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, particularly 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.
Five hours after the sport, Herbert jumped away from bed and went for his pill, compelled to assessment the sequence another time. Then twice. Three occasions.
Rewind and repeat.
Taking a handoff from Justin Fields, Herbert charged up the center towards the purpose line. But 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 tip zone.
Instead of a landing for a 6-0 lead, it was a turnover on downs. Commanders ball.
That was certainly one of three journeys contained in the pink zone Thursday evening during which the Bears failed to attain, certainly one of 11 snaps from the Commanders 6-yard line or nearer that they did not take into the tip zone.
Hours later, Herbert remained pissed off.
“I’m still thinking about the play,” he mentioned Tuesday. “Really I’m just trying to figure out what I can do differently if I’m presented that situation again. 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 was thinking in my head as I kept watching the play,” Herbert mentioned. “Might try and do that next time.”
Admittedly, although, that’s not his forte.
“I’ve never been a hurdle or jump guy,” Herbert mentioned. “I feel like I’m better with both my feet on the ground. So that wasn’t my first thought. But watching that play over and over again, I might have to add that in the bag.”
For a 2-4 staff that hasn’t received in October and heads to Gillette Stadium for a “Monday Night Football” conflict in opposition to the New England Patriots, the Bears have been doing numerous resolution searching for in current days. Herbert is making an attempt to maintain 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 recreation), final in passing yards (122.8) and thirty first in scoring (15.5 factors per recreation).
Herbert is having an encouraging second season. He leads the Bears in dashing with 403 yards by means of six video games. His 6.4 yards per carry leads all NFL working backs with a minimum of 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 just did a good job of letting me get to the second level,” Herbert mentioned. “Once there, it’s our job to make that last guy miss. The whole cutback lane really just opened up and I was able to see it and hit it.”
Off he went, all the way in which all the way down to the Commanders 3-yard line.
But when requested Tuesday to establish areas of his 2022 season thus far that he’s happy with, Herbert minimize in a unique route.
“Honestly, I don’t really have too much that I’m pleased with,” he mentioned. “I’m more focused on what I can do better, what I need to improve to help us win, to find ways to get the ball in the end zone.”
Herbert burdened the necessity to change into extra dependable in move safety, to change 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 tip zone and lamented that second-quarter play final week that fizzled.
“The play is designed to go where it’s designed, and you’ve just got to hit it and hope guys get a push and that you’re able to get in,” Herbert mentioned. “I don’t really have too much time to sit there and decipher where I’m going to go. You’ve just got to get the ball and go.”
Next time, Herbert believes he’ll work out a option 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 dashing assault has been certainly one of their strengths this season. Eberflus additionally provided this: “We’re just going to go with the hot hand.”
Herbert will proceed working to show up the temperature of his recreation to make the Bears offense stronger. He is aware of the urgency — and can sacrifice sleep if it helps.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com