Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2016 11:15:34 GMT -6
Strong start but familiar ending for mediocre Bears
David Haugh Contact Reporter Chicago Tribune
A pained smile masked the punishment Bears quarterback Jay Cutler felt from getting sacked five times Sunday in 23-14 loss to the Texans at NRG Stadium.
But, clearly, Cutler's body hurt, as did the Bears' psyche, after they let a fourth-quarter lead slip away in a season opener that confirmed much of what we knew about this team — or feared.
"Hit-wise, I don't feel great,'' the quarterback acknowledged. "I didn't get hit in preseason, so the last time I got hit like that was last year. Usually, you wait till Week 4 or 5 and get used to it. … I'll bounce back.''
Perhaps so will the Bears, who started strong but finished familiarly. Eventually, coach John Fox's team believes it will be better for challenging a playoff-caliber opponent on its home field as well as they did at times. As Cutler pointed out after facing one of the fiercest defensive lines in the NFL, "You don't see defenses like this week in and week out.'' Yet Chicago's biggest takeaway from Week 1 will revolve around the Texans reinforcing what the Bears aren't more than the league learning what they are. The Bears simply aren't good enough yet to win games like this.
They competed evenly early and held a 14-13 lead heading into the fourth quarter, but isolated defensive breakdowns on third downs, offensive line protection issues and limited skill on offense prevented victory.
"It's there,'' Fox said optimistically. "We just haven't been whole for very long.''
Fox referenced the offensive line playing together for the first time since signing left guard Josh Sitton but, in reality, that sounded like an excuse given bigger concerns were exposed at tackle. Neither left tackle Charles Leno Jr. nor right tackle Bobby Massie did much more Sunday than concern Cutler's loved ones. Texans edge rusher Whitney Mercilus, in particular, showed no mercy, sacking Cutler twice and forcing a fumble.
The offense managed just 258 total yards — 75 coming on an opening drive that ended in a touchdown. Nothing running back Jeremy Langford, a committee of one apparently, did in gaining 57 yards on 15 carries made it easier to accept discard Matt Forte gaining 96 yards for the Jets. Nothing new offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains called surprised anybody as the Bears resorted to what Fox called "backyard football'' by the fourth quarter.
The most alarming development came when wide receiver Kevin White reminded everybody how much his inexperience could mute his explosiveness. On the second play of the third quarter, ahead 14-10, Cutler threw to the spot he expected White to run and safety Andre Hal intercepted at the Bears' 25. The defense held the Texans to a field goal that ultimately made a difference in how the fourth quarter unfolded.
"It left my hands, it's my responsibility,'' Cutler said about the interception.
True, but Cutler's immediate reaction made it obvious what should have happened. White stopped on the route, not unlike he did at times in the preseason. Forget the injury questions that plague the receiver hampered by a sore hamstring; if healthy, can White grasp the intricacies of NFL route running? Three catches for 35 meaningless yards did little to answer yes.
Meanwhile, the Texans' first-round wide receiver, Will Fuller, outplayed White in what also was his NFL debut by catching five passes for 107 yards and the go-ahead, 18-yard touchdown catch.
"I wouldn't say it's not happening after one game,'' Cutler cautioned about White.
I wouldn't either, but pressure will continue to mount because of White's importance in providing a threat opposite Alshon Jeffery. Jeffery caught four passes for 105 yards in the first half — including a terrific 54-yarder in which Cutler says he "pumped high and far and Al did the rest.'' But, in the second half, the Texans adjusted by shading a safety over Jeffery; White has yet to develop enough to make them pay.
Not surprisingly, Cutler came back to earth too — completing 16 of 29 for 216 yards for a passer rating of 76.2 after posting a 141.8 rating at the half.
"None of our performances were good enough today,'' Fox answered when asked about Cutler.
Fox's own performance merited scrutiny. On the first drive of the fourth quarter, the Texans received a generous spot after quarterback Brock Osweiler's sneak on third-and-1 at the Bears' 22 — making it by the lace of a football. Three plays later, Fuller scored the decisive touchdown with 12:44 left. Fox wasted a challenge later on a more conclusive play so why not throw the red flag and call for a second measurement when clinging to a 14-13 lead?
"You don't do too well on challenges of spots,'' Fox said. "They executed their quarterback sneak a lot better than we did.''
Indeed, on fourth-and-1 on the Bears' second offensive series, Cutler fumbled the exchange from rookie center Cody Whitehair. Fox going for it rather than trying a 48-yard field goal represented a reasonable gamble given the early-game lead and momentum on which the Bears hoped to build. But risk without result equals regret.
"I just have to get the snap up a little higher for Jay,'' Whitehair said. "That was on me.''
This loss was on all the Bears. Mediocrity is a team effort.
dhaugh@chicagotribune.com
David Haugh Contact Reporter Chicago Tribune
A pained smile masked the punishment Bears quarterback Jay Cutler felt from getting sacked five times Sunday in 23-14 loss to the Texans at NRG Stadium.
But, clearly, Cutler's body hurt, as did the Bears' psyche, after they let a fourth-quarter lead slip away in a season opener that confirmed much of what we knew about this team — or feared.
"Hit-wise, I don't feel great,'' the quarterback acknowledged. "I didn't get hit in preseason, so the last time I got hit like that was last year. Usually, you wait till Week 4 or 5 and get used to it. … I'll bounce back.''
Perhaps so will the Bears, who started strong but finished familiarly. Eventually, coach John Fox's team believes it will be better for challenging a playoff-caliber opponent on its home field as well as they did at times. As Cutler pointed out after facing one of the fiercest defensive lines in the NFL, "You don't see defenses like this week in and week out.'' Yet Chicago's biggest takeaway from Week 1 will revolve around the Texans reinforcing what the Bears aren't more than the league learning what they are. The Bears simply aren't good enough yet to win games like this.
They competed evenly early and held a 14-13 lead heading into the fourth quarter, but isolated defensive breakdowns on third downs, offensive line protection issues and limited skill on offense prevented victory.
"It's there,'' Fox said optimistically. "We just haven't been whole for very long.''
Fox referenced the offensive line playing together for the first time since signing left guard Josh Sitton but, in reality, that sounded like an excuse given bigger concerns were exposed at tackle. Neither left tackle Charles Leno Jr. nor right tackle Bobby Massie did much more Sunday than concern Cutler's loved ones. Texans edge rusher Whitney Mercilus, in particular, showed no mercy, sacking Cutler twice and forcing a fumble.
The offense managed just 258 total yards — 75 coming on an opening drive that ended in a touchdown. Nothing running back Jeremy Langford, a committee of one apparently, did in gaining 57 yards on 15 carries made it easier to accept discard Matt Forte gaining 96 yards for the Jets. Nothing new offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains called surprised anybody as the Bears resorted to what Fox called "backyard football'' by the fourth quarter.
The most alarming development came when wide receiver Kevin White reminded everybody how much his inexperience could mute his explosiveness. On the second play of the third quarter, ahead 14-10, Cutler threw to the spot he expected White to run and safety Andre Hal intercepted at the Bears' 25. The defense held the Texans to a field goal that ultimately made a difference in how the fourth quarter unfolded.
"It left my hands, it's my responsibility,'' Cutler said about the interception.
True, but Cutler's immediate reaction made it obvious what should have happened. White stopped on the route, not unlike he did at times in the preseason. Forget the injury questions that plague the receiver hampered by a sore hamstring; if healthy, can White grasp the intricacies of NFL route running? Three catches for 35 meaningless yards did little to answer yes.
Meanwhile, the Texans' first-round wide receiver, Will Fuller, outplayed White in what also was his NFL debut by catching five passes for 107 yards and the go-ahead, 18-yard touchdown catch.
"I wouldn't say it's not happening after one game,'' Cutler cautioned about White.
I wouldn't either, but pressure will continue to mount because of White's importance in providing a threat opposite Alshon Jeffery. Jeffery caught four passes for 105 yards in the first half — including a terrific 54-yarder in which Cutler says he "pumped high and far and Al did the rest.'' But, in the second half, the Texans adjusted by shading a safety over Jeffery; White has yet to develop enough to make them pay.
Not surprisingly, Cutler came back to earth too — completing 16 of 29 for 216 yards for a passer rating of 76.2 after posting a 141.8 rating at the half.
"None of our performances were good enough today,'' Fox answered when asked about Cutler.
Fox's own performance merited scrutiny. On the first drive of the fourth quarter, the Texans received a generous spot after quarterback Brock Osweiler's sneak on third-and-1 at the Bears' 22 — making it by the lace of a football. Three plays later, Fuller scored the decisive touchdown with 12:44 left. Fox wasted a challenge later on a more conclusive play so why not throw the red flag and call for a second measurement when clinging to a 14-13 lead?
"You don't do too well on challenges of spots,'' Fox said. "They executed their quarterback sneak a lot better than we did.''
Indeed, on fourth-and-1 on the Bears' second offensive series, Cutler fumbled the exchange from rookie center Cody Whitehair. Fox going for it rather than trying a 48-yard field goal represented a reasonable gamble given the early-game lead and momentum on which the Bears hoped to build. But risk without result equals regret.
"I just have to get the snap up a little higher for Jay,'' Whitehair said. "That was on me.''
This loss was on all the Bears. Mediocrity is a team effort.
dhaugh@chicagotribune.com
