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The Sports Report – December 2018

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with Packer Dave, Steve Leventhal, and John Poulter

Dave and Steve discuss the Chicago Bears’ stunning win over the Los Angeles Rams. What was defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s role in the victory? We also get commentary from Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune. John joins us with his insights into the NHL and English Premier League soccer.  Plus, can the Green Bay Packers keep winning and make the playoffs. All that and lots more NFL talk.  Hear interviews from Matt Nagy, Mitch Trubisky, new Packers coach Joe Philbin, Aaron Rogers, and Sean McVay.

The Packers come to Soldier Field for the second meeting of the 2018 season!

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2018 Chicago Bears vs Minnesota Vikings preview

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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.:

Monday Mulling: 2018 Chicago Bears dismantle Detroit Lions 34-22

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The 2018 Chicago Bears dominated the Detroit Lions on Sunday, walking away with a 34-22 victory and a 6-3 record. They were excellent on offense and dominated on defense, furthering their case as serious playoff contenders.

Mitch-a-palooza

Bears QB Mitch Trubisky: SRN Broadcasting

The story of the game, and with many games, was quarterback Mitch Trubisky, who reached a career-high with 355 passing yards. He also tacked on four touchdowns, three through the air and one on a well-timed quarterback draw. Trubisky was dialed in from the first series, completing all five of his passes on the Bears’ tone-setting, 75-yard touchdown drive. Throughout the game, the offensive line gave him plenty of time to sit back, go through his progressions and deliver strikes to open receivers. He had struggled to hit wide open targets for much of the season, but he did so Sunday, showing the full potential of Matt Nagy’s offense when it is executed.

“I just felt really comfortable out there, thought the O-line played fantastic today, and we got open on the outsides and it was just me doing my job, sitting back there and getting the ball to the playmakers,” Trubisky said. “I put the ball where it needed to go and it’s all a credit to my teammates and the work we put in in practice.”

What really stood out wasn’t so much the eye-popping numbers as it was how he achieved them. Trubisky was in complete command of the offense. He made checks at the line of scrimmage, he displayed comfort in the pocket, and he threw with timing. Trubisky also knew where to go with the ball before the snap. An example of this was on Allen Robinson’s second touchdown.  Robinson, lined up in the slot, was one-on-one with the 5’9 Quandre Diggs, an immediate mismatch given Robinson’s separation ability, combined with his 6’3, 209-pound frame. Detroit had no linebackers in the middle of the field, meaning any ball thrown in that vicinity had a chance at a big play. Trubisky identified this, and knew that such was an inevitability if Robinson was able to separate from Diggs on a slant route, which he did. Trubisky delivered the ball and Robinson was off to the races for a 26-yard touchdown. It is important to look for signs of growth when evaluating Trubisky, and this was a perfect example.

Allen Robinson’s return

Despite missing two weeks with a groin injury, Allen Robinson reminded everyone why he was given a three-year, $42 million deal to come to Chicago. He caught six passes for 133 yards and two touchdowns, dominating any one-on-one matchup he was given.

“He made a huge impact,” Trubisky said of Robinson. “Obviously, all the catches he made and the touchdown catches, but he is just so hard to cover one-on-one, he’s another dynamic weapon for this offense and another guy to account for.”

He added, “He just knows how to use his body and run great routes that create separation and when the ball’s in the air it’s 12’s ball.

“Allen has a really good feel and a really good knack of beating press,” coach Matt Nagy said. “And you saw a couple guys who got up and tried to jam him and press him. And he’s been that way for, even in Jacksonville. That’s one of the things that stood out to me.”

Robinson’s size already makes him a difficult matchup, but his route-running ability allows him to work from the slot and take advantage of undersized corners. Any single coverage look Trubisky got let him know that Robinson would be open quickly. His route-running savviness can flip the cornerback’s hips to give him an opening on a slant, and he can turn a defender around on vertical routes. His strong hands allow him to haul in nearly anything in traffic, and he demonstrated what it looks like when all those tools are put together on Sunday.

Return of the Mack

Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy: SRN Braodcasting

In addition to Robinson, Mack had been inactive the past two weeks. After using that time to heal up, he came back in a big way against the Lions, totaling five tackles and two sacks. He came up huge to force a three-and-out when he came backside and stopped fullback Nick Bellore for no gain on a third-and-one. The Lions punted, and the Bears scored a touchdown on the ensuing drive.

Mack’s impact, while often seen on the stat sheet, also went beyond just numbers on Sunday. He faced double teams and took away any vertical tight end threat, as the position was often used to chip Mack and open up in the flats.

“They did a lot of different things,” Mack said. “They used a lot of chippers, they used a lot of different things, schematically, to kind of slow us down.”

His two sacks will what stick out, but the way Mack impacts the game is always worthy of discussion. The team had six sacks of Stafford and Mack is a big reason for that number, directly and indirectly. That impact will have to continue next week against a porous Minnesota Vikings offensive line to put the Bears in a winning position.

Doink!

If there are any negatives from Sunday, it was kicker Cody Parkey’s struggles. He hit the upright an astonishing four times, two extra points and two field goals.

“Everybody in this room has had a bad day,” Nagy pointed out Monday. “He wasn’t having a good day yesterday. There is a balance of being able to show trust to ‘Hey get back out there, kick one and make it and get back on track.’ And it didn’t happen yesterday.”

The plan moving forward is to roll with Parkey. Nagy quickly dismissed any notion of change after the game and cited Packers’ kicker Mason Crosby as someone who bounced back a week after struggling.

“You go back to a few weeks ago when Mason Crosby missed a few, you know for Green Bay. And then next week he ended up kicking a game-winner.”

The kicking position will be crucial if the Bears find themselves in the playoffs, and it could ultimately be the difference between the dance and another season short of the playoffs. There appears to be one vulnerability right now, but if Parkey can put it together, the 2018 Bears will be the most complete team the franchise has fielded in a while.

Follow on Twitter: @radiomogul @crbevins11

Hear audio from Matt Nagy, Mitch Trubisky and Khalil Mack

The Sports Report – November 8, 2018

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with Packer Dave, Steve Leventhal, and John Poulter

This week our special guest, Dionne Miller of ABC 7 Chicago, discusses the Chicago Bears at mid season, and previews the upcoming game against the Detroit Lions. Dave looks ahead to the Green Bay Packers – Miami Dolphins game at Lambeau, and John comments on the unexpected firing of Chicago Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville.  Why did this happen, and what is in coach Q’s future?

Hear interviews from Aaron Rogers, Aaron Jones, rookie WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling of the Packers. Plus Matt Nagy, Mitch Trubisky, Roquan Smith, and Prince Amukamara of the Bears.  In addition, we have sound bytes from Lions coach Matt Patricia, Dolphins QB Brock Osweiler, and Jonathan Toews of the Blackhawks.

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Monday Mulling: 2018 Chicago Bears Ground New York Jets

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The Chicago Bears ended their two-game skid by defeating the New York Jets Sunday. Following an up-and-down offensive first half, the Bears pulled away in the second half to defeat the Jets 24-10. It wasn’t always pretty, but this still-developing team did its job in defeating an inferior opponent.

No Mack, no problem

Football is a weird sport and Sunday was no exception. The Bears had struggled to stop offenses the previous two weeks, even with Khalil Mack. Conventional wisdom indicated that those problems could be exacerbated without their superstar pass-rusher. Despite that, the defense looked the best it’s been since Arizona.

“We were disappointed in ourselves for getting ran on after starting off the season kicking people’s butt,” linebacker Aaron Lynch said post game. “Our whole vibe this week was we were just going to come out and be aggressive, hit people and if you hit-and-miss, you hit-and-miss but we were going to hit you.”

Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy: SRN Broadcasting

The Bears’ defense made a rookie quarterback look like a rookie. Jets quarterback Sam Darnold never seemed fully in control and was unable to establish a rhythm, completing only 14 of 29 passes for 153 yards and a single touchdown.

A rookie quarterback’s best friend can be the run game and the Bears took that away from the Jets away in a hurry. Isaiah Crowell, who ran for 219 yards against the Broncos in Week Five, never had anywhere to go and finished with 13 carries for a mere 25 yards. Akiem Hicks played like his normal self up the middle, and the defense clamped down on all phases. It was a much-needed performance for a defense that had been reeling in the previous weeks, and a fully healthy Mack will only elevate their play.

Second-half rhythm

The first half against the Jets felt eerily familiar, in that things never quite seemed to fully click for Mitch Trubisky and the Bears’ offense. Save for a screen pass to Tarik Cohen that went for a 70-yard touchdown, the Jets’ pressure prevented Trubisky from getting into a groove. Things came together in the second half, as Trubisky’s footwork settled down, and he began hitting his receivers in stride and with anticipation. What threw him off in the first-half became exploitable in the second, and two second-half touchdowns and a field goal were the results.

Chicago Bears QB Mitch Trubisky: SRN Broadcasting

“You know, I think for all of us, you know, the mentality of just coming back out, we felt like we were just off a tick in the first half,” coach Matt Nagy said. “The guys were focused and again I’m going to go back to if there’s one key drive in that game, it was scoring a touchdown after they had their touchdown for the offense.”

As has been the case recently, Trubisky used his legs to his advantage. He evaded and escaped pressure for positive gains and used his speed to move the chains. Nagy has emphasized that he is to be a quarterback first, but the threat of his legs open things up for the offense.

“He understands he’s a passer first. He’s not looking to run but if he needs to run, he can. I thought his balance was good. I thought he did a good job.”

Teams have to respect his legs, and that respect opens things up in the run game because of the read-option possibility and in coverage when they have a linebacker spy him. The past few weeks have shown how virtuous Trubisky’s mobility can be for this offense.

Trubisky’s success may have to continue without starting guard Kyle Long, who went down late in the game with a foot injury.

“You always feel for the person,” Nagy said Monday. “But as a coach, you got to keep rolling no matter what happens. And that’s why I think Ryan (Pace) and our guys do such a good job.”

Long not only provides excellent play, but he is a leader in the locker room. One veteran, Zach Miller, stood at the podium Monday to discuss the one-year mark since his leg injury in New Orleans.

A running game to lean on

While the Bears didn’t have a 100-yard rusher on Sunday, they totaled over 179 yards on the ground between Trubisky, Jordan Howard, Tarik Cohen, and Anthony Miller. Most notable of that group is Howard, who hasn’t been as productive this season as his previous two. He had 81 yards and a touchdown on 22 attempts and was exactly what the Bears needed him to be.

“So what I liked was he had a bunch of runs there where he kept chewing up a couple yards here or there, you weren’t really feeling it. And then, boom, he popped it in four-minute-type mode, that 24-yard run,” stated Nagy.

Though much of the rushing yards came from Trubisky’s scrambles, Howard reminded everyone how valuable he can be when given the chance. Having a running back that can salt a game away and demoralize a defense with his power is a luxury many teams look for. The ground-and-pound identity so often associated with Chicago Bears football shifted to a pass-heavy, nuanced offense with the arrival of Nagy. In such a process, old-school backs like Howard can get lost in the shuffle while the shiny new toys of golden-armed quarterbacks and do-it-all running backs take their place; there will always be a role for Howard, and Sunday showed the importance of that role.

Follow on Twitter: @crbevins11 @radiomogul

Hear audio from Matt Nagy:

2018 Chicago Bears vs New York Jets preview

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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:

Monday Mulling: 2018 Bears fall just short vs Patriots

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The Chicago Bears squared off with Tom Brady and the New England Patriots on Sunday. They fell 38-31 to perhaps the greatest quarterback to ever grace the NFL, and, as a young team, stand to gain a lot from what prevented victory.

How New England’s offense attacked the Bears’ defense

The Patriots neutralized the Bears’ pass-rush by taking a page out of the Dolphins’ playbook: Get the ball out quick. Brady lived by the short game on Sunday, throwing only five of his 25 completions for 10 yards are more. He averaged 2.56 seconds to throw per attempt, which was the seventh-quickest time in the league for Week 7.

The Patriots took advantage of primarily zone-coverage from the Bears, exploiting the soft spots that naturally come with zone. This allowed them to stay in rhythm and methodically move the ball downfield. It also forced the Bears to tackle in space, something they struggled with in Green Bay and Miami.

New England lives off mismatches, and they found one with James White and the Bears’ outside linebackers. White, per status quo, was dangerous in the passing game, catching eight passes for 57 yards and two touchdowns. The chemistry between him and Brady is apparent, and his shiftiness makes him difficult for big-bodied linebackers to cover. New England knew this and attacked Leonard Floyd and Khalil Mack when they were tasked with covering White.

The Patriots’ defensive gameplan

Earlier in the week, Patriots’ coach Bill Belichick gave praise to Taylor Gabriel and the budding chemistry between him and Mitch Trubisky. So, it should not have been much of a surprise that a big part of their gameplan was to take Gabriel away. They did this by bracketing him and often shading a safety over to his side to neutralize the deep threat he brings, and it worked; Gabriel was limited to just three receptions for 26 yards.

“He did everything that we asked him to,” coach Matt Nagy said of Gabriel.

 

Bears coach Matt Nagy. Photo: SRN Broadcasting

It’s not unusual for the Patriots to take away one key aspect of an offense, but, as Trey Burton’s big day will tell us, it tends to open things up for other players. For a team with so many weapons, like the Bears, it was important to nip the offense in the bud by disrupting its catalyst, Trubisky. If they didn’t let him get comfortable, it wouldn’t matter how many weapons he has.

 

The Patriots approached Trubisky similarly to how they approached Patrick Mahomes. A young quarterback who hasn’t seen a lot and doesn’t know what he doesn’t know is vulnerable to a well-schemed defense with exotic looks. Knowing this, the Patriots ran a lot of tight man coverage with various assignments from their linebackers. They used Dont’a Hightower all over the field, whether it be dropping him into coverage from the A-gap or rushing him off the edge. Their approach was designed to keep a young quarterback uncomfortable.

“He played as I thought,” Nagy said. “He played a game better than most people think he played. And so, there were some throws, now, that he missed in the later part of the game. See, early in the game, there’s some throws that looked like he missed them, but he missed them because the guy wasn’t open. And it’s more of a throwaway.”

“Mitchell also understands that he gets all the blame in those type of situations. Now, he’ll also be the first to tell you, and so will I, that there was a few that he wishes he had back. And he’s got to hit those. He knows that. We know that.”

Though the Patriots’ strategy was mostly successful against Mahomes and Trubisky, the two fared well in the stat book, each compiling over 300 yards and multiple touchdowns.

Run, Mith, Run!

New England brought a lot of pressure which threw Trubisky out of rhythm in the first half. The disguise blitzes and disguise coverages were executed well by the Patriots and kept Trubisky on edge in the pocket.

His mobility allowed him to escape and be effective with his feet, though. The Patriots’ man-heavy coverage took their defensive backs with the Bears’ receivers and away from the line of scrimmage, giving Trubisky ample room to scramble and make plays with his feet.

“That’s a weapon right now for us, him using his legs, because there’s coverages that defenses cannot run now because he’s running the ball.”

We’ve seen his athleticism slowly come on display over his young career, and Trubisky effectively used it when things weren’t going great through the air. Development is not a linear process, and, in many ways, Sunday can be seen as a hiccup in that process. Having the means to still be effective when things aren’t going right is a valuable tool to have. It bailed him out of stressful situations and is just one more trick Nagy can keep up his sleeve.

Missed chances sting 2018 Bears in loss vs Dolphins

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Despite jumping out to an 11-point third quarter lead, the Chicago Bears fell to the Miami Dolphins in overtime. A game marked by weirdness and Brock Osweiler throwing 380 yards leaves much to discuss. So, let’s.

Missed chances

The Bears had their share of chances to put the game on ice, and their first missed opportunity can be traced back to the second quarter when Jordan Howard fumbled at the goal line on a potentially game-tying touchdown. To blame the loss on that play would be foolish though.

Chicago Bears QB Mitch Trubisky: SRN Broadcasting

Trey Burton was called for a controversial pass interference call that nullified a touchdown that would have put the Bears up 28-14. The next play, Mitch Trubisky threw an interception right into double coverage and the Dolphins scored on the ensuing drive. A Tarik Cohen fumble late in the fourth quarter ended what looked like a promising Bears drive, but the defense clamped down to force a punt that would send the game to overtime.

The Bears’ response to the Green Bay loss showed how Matt Nagy and his coaching staff can use a negative to create a positive. Players took to social media to support one another and assure fans that they will be back ready to play. Everybody has a bad day at work at times. It’s how you respond. If the last three games are any indicators, the Bears should respond to this adversity, ready to take on Tom Brady and the New England Patriots next week.

Trubisky’s trajectory

Trubisky got off to a sluggish start against Miami, but he came alive in the second half, throwing three touchdowns in the final two quarters.

The difference between the first and second half was noticeable. The offensive line struggled to start the game, and Trubisky was clearly rattled. Once they settled in, however, Trubisky’s full capabilities could be put on display.

Trubisky’s biggest deficiency this season has been his deep-ball ability, but he seems to be putting that together. He missed Anthony Miller on the third play from scrimmage, but he twice found Taylor Gabriel, hitting him for 54 and 47 yards. He delivered a perfect back shoulder throw to Allen Robinson to set them up at the Miami three.

Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy: SRN Broadcasting

On his third touchdown, Miami sent their nickel corner on a blitz, which left Anthony Miller, who was lined up in the slot, wide open. Trubisky hung in, waited for Miller to clear the linebacker, and hit him in stride for a walk-in touchdown. Sunday proved to be a game where the offense had to pick up the defense, and they did for the most part. Most games where the offense scores 28 points are wins; Sunday just wasn’t their day.

There were two bad plays he will want back: An overthrow to a wide-open Anthony Miller and the interception in the end zone. He’ll have to clean those up, but there was more good than bad. He completed 22 of 31 passes for three touchdowns and 316 yards. He now has nine touchdowns in his last three games and has put together consecutive games of a passer rating above 120.  The arrow is up for Trubisky, and that should not be overlooked.

Fuller’s big day

While the defense struggled to get a pass-rush and proved unable to tackle in open space, Kyle Fuller played his part, recording two interceptions that prevented the Dolphins’ momentum from growing to insurmountable heights. The first came late in the second quarter on a deep shot from Osweiler that Fuller nabbed at the Bears’ four. The ball was underthrown, but Fuller stayed in

Devante Parker’s hip pocket the whole, putting him in position to make an easy pick. The second interception came early in the third quarter following the Bears’ opening touchdown. Osweiler attempted a pass towards a curl route on his right, and Fuller jumped the route to take the ball to the Dolphins’ four. One play later, Trubisky hit Allen Robinson to take a 14-7 lead, swinging the momentum straight towards the Bears.

The Dolphins had the formula to beat the Bears’ defense: Quick throws and easy screens to get the ball to their playmakers in space and let the Bears try to tackle in the open field. They couldn’t, and it’s a big reason why they lost. However, when Miami tried to deviate from that gameplan, they had no luck. The Bears’ defense has aggressive, physical players in their back end that typically make the tackles they need to. The offense played well enough to win, and if those two units can play harmoniously as they did against Tampa Bay, the Bears will continue to be a force.

Twitter: @crbevins11 @radiomogul

Chicago Bears at Miami Dolphins 2018 Preview

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Fresh off their bye week, the Chicago Bears will travel to Miami this Sunday to face the Miami Dolphins. For the first time in a while, the Bears have bountiful momentum and a chance to tighten their grip on their first place position in the NFC North.

Will Trubisky build on his success?

Mitch Trubisky was simply great in his last game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He threw for 354 yards and six touchdowns, both career highs. A previously anemic offense was injected with life as its quarterback was finally able to execute the offense the way Matt Nagy had designed it.

He showed he can do it. Now it becomes a question of if he can build off of it.

“He decided to make a throw with conviction and that just kind of domino affected into some other throws,” Nagy said on the opening touchdown pass to Trey Burton. “The biggest takeaway for me isn’t something that you’re going to see on the field so much as it just the way he handled himself in between plays and series.”

Chicago Bears QB Mitch Trubisky: SRN Broadcasting

Trubisky will face perhaps his toughest secondary yet, as the Dolphins lead the NFL in interceptions with 10. Xavien Howard leads the league with three and has blossomed into one of the league’s better cover corners playing opposite Bobby McCain, who is listed as questionable. Reshad Jones has long been a rock at safety and the addition of first-round pick Minkah Fitzpatrick puts the bow on their group.

“That defense takes a lot of pride in taking the ball away,” Trubisky said. “For us, it’s going to be, continue to focus on the execution that we had. Me, emphasizing taking care of the football, our ball carriers taking care of the football and just making good decisions.”

He also confirmed the arm sleeve will return.

Though the Dolphins present an impressive secondary, Trubisky should have time to make his throws if his receivers get open. The Dolphins have nine sacks on the year, planting them at 27th in the NFL. They are 10th in yards allowed and are below average outside their secondary. Trubisky’s performance will come down to execution; Nagy has shown he can get his receivers open week and week out, and the receivers themselves have shown they can make a play when given the chance. If Trubisky can hit his throws like he did against Tampa Bay, he should find success.

Bears coach Matt Nagy: SRN Broadcasting

Pressuring Tannehill

The Bears have had zero problems with rushing the quarterback this year, as evident by their 18 sacks. Nothing can be said about Khalil Mack and his five sacks that has not already been said, but his continued dominance will play a big factor this Sunday. John Mullin of NBC Sports Chicago compared Mack’s impact to how the 1985 Bears’ defense looked.

“What a guy like Mack does is introduce an element like a team like the ’85 guys would talk about. You know, Richard Dent would get a sack and it would make everyone else go, ‘I want to get mine now.'”

What is most intriguing about this matchup is how the Bears’ interior defensive line will play. Miami will be without their starting guard Josh Sitton and as a result, the interior has not faired well. Akiem Hicks has already been a menace up front and should continue that against a weak Dolphins’ interior offensive line. Throw in the extra attention Mack already receives and the Bears may have another field day.

Hicks gave a little insight into what his plan is for Sunday: “Destroy. Destroy everything.”

A pass rush having a field day is the worst thing for a quarterback, but particularly for Ryan Tannehill. Tannehill is among the NFL’s worst when facing pressure, posting a 21.1 passer rating. Getting in his face and making life miserable will put a boot on a Dolphins’ offense that has been explosive at times this year.

“You give him a good group of players, he’s going to make them that much better because he’s a good on the field coach and then he calls the game really well,” Dolphins’ coach Adam Gase said of Vic Fangio and his defense. “It makes him really difficult to prepare for.”

Tannehill is at his best when comfortable. Recent history shows the Bears should be able to get to him and prevent him from setting into any sort of rhythm. If they can take away the Dolphins’ offense, victory should come easily, regardless of how the offense performs.

Bears’ health vs. Dolphins’ health

The past few seasons have not been kind to the Bears as far as injuries go. This season, however, the Bears have remained mostly healthy, with only four players currently on the injury report. Meanwhile, the Dolphins have 16, only six of whom were full participation at practice. The Fins are banged up, and with so many second-stringers potentially seeing action, the Bears will have even more opportunity to extend their recent run of success.

Twitter: @crbevins11 @radiomogul

Hear words from NBC Sports’ John Mullin

Monday mulling: 2018 Chicago Bears scorch Tampa Bay Bucaneers 48-10

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That was fun.

The Chicago Bears had an all-around dominant performance on Sunday, racking up 483 yards of offense and stymieing a Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense that had dominated in the early weeks. The Bears played with ferocious defense and explosive offense and showed the NFL just how great they can be.

Click click… BOOM

Chicago Bears coach Matt Nagy: SRN Broadcasting

The Bears’ offensive woes have brought upon a great deal of criticism through the first three weeks, and skepticism of Mitch Trubisky has only grown. Matt Nagy has preached patience in that time and has emphasized that when things click for Trubisky, great things will happen.

Things clicked on Sunday.

Said coach Matt Nagy, “Today was one of those games where everything was clicking, and the players were just — you could just tell how focused they were at execution and making sure that they did the right things when the plays were called.”

Trubisky had one of the best quarterback performances Chicago has seen in a while, completing 19 of his 26 passes for 354 yards and six touchdowns.

“I knew it all week long, I really did. I knew all week long he was going to have a good game,” said coach Matt Nagy. He was out there spinning the ball in practice. Our red zone practice that we had on Friday might have been the best practice that we had… since we’ve been together.”

Nagy’s play designs have given his receivers space, but Trubisky hasn’t executed. Sunday showed what happens when a quarterback and playbook work hand-in-hand. He dropped two beautiful downfield touchdown passes right where Trey Burton and Allen Robinson needed them. He sold a bubble screen with a convincing pump fake and found Josh Bellamy wide open in the end zone for his fourth touchdown and he found Taylor Gabriel and Tarik Cohen in space where they are most dangerous. The two rewarded him handsomely; Cohen racked up 171 receiving yards and a touchdown and Gabriel had 104 yards and two scores.

Trubisky finally looked comfortable. He went through his reads and made accurate to his open players. He also looked very comfortable in the pocket and mostly eliminated his happy feet. One thing that stood out was his ability to manipulate the pocket on a 2nd and nine at 9:55 in the second quarter. Instead of looking to escape, he calmly slid to his right to give himself a better throwing lane. He found Burton wide open and delivered a strike that led to a touchdown. That play showed maturity and development.

The defense shut down a prolific offense

Tampa Bay came to Chicago as the number three offense in passing touchdowns and passing yards. Mike Evans and DeSean Jackson were on a tear that was navigated by Ryan Fitzpatrick. Without Prince Amukamara, it seemed as though Tampa Bay may continue its air-attack.

Nope.

Tampa Bay could not get going on offense. Save for a big play over the middle from DeSean Jackson, the Bucs’ offense was held in check. Kevin Tolliver II played well in his first NFL start, but he was aided by a Bears pass-rush that just wouldn’t let up.

Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky: SRN Broadcasting

Nagy commented on his defense’s performance: “For that offense that we just faced, I mean, there were 400 yards in a row three straight times, so yeah. What a credit to the defensive players and coaches for being able to come out here and really do an unbelievable job versus that great offense. So regardless of who the quarterback is or who they have doing what… you saw we got pressure.”

Fitzpatrick had little time when dropping back and his receivers didn’t have time to get open as a result.  He was sacked twice and finished 9-for-18 with 126 yards and an interception. For the second straight week, the Bears forced the other team to pull the starter.

Winston did not fare much better, as he too was sacked twice. He also threw two interceptions and had a touchdown in garbage time. The Bears had four sacks on the day to bring their season total to 18. Khalil Mack had another forced fumble and sack, and they benefited from excellent defensive line play. The Bears now have eight interceptions on the season, which already matches their season total from each of the last three seasons. The Bears’ defense looks more special as every week goes by.

Patience is a virtue

Trubisky had not looked particularly sharp in any game of his young career, and the doubters increased with every week. Frustration grew as the offense left a lot of slack for the defense to pick up over the first three weeks. The media expectations for the timeline of a quarterback’s development were far from reality, but they were still placed on Trubisky. He wasn’t where he was “supposed to be,” despite everything Nagy had said about being patient with expectations.

His patience paid off with Trubisky’s performance.

“We really came to work with a purpose this week to go out there, break through on offense, and everyone just do their job and make plays,” Trubisky said postgame. “And when you do that, you’re just out there having fun with the guys. That’s what makes it special.”

“Mitch understands that we as coaches are doing everything we possibly can to make him feel comfortable,” Nagy said on Monday.

Does this game automatically mean Trubisky is a great quarterback? No. The future remains as uncertain as it did Saturday. But what Sunday’s performance did show is just how great Trubisky can be. When he has full control of the offense and is executing the plays designed to be executed, good things will happen. One offseason was never going to be enough for Trubisky to truly understand the offense. From the moment Nagy was hired, it was going to take time. This may end up as just a blip on the radar. It may end up as the start of something special. But if nothing else, Trubisky’s shredding of Tampa Bay is a reminder that three weeks is not enough time to make a verdict on a quarterback’s future.