Everett had been trending down for the past few seasons according to all I read during the offseason. He was signed because Waldron knew him. Kmet has been the better TE since game one and finally the TE usage reflects that. Swift was criticized for being a sideline runner rather than 1-cut and go. He IMO was also a wasted signing. Johnson/Herbert need to get more snaps going forward. Lewis is a blocking TE, he really shouldn't have any other role than that. Any catch he makes is an added bonus, and I think he's playing well so far--because all he is, is a blocking TE.
Its the player usage driving the problems. Why was Carter lined up as a TE on a 3rd-1? Why is Carter getting targets over Scott? I'm not slamming Carter. He's a good KR/PR. He should be WR4 and getting looks accordingly. Why is Scott not running more routes? RB usage is the same.
All valid questions. And the road keeps leading back to coaches
Post by brasilbear on Sept 23, 2024 14:19:41 GMT -6
The full tweet:
#Bears LT Braxton Jones continues to be polarizing in pass protection for me. He rarely loses straight up, but he gets walked back into the pocket too often. These plays are frustrating, because he is in front of the rusher and slowing them down, but also eating into the pocket space within 3-seconds of the snap.
There were a few instances of him using jump sets and being proactive with his hands to throw the rushers off their tracks. I want to see him use those long arms to dictate the rep more often.
I see him allowing defenders into his chest without having the anchor to actually sit down at contact. He has the contact balance to slow everything down, but I am constantly left wanting more. This could be how the coaches want him to set in pass pro though.
A part of me wonders if Braxton's play style was more acceptable with a QB like Justin Fields who was likely to break the pocket and run. With Caleb being more pocket oriented, it feels like this style of play could be a bigger issue.
As a run blocker, he was fine in this game. He was not tasked with making many big blocks, mostly just asked to get in the way or keep the EDGE defender out of the play. I would have liked to see a little more authority on some duo runs to keep his lane clean, but that is nitpicking. He also had some nice moments in the infamous goal line series to drive defenders on combos with Tev.
The two penalties drag his overall grade down this week. Here is every positively and negatively graded play from Week 3.
Post by brasilbear on Sept 23, 2024 15:04:07 GMT -6
The full tweet:
#Bears LG Teven Jenkins had a nice day in pass protection. Him and Coleman Shelton spent a lot of the day double teaming the DT on the left side of the formation, but he was forced to sort out a handful of stunts and blitzes, most of which he handled cleanly. There was one stunt that got them because the interior players fell to different depths, but there was real improvement on that front.
As a run blocker, he had what appear to be a few uncharacteristic misses. The Bears ran a lot of duo, combo'ing Tev and Shelton as run blockers. I think the timing and level of aggression between the two is still growing, because they didn't generate the type of push I was expecting. That is something that should get better with more reps working combos together. Tev had a few issues with Raekwon Davis' length, but i think his grades (40.8 RBLK per PFF; 48.3 RBLK per me) are a little uglier than the tape.
Overall, it was a good day at the office for Tev aside from a what look like a few busts in the run game. It was nice to see them sort out most of the stunts after the last few weeks. I expect to see his run blocking come back to where he set the bar in the past.
He also had one penalty that will drag his overall grade down a little. Here is every positively and negatively graded play from Week 3.
Post by brasilbear on Sept 23, 2024 15:10:35 GMT -6
Full tweet:
#Bears C Coleman Shelton had a much better game than the first two weeks of the season. There were still issues, but the Bears had a gameplan that was MUCH more friendly to Shelton. The difference is like someone who is failing Calculus dropping down to Algebra 1.
Many of his blocks in pass protection and run blocking were combo blocks with Teven Jenkins. This allowed him the chance to dig out defenders while Tev held the point or to get good hand position and leverage before Tev moved on. The Bears ran a fair amount of duo (I think) with mixed results from Shelton.
The stunt pickups were much cleaner, but there were two stunts where I thought Shelton had some fault for pressure. One of them was really well designed and I couldn't knock him TOO much for it. The other appeared to be an issue with depth somewhere on the interior. Also, on the TD pass to Odunze, Shelton got just enough of a blitzing backer to give Caleb enough time to get the throw off. The COlts targeted Shelton for the blitz, with their nose tackle grabbing him and the blitzer trying to fly by.
In the run game, Shelton had some plus plays in space and digging out defenders on combo blocks. However, they were offset by multiple plays where his lack of power impacted the Bears ability to open and maintain rushing lanes.
Overall, it was a much more serviceable game from Shelton. Still leaves me wanting more at the position, but it's a step in the right direction. Being flanked by two JUMBO SIZED guards certainly helped the Bears scheme around his pass pro limitations, but the run game may have suffered some because of it. Here is every positively and negatively graded play from Shelton for Week 3.
Colemen deserves all the heat he's getting; but lets not act like he was ever meant to be the starting OC. That was Bates, his injury really F'd all this up.
He shouldn't have been the starter either, and we might still be talking, but this was always going to be a problem. backup OC's don't tend to excel. The fact that they did change up the line play to help him is a sign that Waldron is trying to do different things. Same w/the benching of Davis.
Hopefully he finds something that works, Listening to the espn 1000 afternoon show, one of the guys said you could easily see them replacing 4 of the OL this offseason, that Wright is the only one worth building off of long term. The other, Jenkins isn't likely to get extended w/how he's playing/his inj history. So at best 3/5ths.
imo 2-3 FA's and 2-3 picks to fix that OL, thats how bad that group is right now.
Colemen deserves all the heat he's getting; but lets not act like he was ever meant to be the starting OC. That was Bates, his injury really F'd all this up.
He shouldn't have been the starter either, and we might still be talking, but this was always going to be a problem. backup OC's don't tend to excel. The fact that they did change up the line play to help him is a sign that Waldron is trying to do different things. Same w/the benching of Davis.
Hopefully he finds something that works, Listening to the espn 1000 afternoon show, one of the guys said you could easily see them replacing 4 of the OL this offseason, that Wright is the only one worth building off of long term. The other, Jenkins isn't likely to get extended w/how he's playing/his inj history. So at best 3/5ths.
imo 2-3 FA's and 2-3 picks to fix that OL, thats how bad that group is right now.
Yup we need a minimum of 4 new OL, starter quality. Probly 2 backup quality too. add in 1 DL dude. I don't know how many picks we have next year, but they're all OLine except maybe 1 DL. FA is all OL.
But we'll probably have a generational punt returner fall to us and that'll be our #1 pick, followed by 2 generational RBs cuz our run game sucks so hard.
Colemen deserves all the heat he's getting; but lets not act like he was ever meant to be the starting OC. That was Bates, his injury really F'd all this up.
He shouldn't have been the starter either, and we might still be talking, but this was always going to be a problem. backup OC's don't tend to excel. The fact that they did change up the line play to help him is a sign that Waldron is trying to do different things. Same w/the benching of Davis.
Hopefully he finds something that works, Listening to the espn 1000 afternoon show, one of the guys said you could easily see them replacing 4 of the OL this offseason, that Wright is the only one worth building off of long term. The other, Jenkins isn't likely to get extended w/how he's playing/his inj history. So at best 3/5ths.
imo 2-3 FA's and 2-3 picks to fix that OL, thats how bad that group is right now.
Yup we need a minimum of 4 new OL, starter quality. Probly 2 backup quality too. add in 1 DL dude. I don't know how many picks we have next year, but they're all OLine except maybe 1 DL. FA is all OL.
But we'll probably have a generational punt returner fall to us and that'll be our #1 pick, followed by 2 generational RBs cuz our run game sucks so hard.
Likely need to get a generational kicker also, probably will get him in rd 3, b/c hey you cannot wait on a generational kicker.
WR/P w/2 picks when the team needed 3 legit OL. Instead they get a hurt small school OT that will have to convert to OG....sigh, just bargain basement shopping the frame you want to build your racecar on.
This is what is getting lost right now because everyone is so pissed at the OL (understandably). These guys aren't gonna get the job done even when the OL isn't an obstacle.
