Inside the Game: Bears secondary working through growing pains
Rich Campbell Contact Reporter Chicago Tribune
As the Bears prepare to defend the Texans’ retooled passing game in Sunday’s season opener, one particular word comes to mind about their secondary: unproven.
Other descriptors apply, such as inexperienced, thin and, perhaps, depleted. But overall, this is a group with much to prove after accounting for only four interceptions, a franchise-record-low, a season ago.
Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio followed John Fox’s “under-promise and overproduce” script Wednesday when asked if it’s fair to say the Bears defense has more weapons this season than last.
“I don’t know if that’s a good way to put it,” Fangio said. “I think we are improved up front, in the front seven. We’re basically a very similar group on the back end right now.”
Translation: the Bears’ secondary has a long way to go.
Making matters worse, there’s uncertainty about whether cornerback Kyle Fuller will play Sunday. He’s only four weeks removed from arthroscopic surgery on one of his knees. And Fuller, in his third season, is one of the elder statesmen in the secondary.
Safeties Adrian Amos and Harold Jones-Quartey are in their second years, as is slot cornerback Bryce Callahan. Cornerback Deiondre’ Hall, who might have to play on the outside if Fuller sits Sunday, was drafted in the fourth round in April.
This Sunday and beyond, the Bears will have to overcome their growing pains. It’s critical for players to learn from mistakes, as they did on the longest play surrendered by the defense in preseason, a 58-yard completion by the Chiefs.
Let’s take a closer look at the play.
In the third quarter, many of the Bears’ first-stringers were still in the game against the Chiefs’ backups. On third-and-20 from the Chiefs’ 48-yard line, the Bears’ personnel grouping included six defensive backs. They rushed three defenders at quarterback Nick Foles and played Cover-3 behind him, with Amos responsible for the deep middle.
NFL.com Game Pass
The Chiefs, meanwhile, had two receivers to the right of the formation. The play succeeded for the offense partly because they put Amos in conflict with their route combination.
Both receivers ran deep, forcing Amos to make a choice, as you can see below. When he came down on slot receiver De’Anthony Thomas over the middle, that created single coverage on the outside with Hall against rookie Tyreek Hill.
NFL.com Game Pass
Notice how Thomas catches Amos’ attention, leaving the rookie cornerback Hall alone to run with Hill.
Meanwhile, Jones-Quartey is responsible for the curl/flat, so he’s not dropping as Thomas runs past him. Also, the Bears’ three-man pass rush leaves enough time for the long route to develop.
NFL.com Game Pass
From the wide angle below, you can see Amos realize the outside receiver, Hill, has gotten behind him and is the intended target.
“We were vacant a post safety that should've been there,” Fox said. “It wasn't a good down for the Bears, for sure.”
Said Amos: “No deep ball should be completed, no matter what I saw or what I was thinking. It’s more to it with the corner and the safety, but at the end of the day, I’ve got to be over the top. If it’s a deep route, it should be a double on it. It should be two guys on it. Moving forward, that’s how we do it.
“You’ve always got your rules,” Amos continued. “In certain coverage, you know what you’ve got. However they switch it in and out, you’ve always got your same reads, your same keys. So regardless of what they do, you should be good.”
NFL.com Game Pass
From there, Hall was beaten for the completion when he didn’t turn and find the ball, which he had time to do because it was underthrown. Hall committed too early and fell past the receiver.
NFL.com Game Pass
“He might have gotten crossed up on where the ball was, might have panicked a bit, which happens sometimes, and didn't turn to find the ball,” Fox said. “Those are things that we'll coach. Our coaches do a good job. When it happens live, sometimes you don't feel or see it quite as well. Sometimes it's pretty evident. He'll learn from it and move on.”
We have little chance to win Sunday if Hopkins lights us up left and right. The pass rush has to get pressure on Osweiler and the DBs have to be at least decent in coverage or it will be a long day and easy win for Houston.
I don't see us having much of a chance in a shootout type game.
We have little chance to win Sunday if Hopkins lights us up left and right. The pass rush has to get pressure on Osweiler and the DBs have to be at least decent in coverage or it will be a long day and easy win for Houston.
I don't see us having much of a chance in a shootout type game.
