Post by Deleted on Nov 16, 2017 23:35:35 GMT -6
Bears stupidity holds Tarik Cohen hostage, and that’s why we can’t have nice things
Steve RosenbloomSteve RosenbloomContact ReporterThe RosenBlog
Link: www.chicagotribune.com/sports/rosenblog/ct-where-is-tarik-cohen-bears-rosenbloom-20171116-story.html#nws=true
Anybody have a pick route the Bears can borrow?
How about a crossing route? Does someone have a spare the Bears can use to get Tarik Cohen open?
The Bears, see, apparently don’t have anything in their playbook to get their scariest offensive player open if, heaven forbid, an opponent double-teams Cohen. That’s what the Packers did Sunday, and that was it. The Bears surrendered their best weapon at the door. Cohen was on the field for just 13 snaps. He ran the ball once for one yard. He caught one pass for 10. You get tired just counting all of it, don't you?
By the way, that one catch matched Cohen’s single-game high since Mitch Trubisky became the starter. One. One catch for the player the offensive coordinator a month ago called “the best playmaker we have.’’ Not many teams develop game plans aimed at making a potential franchise quarterback worse, but ladies and gentlemen, John Fox’s Bears are right here for you with that.
The Bears can’t figure out how to spring a fast guy and can’t figure out how to use him enough as a decoy to make other players better. The Stupid-O-Meter needs a new motherboard. And that's why we can't have nice things.
And so, a team in desperate need of offense apparently is in desperate need of someone with a whiff of offensive creativity.
Fox said sometimes “the defense dictates who gets the ball."
This is a weak approach, even for one of Fox’s Bears teams. Feel free to curl up into a fetal position.
Bears offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains said they have “to find different ways to get him the ball.’’
Yes. Well. Ahem. Who’s in charge of that?
Like Fox, Loggains said personnel packages are dictated by opposing defensive schemes.
Email the Lions this week and see what plays they’ll approve.
You get the idea. These were the kinds of things that were said Wednesday in Lake Forest at Hummena-Hummena-Hummena Hall.
Consider how similar situations are handled by other teams in town. Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville double-shifts Patrick Kane to take advantage of his greatest offensive player. Cubs manager Joe Maddon brings in closers Wade Davis and Aroldis Chapman for multiple innings. Maddon also bats Kris Bryant second in another maneuver to take advantage of his most dangerous hitter. When the Bulls had a best player and his name was Jimmy Butler, he was playing 40 minutes a night. Because he was their best player. Because that’s what you do with your best players.
Unless you’re the Bears. Then you tell your most electric player to stand over there, maybe have some fudge, take a nap if he wants.
Fox and Loggains also said Wednesday that Cohen needs to improve in pass protection. Seriously? Trubisky was sacked five times Sunday, so it can’t all be Cohen’s fault, and the Bears might as well put Cohen on the field a lot more to give Trubisky a target that might prompt a defense to slow down its pass rush.
I get the idea that double-teaming Cohen should make other players more dangerous, but the Bears’ use of that as an explanation further indicts their lame decisions. Look, if the Bears have a player guaranteed to draw double-teams, then he should be on the field every play to dictate to the defense.
If a smart team has identified its greatest game-changer, it should be smart enough to create scads of plays that take advantage of that player’s talent. It should be smart enough to anticipate how opponents would combat certain things. It should be smart enough to have options ready to make the defense pay.
I believe the Bears will be smarter next year when they get a new coach.
Copyright © 2017, Chicago Tribune
Steve RosenbloomSteve RosenbloomContact ReporterThe RosenBlog
Link: www.chicagotribune.com/sports/rosenblog/ct-where-is-tarik-cohen-bears-rosenbloom-20171116-story.html#nws=true
Anybody have a pick route the Bears can borrow?
How about a crossing route? Does someone have a spare the Bears can use to get Tarik Cohen open?
The Bears, see, apparently don’t have anything in their playbook to get their scariest offensive player open if, heaven forbid, an opponent double-teams Cohen. That’s what the Packers did Sunday, and that was it. The Bears surrendered their best weapon at the door. Cohen was on the field for just 13 snaps. He ran the ball once for one yard. He caught one pass for 10. You get tired just counting all of it, don't you?
By the way, that one catch matched Cohen’s single-game high since Mitch Trubisky became the starter. One. One catch for the player the offensive coordinator a month ago called “the best playmaker we have.’’ Not many teams develop game plans aimed at making a potential franchise quarterback worse, but ladies and gentlemen, John Fox’s Bears are right here for you with that.
The Bears can’t figure out how to spring a fast guy and can’t figure out how to use him enough as a decoy to make other players better. The Stupid-O-Meter needs a new motherboard. And that's why we can't have nice things.
And so, a team in desperate need of offense apparently is in desperate need of someone with a whiff of offensive creativity.
Fox said sometimes “the defense dictates who gets the ball."
This is a weak approach, even for one of Fox’s Bears teams. Feel free to curl up into a fetal position.
Bears offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains said they have “to find different ways to get him the ball.’’
Yes. Well. Ahem. Who’s in charge of that?
Like Fox, Loggains said personnel packages are dictated by opposing defensive schemes.
Email the Lions this week and see what plays they’ll approve.
You get the idea. These were the kinds of things that were said Wednesday in Lake Forest at Hummena-Hummena-Hummena Hall.
Consider how similar situations are handled by other teams in town. Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville double-shifts Patrick Kane to take advantage of his greatest offensive player. Cubs manager Joe Maddon brings in closers Wade Davis and Aroldis Chapman for multiple innings. Maddon also bats Kris Bryant second in another maneuver to take advantage of his most dangerous hitter. When the Bulls had a best player and his name was Jimmy Butler, he was playing 40 minutes a night. Because he was their best player. Because that’s what you do with your best players.
Unless you’re the Bears. Then you tell your most electric player to stand over there, maybe have some fudge, take a nap if he wants.
Fox and Loggains also said Wednesday that Cohen needs to improve in pass protection. Seriously? Trubisky was sacked five times Sunday, so it can’t all be Cohen’s fault, and the Bears might as well put Cohen on the field a lot more to give Trubisky a target that might prompt a defense to slow down its pass rush.
I get the idea that double-teaming Cohen should make other players more dangerous, but the Bears’ use of that as an explanation further indicts their lame decisions. Look, if the Bears have a player guaranteed to draw double-teams, then he should be on the field every play to dictate to the defense.
If a smart team has identified its greatest game-changer, it should be smart enough to create scads of plays that take advantage of that player’s talent. It should be smart enough to anticipate how opponents would combat certain things. It should be smart enough to have options ready to make the defense pay.
I believe the Bears will be smarter next year when they get a new coach.
Copyright © 2017, Chicago Tribune
