Sherrick McManis was Bears' unsung hero in Week 15
Dec 18, 2018 17:17:26 GMT -6
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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2018 17:17:26 GMT -6
Sherrick McManis was Bears' unsung hero in Week 15 win over Packers
By: Lorin Cox | 8 hours ago
The Chicago Bears entered Week 15 with one perceived weakness on their defense.
Slot cornerback Bryce Callahan had just landed on injured reserve with his foot injury, and veteran special teams ace Sherrick McManis was set to take his place.
By: Lorin Cox | 8 hours ago
The Chicago Bears entered Week 15 with one perceived weakness on their defense.
Slot cornerback Bryce Callahan had just landed on injured reserve with his foot injury, and veteran special teams ace Sherrick McManis was set to take his place.
Coming into Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field, he had played exactly 150 defensive snaps over the previous three seasons combined. Entering this season, he had less than 500 career defensive snaps to his name.
He stepped in on Sunday and was on the field for all but six of the Bears’ plays, and he had perhaps the best game of his career, three days before his 31st birthday.
It was clear Aaron Rodgers wanted to test McManis in the critical moments of the game. According to Pro Football Focus, four of his seven targets in coverage came in the fourth quarter, including three in the final three minutes.
He stepped in on Sunday and was on the field for all but six of the Bears’ plays, and he had perhaps the best game of his career, three days before his 31st birthday.
It was clear Aaron Rodgers wanted to test McManis in the critical moments of the game. According to Pro Football Focus, four of his seven targets in coverage came in the fourth quarter, including three in the final three minutes.
This throw, for example, was Rodgers trying to force it to one of his most-trusted receivers in the slot.
Randall Cobb couldn’t really create any separation, but the Packers quarterback tried to throw it a little more to the back shoulder. McManis was ready and made the deflection.
The most impressive play by the veteran cornerback came in the end zone on what turned out to be Rodgers’ last throw of the game.
McManis quickly identified the slant-flat route concept and held his zone to cut off any potential quick pass to Davante Adams.
With that taken away, Rodgers had to freelance from the pocket and trust his receiver to get open. McManis recognized the situation and turned his attention solely to Adams to prevent him from slipping free behind the coverage.
For a soon-to-be 31-year-old cornerback, he stayed step-for-step with the receiver on all his sudden movements and made a great dive to break up the pass.
In total, McManis was targeted seven times and allowed three catches for 17 yards, according to PFF. Only one went for a first down.
He also added a quarterback hit on a blitz, something he’s specialized in this season.
With that taken away, Rodgers had to freelance from the pocket and trust his receiver to get open. McManis recognized the situation and turned his attention solely to Adams to prevent him from slipping free behind the coverage.
For a soon-to-be 31-year-old cornerback, he stayed step-for-step with the receiver on all his sudden movements and made a great dive to break up the pass.
In total, McManis was targeted seven times and allowed three catches for 17 yards, according to PFF. Only one went for a first down.
He also added a quarterback hit on a blitz, something he’s specialized in this season.
Lorin Cox @coxsports1
Highest pressure rates among cornerbacks with at least 10 blitzes this season:
Bryce Callahan: 59.1%
Mackenzie Alexander: 47.1%
Sherrick McManis: 42.9%#Bears
McManis alleviated any concern fans might have had about losing Bryce Callahan to injury. The oldest player on the defense left no weakness in the slot on Sunday.
He made some All Pro plays on Sunday that's for sure. 
