The clock moved previous 1 a.m., then 2 then 3 on Friday, and Chicago Bears working again Khalil Herbert nonetheless was stirring, nonetheless stressed, nonetheless obsessing over one play.
The Bears’ 12-7 prime-time loss to the Washington Commanders wasn’t sitting properly, specifically due to the golden scoring alternatives the Bears let slip. Most notably for Herbert, a fourth-and-goal play from the 1 within the second quarter left him agitated.
5 hours after the sport, Herbert jumped off the bed and went for his pill, compelled to overview the sequence yet one more time. Then twice. 3 times.
Rewind and repeat.
Taking a handoff from Justin Fields, Herbert charged up the center towards the purpose line. However the offensive line’s push wasn’t substantial sufficient, and someplace in a swarm of our bodies, his momentum was swallowed inches shy of the top zone.
As a substitute of a landing for a 6-0 lead, it was a turnover on downs. Commanders ball.
That was one in every of three journeys contained in the purple zone Thursday evening by which the Bears failed to attain, one in every of 11 snaps from the Commanders 6-yard line or nearer that they did not take into the top zone.
Hours later, Herbert remained pissed off.
“I’m nonetheless enthusiastic about the play,” he stated Tuesday. “Actually I’m simply making an attempt to determine what I can do otherwise if I’m introduced that state of affairs once more. How can I get in?”
For a second or two, Herbert considered Bears nice Walter Payton and all these over-the-top leaps for touchdowns.
“That’s what I used to be considering in my head as I saved watching the play,” Herbert stated. “Would possibly try to try this subsequent time.”
Admittedly, although, that’s not his forte.
“I’ve by no means been a hurdle or soar man,” Herbert stated. “I really feel like I’m higher with each my toes on the bottom. In order that wasn’t my first thought. However watching that play time and again, I might need so as to add that within the bag.”
For a 2-4 workforce that hasn’t received in October and heads to Gillette Stadium for a “Monday Night time Soccer” conflict in opposition to the New England Patriots, the Bears have been doing a variety of answer looking for in current days. Herbert is making an attempt to care for his share, on the lookout for any particular person tweak or enchancment to energise a Bears offense that ranks twenty eighth within the NFL in whole yards (293.7 per sport), final in passing yards (122.8) and thirty first in scoring (15.5 factors per sport).
Herbert is having an encouraging second season. He leads the Bears in speeding with 403 yards by way of six video games. His 6.4 yards per carry leads all NFL working backs with no less than 40 makes an attempt. His 64-yard explosion on the primary play of the Bears’ third possession Thursday was the longest run of Herbert’s profession and the Bears’ longest play from scrimmage this season.
“The O-line simply did a great job of letting me get to the second stage,” Herbert stated. “As soon as there, it’s our job to make that final man miss. The entire cutback lane actually simply opened up and I used to be capable of see it and hit it.”
Off he went, all the best way all the way down to the Commanders 3-yard line.
However when requested Tuesday to determine areas of his 2022 season to this point that he’s happy with, Herbert lower in a unique path.
“Actually, I don’t actually have an excessive amount of that I’m happy with,” he stated. “I’m extra targeted on what I can do higher, what I would like to enhance to assist us win, to search out methods to get the ball in the long run zone.”
Herbert harassed the necessity to develop into extra dependable in cross safety, to develop into a greater receiver out of the backfield and to make the primary tackler miss extra constantly. He once more emphasised serving to the Bears attain the top zone and lamented that second-quarter play final week that fizzled.
“The play is designed to go the place it’s designed, and also you’ve simply obtained to hit it and hope guys get a push and that you simply’re capable of get in,” Herbert stated. “I don’t actually have an excessive amount of time to take a seat there and decipher the place I’m going to go. You’ve simply obtained to get the ball and go.”
Subsequent time, Herbert believes he’ll determine a approach to end. And he’s hopeful that his continued manufacturing can result in extra alternatives.
Coach Matt Eberflus vowed Tuesday to proceed splitting backfield time between David Montgomery and Herbert. The Bears speeding assault has been one in every of their strengths this season. Eberflus additionally provided this: “We’re simply going to go along with the new hand.”
Herbert will proceed working to show up the temperature of his sport to make the Bears offense stronger. He is aware of the urgency — and can sacrifice sleep if it helps.
()