Post by Deleted on Sept 17, 2016 8:30:19 GMT -6
What we learned: Bears offensive line counting on a smoother Week 2
Rich Campbell Contact Reporter Chicago Tribune
Here are three things we learned as the Bears continued preparing Friday for Monday night's game against the Eagles at Soldier Field.
The Bears expect a cleaner offensive line operation in Week 2.
The outcome Monday could depend on this. After all, the Week 1 fire drill up front resulted in various problems that contributed to the 23-14 loss to the Texans.
With newly-acquired Josh Sitton at left guard and rookie Cody Whitehair making his debut at center, the Bears were inconsistent blocking stunts. The synchronization required in the screen game was off because of the lack of familiarity and continuity. And there were problems with the snap related to crowd noise and the need for a silent count on the road.
"As a unit, we didn't do what we needed to do," coordinator Dowell Loggains said Thursday. "That takes all five of them."
Loggains knows the Eagles will try some of the Texans' tactics until the Bears prove they can handle them.
At least the home crowd should be friendlier to the offense. The need for a silent count in Houston added an extra challenge for Whitehair, who played mostly left guard in the preseason and played left tackle at Kansas State.
There were plays on which the tackles didn't get off the ball on time because the line was out of sync with the snap.
"Being able to use the cadence, we're going to be a little bit more comfortable," said quarterback Jay Cutler, who the Texans sacked five times.
Coach John Fox believes the Bears could slow the Eagles' pass rush with the screen game, but the timing required for that is a challenge for a five-man line that has played only one game together.
The Bears have worked on that in practice this week as part of a greater effort to shore up the line. The Eagles' 4-3 front will challenge that, particularly with edge rushers Brandon Graham and Connor Barwin. They like to line up wide and try to close down the pocket.
The Bears are emphasizing third-down pass protection after they converted only 4 of 13 third downs in Week 1.
Willie Young wants to sharpen his mindset.
In his first game since signing a new three-year contract that included $9 million guaranteed, Young's name did not appear in the official Week 1 box score. At least in the Bears coaches' review of the game video, they credited the outside linebacker with one assist.
Young's main takeaway from the game?
"Just being consistent, staying focused, especially when you're not getting a lot of action," he said. "The ball is coming out quick, you must stay consistent in your rush and stick to your game plan."
Young, who played 48 snaps (64 percent) noted how the Texans ran inside often and not in his direction.
Monday night could be a snoozer for kickoff returner Deonte Thompson.
Eagles kicker Caleb Sturgis kicked off six times in Week 1 against the Browns. All six were touchbacks.
Under a new rule this season, a touchback on a kickoff gives the offense the ball at the 25-yard line instead of the 20.
During this long week of preparation for the Eagles, Bears special teams coordinator Jeff Rodgers and assistant Richard Hightower studied every kickoff league-wide in Week 1. Their conclusion: the sample size is small, and teams probably will continue adjusting their approach based on matchups.
We'll see if the Eagles change it up against Thompson, who averaged 20.6 yards on five returns against the Texans.
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Copyright © 2016, Chicago Tribune
Rich Campbell Contact Reporter Chicago Tribune
Here are three things we learned as the Bears continued preparing Friday for Monday night's game against the Eagles at Soldier Field.
The Bears expect a cleaner offensive line operation in Week 2.
The outcome Monday could depend on this. After all, the Week 1 fire drill up front resulted in various problems that contributed to the 23-14 loss to the Texans.
With newly-acquired Josh Sitton at left guard and rookie Cody Whitehair making his debut at center, the Bears were inconsistent blocking stunts. The synchronization required in the screen game was off because of the lack of familiarity and continuity. And there were problems with the snap related to crowd noise and the need for a silent count on the road.
"As a unit, we didn't do what we needed to do," coordinator Dowell Loggains said Thursday. "That takes all five of them."
Loggains knows the Eagles will try some of the Texans' tactics until the Bears prove they can handle them.
At least the home crowd should be friendlier to the offense. The need for a silent count in Houston added an extra challenge for Whitehair, who played mostly left guard in the preseason and played left tackle at Kansas State.
There were plays on which the tackles didn't get off the ball on time because the line was out of sync with the snap.
"Being able to use the cadence, we're going to be a little bit more comfortable," said quarterback Jay Cutler, who the Texans sacked five times.
Coach John Fox believes the Bears could slow the Eagles' pass rush with the screen game, but the timing required for that is a challenge for a five-man line that has played only one game together.
The Bears have worked on that in practice this week as part of a greater effort to shore up the line. The Eagles' 4-3 front will challenge that, particularly with edge rushers Brandon Graham and Connor Barwin. They like to line up wide and try to close down the pocket.
The Bears are emphasizing third-down pass protection after they converted only 4 of 13 third downs in Week 1.
Willie Young wants to sharpen his mindset.
In his first game since signing a new three-year contract that included $9 million guaranteed, Young's name did not appear in the official Week 1 box score. At least in the Bears coaches' review of the game video, they credited the outside linebacker with one assist.
Young's main takeaway from the game?
"Just being consistent, staying focused, especially when you're not getting a lot of action," he said. "The ball is coming out quick, you must stay consistent in your rush and stick to your game plan."
Young, who played 48 snaps (64 percent) noted how the Texans ran inside often and not in his direction.
Monday night could be a snoozer for kickoff returner Deonte Thompson.
Eagles kicker Caleb Sturgis kicked off six times in Week 1 against the Browns. All six were touchbacks.
Under a new rule this season, a touchback on a kickoff gives the offense the ball at the 25-yard line instead of the 20.
During this long week of preparation for the Eagles, Bears special teams coordinator Jeff Rodgers and assistant Richard Hightower studied every kickoff league-wide in Week 1. Their conclusion: the sample size is small, and teams probably will continue adjusting their approach based on matchups.
We'll see if the Eagles change it up against Thompson, who averaged 20.6 yards on five returns against the Texans.
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Copyright © 2016, Chicago Tribune
