricia. The Bears and Lions are entering big points in the season, and they will face each other again in two weeks. For now, however, the Bears have a job to do, and that’s to get a win to kick off their three-game slate of divisional foes.

A critical juncture for both teams

It’s redundant to say a specific game is important in the NFL because every game matters. But Sunday’s game is extra important for both teams. For the Lions, losing on Sunday could put them in a 3-6 hole they can’t get out of. A Bears win would move them to 6-3, keep them in first place, and give them at least one win in their three-game stretch of divisional play.

“We got three big divisional opponents coming up,” quarterback Mitch Trubisky said, “and we kind of know where we’re at as a team and I think these next three games will tell a lot about who we are and where we’re headed. But we got to take it one at a time. So we’re just focused on Detroit this week.”

Only four teams have started 3-6 and made the playoffs since 1990. Combine that with how competitive the rest of the NFC North is, and this game is a must-win for the Lions. They traded for Damon Harrison, one of the league’s best run defenders, at the trade deadline, indicating they may be looking to compete right away. They then traded away their best receiver in Golden Tate, sending the message that they are looking towards the future. They gave up ten sacks against the Vikings in their last game, and the last two weeks may be indicative of the wheels coming off.

The Bears, on the other hand, are riding a wave of success. Their 5-3 record puts them atop the NFC North, and their offense seems to have set into a groove, accumulating over 390 total yards in three of their last four games. They just walloped the Buffalo Bills 41-9 and did so without two of their best players, Allen Robinson II and Khalil Mack. Divisional games matter more for standings, and a win against the Lions could end up being crucial to their standing in the division come the end of the year.

Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy: SRN Broadcasting

Back to health

The Bears weathered the injuries to Mack and Robinson the last two weeks, winning both games without them. They appear ready to play Sunday and look to have an immediate impact.

The Bears looked noticeably different without Allen Robinson. His absence meant they were without a big-bodied receiver who could out-muscle defenders and win contested catches to make tight windows not so tight. The next two receiver options, Taylor Gabriel and Anthony Miller, don’t provide that element to the extent of Robinson. His added layer will be important against a secondary that features such ball-hawks as Darius Slay and Glover Quinn.

“Feeling great. Definitely anxious to get back out there,” Robinson stated.

“He’s a leader in that wide receiver room,” coach Matt Nagy noted. “Our guys feel that. They know that. He leads by example. He’s not a real vocal guy when he doesn’t have to be. So I think it’s more of just comforting for everybody, you know, coaches included, just to get him out there and see where he’s at.”

As for Khalil Mack, what needs to be said? Their defense was excellent in his absence, and they now pin one of the league’s best pass-rushers against an offensive line that just allowed ten sacks. It is not a guarantee Mack will play, but he is ready if he gets the OK.

“He’s not where he needs to be or wants to be,” defensive coordinator Vic Fangio admitted. “But he’s certainly prepared enough to go out there and play, if his ankle will let him.” Fangio postulated that the ten sacks might have been an aberration, but his defense is capable of matching that.

Matthew Stafford getting into a rhythm is a danger no team wants to face, and the best way to prevent that is pressure. Pressure pressure pressure. Mack and the rest of the Bears’ defense can be a menace against the Lions, and if they are able to, it will be a major step in taking down the Lions.

Dominating with defense

The Lions allowing ten sacks to the Vikings demonstrates their struggles with athletic interior defensive linemen. The Bears have plenty of beef up front with Akiem Hicks and Eddie Goldman, but they move well for their sizes of 6’5″ 324 pounds and 6’4″ 320 pounds, respectively. Danielle Hunter had 3.5 sacks coming off the edge last week for the Vikings. If that is an indicator of the overall ability of the Lions’ offensive tackles, Khalil Mack could be in for a big day if he is able to play.

“They’re a very similar offense to what they’ve been in the past,” Fangio said of the Lions. ” [Stafford] still slings the ball pretty damn good. You know, he can throw it both from a release standpoint, different platforms, accuracy, arm strength, as good as damn near anybody in the league. And I still see that.”

Kyle Fuller, tied for the NFL lead in interceptions, has emerged as a star on the Bears’ defense this year. The same goes for Eddie Jackson, who has taken a major step in year two of his career. Stafford has taken care of the ball this year, but he is not immune to multiple turnover games. He has one this year that came during week one against the New York Jets in which he threw four picks. The Bears have 23 takeaways this season, the second-most in the NFL. Maintaining their opportunistic ways can help them a great deal against the Lions.

Twitter: @crbevins11 @radiomogul

Hear audio from Matt Nagy, Vic Fangio and Allen Robinson

Monday Mulling: 2018 Chicago Bears defense shines in 41-9 thumping of Bills

by

The Chicago Bears took care of business in Buffalo on Sunday, dismantling the Bills en route to a 41-9 victory. The defense shined and the Bears piled on the points against an inferior Bills team. That put the team in good position for their upcoming slate of division opponents.

Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy: SRN Broadcasting

Special defensive performance

To say the Bills’ offense has struggled this season would be an understatement. Marred by horrific quarterback play, they had little chance of effectively moving the ball against a ferocious Bears’ defense, at least before garbage time. The Bears, the top scoring defense in the league, forced four turnovers and four sacks, tallying twelve points on their own.

“Defensively, I thought it was great to see the takeaways and the touchdowns,” coach Matt Nagy said. “Two touchdowns in the second quarter, opportunistic football, guys flying around, tipping balls in the air, extra effort plays I thought. And I was looking for, ‘Was it one or two players who stood out?’ It was everybody. It was all 11.”

The Bears’ pressure was unavoidable, even without Khalil Mack. Leonard Floyd and Aaron Lynch stepped up and provided pressure off the edges that forced Peterman off balance. The majority of his passes were to the flats, but the Bears’ back end was fast enough and fundamental enough to prevent those dump-offs from becoming positive plays, something they had struggled with in recent weeks. When a defense plays in harmony as the Bears did, a special product can be the result.

The Bills’ most dangerous asset on offense is LeSean McCoy, and the Bears shut him down, allowing only ten yards on ten carries, and creating multiple negative plays. Chicago stymied the Bills’ offense by taking away the run, making Peterman have to pass the ball, and forcing several third and long situations. Creating those less than ideal situations limits what the offense can call, and it forces the quarterback to make big throws. Peterman was unable to, and it is a big reason why the Bears were so successful.

Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky: SRN Broadcasting

Save for one exceptional diving interception by Kyle Fuller, three of the Bears’ four takeaways were collective efforts. Eddie Jackson and Roquan Smith teamed up for a forced fumble that Jackson took back for a touchdown, and Fuller broke up two passes that led to interceptions by Adrian Amos and Leonard Floyd, the latter of which resulted in a pick-six.

“The DBs speaks for themselves. They made plays, they tackled, they were flying around. Again I use the word ‘opportunistic’ is the best way to use it with them.” – Matt Nagy

None of their takeaways were the result of sloppy turnovers from the Bills; they were true takeaways by the Bears, making their four-takeaway day even more impressive.

Fuller’s dominance

As alluded to, Kyle Fuller was spectacular on Sunday. He was all over the field Sunday and was responsible for three takeaways.

Fuller’s career was off to an up-and-down start, and there were questions surrounding his future before the start of the 2017 season. He responded to the competition brought in before the season with a standout season a year ago, and was rewarded with a lucrative deal this past offseason.

So far in 2018, he has earned every penny. Fuller has been one of the best players on a loaded Bears defense. He is tied for the league lead in interceptions with four and has nine passes defensed, tying him for fourth in the league.

His impact was enormous on Sunday. Peterman rarely went his way, and when he did, an incompletion or worse was the common result. He was aggressive in the open field, delivering a huge hit on a much bigger player in Kelvin Benjamin. Fuller plays with a quiet moxie that is contagious for the rest of the secondary, and that confidence has carried over into his play.

Roquan Smith’s impact

Roquan Smith had his best performance as a Chicago on Sunday, recording a team-high 13 tackles and a forced fumble. Those 13 tackles match the most of his young career, and similar performances could be on the horizon.

“Credit to my teammates,” Smith said. “And also just flying around, trying to make plays, giving max effort on every single play.”

Nagy credited both Smith and Danny Trevathan, saying, “Linebackers, collectively between the two of them, with Danny and Roquan, I thought, both of them, it was probably their best game of the year.”

It may not always appear in the stat sheet, but Smith’s growth has been noticeable on a week-to-week basis. Missing training camp certainly increased his learning curve, but he seems to be adjusting to the speed and play-style of the NFL. The instincts and speed from his college tape were present all year, but has begun to marry those traits with an understanding of the game. The result? Performances like Sunday.

Follow on Twitter: @crbevins11 @radiomogul

Hear audio from Matt Nagy:

Notre Dame keeps playoff hopes alive in 31-21 win at Northwestern

by

Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly: SRN Broadcasting

The gold helmets that are the calling card of Notre Dame football were held high in triumph as the Fighting Irish trotted off Ryan Field in celebration of their 31-21 victory over the Northwestern Wildcats.

The classic gold matched up with Northwestern’s throwback numbered helmets was emblematic of the first-half: Tough, grind-away offense that resulted in low-scoring. Each team had a pair of missed field goals and their respective touchdown drives each lasted over five minutes. Starting on their own 21 and following a missed Wildcats field goal, Notre Dame chipped away at a physical Northwestern defense for 14-play, 79-yard drive that lasted five minutes and 33 seconds. Two possessions later, Northwestern went on their own grueling march in which they ran the ball on 12 of 18 plays for a 73-yard touchdown drive. Notre Dame entered the locker room in what had become the all-too-familiar territory of a sluggish start.

“We talked about it a lot,” quarterback Ian Book said of their recent first-half woes. “It’s really hard to win in college football in November and we know that. You know, two weeks in a row starting off on the wrong foot. It sucks a little bit. Takes a little momentum away. But like I said earlier this team just does such a good job of forgetting about what happened and having that next play mentality.”

Book settled in after completing seven of 15 passes in the first-half. He got into a rhythm coming out of the gates, leading an 80-yard drive on Notre Dame’s opening second-half possession, hitting his receivers in stride and eventually linking up with Miles Boykin for a 20-yard touchdown to go ahead 14-7.

Notre Dame’s next drive saw Book lead a drive of chunk plays to go 98 yards for a score, and just like that, Notre Dame was up 21-7. Book would finish his day with 343 passing yards and 62 yards rushing, including a 23-yard, game-sealing score.

Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book: SRN Broadcasting

“[It] probably would have taken a film-study to kind of make those adjustments,” coach Brian Kelly said of his quarterback’s growth to where he is now. “And they would probably go into action the following week. He can make them at halftime. We can sit down, go over them with him, draw them up, he can see them clearly. And then access those immediately in the third quarter.”

Northwestern’s stout run-defense neutralized Notre Dame’s ground attack, which meant Book had to respond. And respond he did. A big part of how he found success was his connection with receiver Chase Claypool, who finished with eight receptions for 130 yards and was there to move the chains when needed.

“Chase did awesome,” Book said. “It was really good to see just cause I know how hard he works at practice and he was due for a big night like tonight.”

“You know he’s going to put the ball where it needs to be,” Claypool said of Book. “On that slant-out, it’s right there for me. So, I mean I trust him, he trusts me.”

The Notre Dame defense did its job, allowing only 249 yards of total offense. They kept Clayton Thorson on his toes and kept him from getting comfortable in the pocket. They sacked him five times and constantly flushed him out of the pocket, preventing him from getting into any sort of rhythm, which is when he becomes most dangerous. Despite two second-half touchdowns from Northwestern, one of which was made possible by a blocked punt that gave them a short field, Notre Dame’s defense kept the Wildcats in check throughout most of the game.

“Our defense is something that’s like waking up a sleeping beast really when games are close,” cornerback Julian Love said. “When we were up by only three, everybody’s just pacing down the sideline, yelling at each other, screaming, motivating each other.”

Notre Dame now moves to 9-0 and their status as a Playoff contender remains intact. Being an independent team, going undefeated is one of the only ways they can make the Playoff. As it stands, they and Alabama are the only remaining unbeaten teams who have played entirely FBS opponents. Next week, they face a Florida State team that is in shambles and searching for an identity. If they take care of business the rest of the way, there is a strong likelihood the Fighting Irish will crash this year’s Playoff party.

Twitter: @crbevins11 @radiomogul

2018 Chicago Bears at Buffalo Bills preview

by

The Chicago Bears will travel to Buffalo to play the Bills for the first time since 2010 this Sunday, and with them, they bring the hopes of extending their NFC North lead.

Taking care of business

The Bills’ offense has been abysmal this season. They sit squarely at the bottom of the NFL in passing offense and passing touchdowns and they are 30th in total offense. They have also posted the worst DVOA rating through eight games of any team since 1988. Rookie quarterback Josh Allen, the seventh overall pick, is hurt, as well as the recently added Derek Anderson, meaning Nathan Peterman is likely to trot out Sunday for the Bills.

“We just got to defend their offense, you know, regardless of who’s playing quarterback for them,” defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said. “I know that they like [Peterman] there. You know he did earn the starting job coming out of camp. They pulled him for the rookie [Allen] at some point. And I do know that they have a lot of confidence in him, and we got to be able to defend their offense. And he’s a capable player.”

Despite the respect Fangio shows to him, Peterman’s statistics show low completion rates, minimal offensive production and a bevy of interceptions thrown. The Bears’ defense has eleven interceptions on the year, good enough for second in the NFL. This is an opportunistic bunch that has seen improved takeaway ability by players like Kyle Fuller and Eddie Jackson, and should add to that mark against a quarterback who has four interceptions in two games of extended play.

Regardless of whether or not Khalil Mack plays, the Bears’ defense is more than capable of taking it to the Bills, a team that has struggled to move the ball in any sense this season. If the Bears play their game, the Bills’ offense, like the Jets’, will struggle to get anything going. Sound tackling and forcing an inadequate quarterback to make throws he can’t make should stymie any offensive momentum.

Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy: SRN Broadcasting

A sneaky Bills’ defense

While the offense has struggled mightily this season, the Bills’ defense has played somewhat under the radar. They sit fourth in the league in defensive DVOA* and feature DE Jerry Hughes LB Lorenzo Alexander and CB Tre’Davious White.

“How hard they play is the first thing that stands out,” offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich said. “It doesn’t matter the score. You know, they had a couple tough ones earlier in the year and they were playing their tails off when they were down big. They were playing their tails off when they were up big.

“The edges, obviously with [Hughes] and probably now [Alexander]. They can put a lot of pressure on the quarterback. They’re very exotic but sound in how they rush the pressure and how they attack protections.”

Trubisky has struggled with exotic looks and pressures at times this season. Part of the growing process is learning how to handle misleading looks at the line of scrimmage.

“They’ve been very good for a long time at all their stops defensively so it’s a huge challenge and a unique challenge,” Helfrich said.

Make no mistake, the Bills have a solid defensive group that has been burdened by an incapable offense. A huge part of their gameplan will be to keep Trubisky off balance and prevent him from getting into a rhythm. The short game is how to beat a defense that can rush the passer, as has been seen with teams who find success against the Bears’ defense. Trubisky hitting quick completions early will force the Bills to put more men in coverage than in pass-rush. When that happens, Trubisky will have the time to find chunk plays and really get the ball rolling.

Depth will be tested

Bears offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich: SRN Broadcasting

The Bears look to be without Kyle Long for some time and neither Khalil Mack or Allen Robinson practiced on Thursday. Their defense did well without Mack last week and the same should continue against an opponent inferior to the Jets, but the loss of Long could be more impactful against a stout defensive front like the Bills.

“Harry’s a great teacher,” coach Matt Nagy said of offensive line coach Harry Hiestand. “He knows how to really dive into the details with each player on how their technique is or what he sees with a defensive player, specifically.”

Though Eric Kush is still on the injury report, Nagy said he believes he will be good to go Sunday. Opposite Kush will be rookie James Daniels, a player who has developed nicely since he came to Chicago.

“There’s just a little hesitancy with some of the things he’s done, but very excited about his future,” Helfrich said.

The interior blocking is crucial to the Bears’ inside zone run scheme. How Daniels and Kush step up in Long’s absence will be vital to the Bears’ run game this week, and for the foreseeable future.

*DVOA: An advanced metric created by Football Outsiders that rates a team’s efficiency by measuring the success on a given play compared to the league average.

Twitter: @crbevins11 @radiomogul

Hear audio from Matt Nagy, Vic Fangio and Mark Helfrich:

2018 Chicago Bears vs New York Jets preview

by

The Chicago Bears will face the New York Jets this Sunday, as they try to right the ship of their previous two losses. Their rookie quarterback and exploitable matchups make the Jets  a beatable team.

Reviving the pass rush

The Bears’ lack of pass rush was noticeable last Sunday, but it was largely by design. Khalil Mack dropped into coverage eighteen times and rushed Tom Brady sixteen times. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio cited Brady’s ability to get the ball out quickly as a reason for heavy coverage from his star pass-rusher. Leonard Floyd also spent a lot of time in coverage, so the Bears often had to rely on three-man pressure.

The Bears will not face Tom Brady this week. Instead, rookie Sam Darnold will be under center in Soldier Field, bringing with him a lot of hype and excitement, and a significant lack of NFL experience.

“It’s an opportunity, but, you know, this game is football,” linebacker Danny Trevathan said. “Anybody can win any given Sunday, but we know we’re not going to take this stuff lightly. We want to win this game. So, we’re going to approach it like it’s our Super Bowl.”

Darnold is a lot like regular rookie quarterbacks in that, while he’ll dazzle on one play, he’ll make a head-scratching decision on the next. He can “make all the throws,” but the question is if can he make the right ones.

Coach Matt Nagy offered praise for Darnold.

“For him to be a rookie, and thrown into the mix right away, he’s making plays. And he’s learning on the run. I think they’re doing a good job offensively with what they’re giving him. The types of plays they’re giving him is benefiting him as a rookie.”

Beating rookie quarterbacks typically starts with the pass-rush. If a defense can get in a rookie quarterback’s face and force him to make ill-timed decisions, mistakes will happen. Although he has ten touchdowns on the season, Darnold also has ten interceptions as well. The Bears have been opportunistic with turnovers all year, forcing eleven interceptions and six fumbles. They even managed five takeaways even in their last two games, both loses. Maintaining their run of takeaway-success will be key to stopping the Jets’ offense, and they can maximize those opportunities with a strong pass rush.

Player health

The caveat to the Bears’ pass-rush is their health, particularly that of Khalil Mack.

Mack got off to a historically great start to his Bears career, but an ankle injury in Miami has stymied his domination. He has been held without a sack in his last two games and his injury appears to be a big reason why. He did not participate in practice on Wednesday or Thursday.

Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy: SRN Broadcasting

“We know when he’s out there he’s going to give us everything,” Trevathan said of Mack. “Our defense, we got his back no matter what. We know when he’s ready he’s going to be ready. So, we’re just got to make more plays.”

The Bears’ defense was a top-ten unit without Mack last year, so, logically speaking, they should manage without him. If he is unable to play Sunday, Aaron Lynch and Leonard Floyd will have to up their game significantly. Akiem Hicks will patrol the middle, but they will need more than just an interior rush to really rattle Darnold.

Allen Robinson and Eric Kush also did not practice due to injury. Robinson has nursed a groin injury the past couple weeks and while he has played through it, it has kept him from unlocking his full capabilities. The Bears are in good hands if Kush is unable to play, as James Daniels is very capable of taking over full-time if need be. Nonetheless, the injury to Robinson is something to keep an eye on. He is a top-ten receiver when at his best, and having him at full-strength would mean a lot for this offense.

Taking advantage of a flawed defense

The Jets have some impressive names on their defense, starting with defensive tackle Leonard Williams, and budding-star safety Jamal Adams. They are a team, however, prone to giving up a lot of offense.

“They’re a very solid defense. Obviously, another defense that has taken away the football so that’s going to be an emphasis this week, especially myself. Just continuing to take care of the football,”  -Mitch Trubisky

The Jets allow a lot of points. They have allowed 30 points or more in three of their last four games and have allowed 400 yards three times in that time frame. Despite being third in the NFL in takeaways, they have averaged 371.7 yards allowed per game, 19th in the NFL.

“I think it’s just going to come down to how great a week of practice we have. And just executing our gameplan and going out there and doing it on Sunday and everyone just trusting and believing in their jobs,” Trubisky added.

The Bears have been able to move the ball and score points; they have had over 450 yards of total offense and have scored 28 points or more in each of their last three games.

“I’ve always been impressed with Mitch,” tight end Trey Burton said. “Some of the play calls can get really long. And he does a really good job of, you know, spitting them out and not making a lot of mistakes.”

They can find success against the Jets, but once more, it will come down to execution. There is enough skill-talent on the offense that all Mitch Trubisky has to do is run it the way it is intended to. Hitting his throws and making the right reads could lead to another big day for the Bears’ offense.

Twitter: @crbevins11 @radiomogul

Hear audio from Matt Nagy, Mitch Trubisky and Danny Trevathan: