With a high-effort efficiency on a brief week on the highway, the Chicago Bears gave coach Matt Eberflus precisely what he was searching for in Thursday’s 27-11 defeat of the Seattle Seahawks.
Certain, it’s preseason. And the big-picture significance of the Bears’ 2-0 begin should be stored in correct perspective. (Translation: in the end, it means little or no.)
However profitable all the time beats shedding, regardless of the stakes. And it has been clear that gamers have been responding to Eberflus and his teaching workers and taking part in with depth and cohesion. Right here’s our three-phase evaluation of Thursday’s victory.
Offense
Cause for optimism: Cole Kmet has an opportunity to turn out to be one among Justin Fields’ finest associates in 2022 with so little solidified behind Darnell Mooney within the receiving corps, so it was encouraging to see Kmet contribute in a serious means on the opening drive after lacking the preseason opener with an undisclosed damage.
A decent finish display screen on the primary play from scrimmage gave Kmet a chance to indicate off his run-after-catch potential. He gained 12 yards on that play with eight coming after he was initially hit by Seahawks linebacker Joel Dublanko.
5 performs later, Kmet got here free on a crossing route and made a 19-yard catch. Fields, working off a play faux and rolling to his left, had sufficient time to set and fired a dart. Kmet gained separation from linebacker Lakiem Williams and moved the chains. It was the Bears’ second-longest acquire from scrimmage within the recreation and extra proof that a 12 months 3 breakthrough may very well be in retailer for Kmet, particularly if Fields and coordinator Luke Getsy prioritize him.
Getsy has been complimentary of Kmet’s total versatility, and veteran tight finish Ryan Griffin sees little cause Kmet gained’t take promising steps ahead.
“(It’s) his angle,” Griffin stated. “He’s bought all of the instruments. However plenty of guys have instruments on this league. It’s the want-to to get higher, to be taught, to absorb data after which put it out on the sector. He’s proven he can do this. He'll do this. That’s what makes me consider he’s going to be an important tight finish on this league.”
Cause for concern: Fields dropped again to go eight instances on his solely sequence and confronted a good quantity of stress. The Bears quarterback wasn’t sacked, however there was sufficient leakage up entrance to induce some nervousness.
On the second play from scrimmage, for instance, operating again Khalil Herbert was a tick sluggish along with his blitz pickup, permitting Cody Barton to disrupt Fields within the pocket and forcing a rushed sidearm incompletion into the flat.
Two snaps later, a collapsing pocket despatched Fields into scramble mode earlier than he might set on the prime of his drop. He ran for a 1-yard acquire and had a close to fumble on that third-and-3. On the following snap, Poona Ford’s profitable rush in opposition to proper guard Teven Jenkins once more despatched Fields fleeing the pocket and needing to rapidly discover Herbert as his checkdown possibility.
The Bears offensive line isn’t going to turn out to be a sturdy wall in a single day. And it is going to be as much as Getsy to design and name performs accordingly whereas allotting the safety manpower that's wanted. Fields can even have to make use of his agility to slide away from hassle and erase among the errors up entrance and with failed blitz pickups. The larger concern, although, is that if a growing quarterback is pressured to take care of fixed warmth that disrupts his timing and energy, the evolution and development of the offense shall be impeded.
Subsequent week’s preseason finale in Cleveland in opposition to the Browns might provide one final recreation alternative to shore issues up, relying on how a lot Eberflus opts to play his starters.
Price noting:In final week’s evaluation, we gave Eberflus and his workers excessive marks for dealing with a problem scenario effectively, getting a 9-yard Chiefs completion overturned and turning a third-and-1 right into a third-and-10. (The Bears then turned that third-and-10 right into a takeaway and a short-field landing drive.)
That’s the way in which it needs to be accomplished. So it was solely pure to query why the Bears coach declined to problem a second quarter incompletion Thursday night time that appeared as if it ought to have been a 9-yard Isaiah Coulter reception.
The completion got here on a sizzling learn from Trevor Siemian to Coulter as Siemian prevented a sack. Coulter bought his left hand and proper forearm beneath the ball, which by no means touched the bottom. It ought to have been sufficient to transform third-and-8 and maintain a possible scoring drive alive. However after the officers dominated the go incomplete, Eberflus by no means threw his problem flag regardless of having loads of time to take action and having the good thing about the play occurring in entrance of the Bears sideline.
“A pair coaches on the sideline thought it bounced on the bottom,” Eberlus stated. “We bought one good look upstairs and that was it. We didn’t have a great second take a look at it so we simply determined to let it go.
“In actual time in an actual recreation, possibly I might’ve thrown (the problem flag) in there. However we didn’t have a re-evaluation.”
The Bears then took a delay of recreation penalty earlier than punting.
Protection
Cause for optimism: The Seahawks didn’t rating till 29 seconds remained within the third quarter, snapping a stretch of 17 possessions relationship to final weekend that the Bears protection shut out opponents.
The Seahawks managed solely 5 first downs within the first half after the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs had two of their scoreless second half in opposition to the Bears.
A lot of the manufacturing is coming from second-, third- and typically fourth-team gamers who might not play main roles within the common season. However it has been clear this month that Bears defenders have heard coordinator Alan Williams’ request to “lead the world in hustle.”
The Bears protection is establishing an id and setting a typical for what issues ought to seem like. Via two preseason video games, issues have appeared encouraging.
Cause for concern: The secondary nonetheless isn’t complete. Rookie security Jaquan Brisker couldn’t construct on his preseason debut, sitting out two practices this week with an undisclosed damage earlier than lacking Thursday’s recreation. Cornerback Kindle Vildor was additionally out of motion in Seattle, leaving DeAndre Houston-Carson and Lamar Jackson to run with the beginning secondary.
Depth stays an under-the-radar situation within the defensive backfield with Thomas Graham Jr., Tavon Younger, Dane Cruikshank and Greg Stroman injured. The Bears have just a little greater than two weeks remaining earlier than Week 1 practices start, so it is going to be price monitoring the ins and outs of their defensive backs and any probably associated roster strikes.
Price noting: Rookie cornerback Kyler Gordon was on the sector for 18 snaps in his preseason debut, displaying off a few of his hustle and athleticism. Gordon’s first blitz alternative got here within the first quarter as he tore out of the slot and pressured Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith right into a frantic throwaway. He nearly bought to Smith for a sack and vowed to complete higher going ahead.
Later within the first half, Gordon’s deal with try on Seahawks operating again Travis Homer wasn’t fairly sound sufficient, turning ought to have been a 5-yard acquire right into a 33-yard chunk play. That is all a part of the expertise the rookie wants to realize as he takes on a number one function for a protection that's going to rely on his playmaking instincts. At a minimal, Gordon’s consolation and self-belief are offering gas for his development.
Particular groups
Cause for optimism: Welcome to the return recreation, Velus Jones Jr.
The third-round pick of Tennessee ripped off a 48-yard punt return within the first quarter with a burst that bought him into open area and release the left sideline. Jones was affected person but decisive and confirmed off the electrical energy that excited the Bears once they drafted him. Gordon and Duke Shelley offered key blocks down the left aspect of the sector.
Jones additionally had a 31-yard kickoff return to open the sport, fumbling on the finish of that run however rapidly recovering. His potential to rapidly bounce again from that near-disaster was notable.
“I wasn’t the primary to fumble and I gained’t be the final to fumble on this league,” Jones informed reporters after the sport. “It’s all about quick reminiscence. In case you permit that to creep on you, it is going to have an effect on your subsequent play, and also you by no means know your subsequent play is likely to be your greatest play.”
Jones actually seems to be in line to deal with each return roles when the common season begins.
“He’s explosive,” Eberflus stated. “It’s a problem for him as a result of he’s a rookie and he’s going to have to return in there and present guys what he can do. I believe he’s up for the problem.”
Cause for concern: The Bears had been forward by 24 factors with lower than 5 minutes remaining, primarily rubbish time within the fourth quarter of a preseason recreation.
However a muffed punt and an incapability to get better an onside kick will result in some added aggravation and correction within the subsequent particular groups assembly.
Rookie Dazz Newsome, who muffed a punt within the preseason opener, mishandled one other one Thursday night time. This time, although, Newsome’s mistake was the results of operating again De’Montre Tuggle colliding with him proper earlier than he tried to catch the ball. The Seahawks recovered and rapidly turned the takeaway right into a landing.
On the following onside kick, Coulter couldn’t safe Jason Myers’ bouncing ball and the Seahawks stole one other late possession.
Once more, most of the gamers on the sector in these closing phases gained’t be part of the Bears’ regular-season plans. However the situational blunders shouldn't be ignored and the Bears coaches ought to proceed to make corrections and harp on the necessity to end sturdy.
Price noting: Credit score the Bears for tacking on a particular groups landing within the last minute of the primary half with the proper mixture of effort and consciousness.
Seattle’s Cade Johnson provided up a present, muffing a Trenton Gill punt at his personal 5-yard line with 25 seconds remaining. Three Bears had a chance to get better the free ball with rookie security Elijah Hicks pouncing on it throughout the aim line.
Acquainted with Eberflus’ H.I.T.S. precept? That sequence checked off each letter.
Sure, the Seahawks had a stunning variety of “that simply can’t occur” moments. However the Bears put themselves in place to capitalize. And that rating on the finish of the half is strictly the form of momentum-building spark that Eberflus believes his model of soccer is designed to create.
()