The Chicago Bears amended their schedule on Thanksgiving, holding a walk-through and a handful of conferences at Halas Hall as they work towards Monday night time’s recreation in opposition to the Minnesota Vikings. The group returned to follow Friday, pushing to maneuver previous Sunday’s collapse in Detroit whereas nonetheless in search of its first NFC North victory since late within the 2021 season.
Here are 5 issues we discovered Friday at Halas Hall.
1. Luke Getsy defended the offensive philosophy and play calling from the fourth quarter of Sunday’s loss.
There was lots to unpack after the Bears settled for 2 fourth-quarter area objectives in opposition to the Lions and later have been outscored 17-0 over the ultimate 4:15 in a 31-26 loss. The Bears started the quarter with a failed quarterback sneak on third-and-1, then selected to kick a 40-yard area objective for a 23-14 lead quite than going for it on fourth-and-1.
On their subsequent possession, regardless of chewing up 8 minutes, 45 seconds of clock on a 14-play scoring drive, the Bears once more settled for a area objective, seemingly shedding an aggressive mindset late on the possession. A 29-yard Justin Fields run plus a 5-yard Lions penalty set the Bears up with first down on the Detroit 26 with 6:20 remaining. But earlier than Cairo Santos’ 39-yard area objective, the Bears ran on three consecutive performs, together with a third-and-7 handoff up the center to rookie Roschon Johnson for simply 2 yards.
Matt Eberflus insinuated Monday that Fields had an choice to maintain the ball for a quarterback run there. “But (he) decided to hand it off,” Eberflus mentioned. “I think (Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone) was there waiting for him. We thought we could pop that one.”
Getsy additionally addressed the query of why the Bears ran on three consecutive performs in that state of affairs.
“We’re always going to be in the ‘best play’ mindset,” Getsy mentioned. “When you’re in an advantageous place like we felt like we have been in these (conditions), we’re going to go together with it. Run or go. It doesn’t essentially at all times imply we now have to throw it or we now have to run it, whichever makes you are feeling such as you’re extra aggressive. … Sometimes you’re making these choices primarily based upon the state of affairs too. Do you need the clock to run? Are you already in field-goal vary? Are you fearful a few stress that is perhaps coming?
“Whatever it might be, you’re playing the chess game with the other side of the field too. We felt good about all those calls. Do I want to take one or two of them back? Sure I do. I’d love to because now I know how they (turned out).”
2. Getsy talked by Fields’ resolution to throw deep to Tyler Scott on his ultimate go quite than goal DJ Moore on a crossing route.
Fields defined after the sport that the Lions’ robber protection — with security Tracy Walker charging down towards Moore on the play — despatched him to his second learn, the deep shot to Scott that will have sealed a win had it been accomplished. Fields made throw, too, however Scott misjudged it barely and was unable to convey it in, forcing the Bears to punt.
Getsy praised Fields’ understanding of the play idea.
“The cool part about it was just the way that he processed it, the way he communicated, the way that he talked about why he did what he did with what he saw,” Getsy mentioned. “That’s all real growth. And he made a good throw.”
Still, Getsy left the door open as as to if Fields may prioritize Moore as his go-to goal whatever the guidelines baked into the play.
“That’s all a part of your growth (as a quarterback),” Getsy mentioned. “And when you’re going through those types of situations, you always want to factor in who people are. Matchups are always a starting point in our week and when you’re putting your plan together.”
As for Fields’ resolution one play earlier to provide a read-option handoff to Khalil Herbert quite than protecting the soccer for a quarterback run, Getsy additionally acknowledged the grey space in that state of affairs.
“There’s no exact science to exactly how you tell the quarterback to make the decision on that,” Getsy mentioned. “There are plenty of times throughout that game where you would say if you’re coaching it, ‘Why didn’t you keep that?’ But sometimes it is who is that (defender) and who are you? And you have to feel what you feel. I think from Justin’s standpoint he made the right decision. We’ve got to execute the rest of the play a lot better the next time and we will.”
3. The Bears have nice respect for Vikings quarterback Josh Dobbs.
Dobbs shall be taking part in his fourth recreation with the group and making his third begin after being traded from the Arizona Cardinals to Minnesota on Oct. 31.
“Isn’t it something?” Bears defensive backs coach Jon Hoke mentioned Friday. “It’s very impressive.”
Four days after arriving in Minnesota, Dobbs was wanted as an emergency reliever for injured rookie Jaren Hall and rallied the Vikings to an unbelievable 31-28 street upset of the Atlanta Falcons. He adopted the following week by throwing for 268 yards and operating for 44 in a 27-19 victory in opposition to the New Orleans Saints.
“I commend him, man,” Bears linebacker Tremaine Edmunds mentioned. “That’s not easy to do, to come in and start right away like that. Obviously to learn an NFL playbook is tough anyway. But to do it in the short amount of time he did, I definitely take my hat off to him.”
The Bears protection is making ready to seek out solutions to sluggish Dobbs as a runner. Dobbs entered Week 12 with 389 speeding yards, second solely to Lamar Jackson amongst quarterbacks.
“Your rush lanes have to be really, really good,” Hoke mentioned. “We at all times say 4 equals one (with our go rush). And it’s a must to have that mentality with the frenzy lanes. You additionally need to be good with the way you play man protection as a result of now you’ve got (defenders) operating with individuals and so they’re going to have their backs turned to him.
“So you have to have people who are responsible for him as best you can and still be able to rush the passer. That always complicates things.”
4. After Jaylon Johnson had two near-interceptions in opposition to the Lions, Hoke feels the cornerback’s frustration.
Johnson’s first missed alternative Sunday got here within the first half when he broke on a Jared Goff go to Amon-Ra St. Brown and nearly picked it off with 97 yards of inexperienced runway in entrance of him. In the fourth quarter, Johnson had one other golden alternative when Goff misfired badly underneath stress on a ball to the left facet to tight finish Sam LaPorta. Johnson couldn’t catch that go as he went to the bottom, one other squandered alternative that got here again to chunk the Bears in an in depth loss.
“He stuck his foot in the ground and couldn’t get an extra step in there just to get a little bit closer to the ball so he could catch it cleaner,” Hoke mentioned.
Added Johnson: “Honestly, I felt like I kind of got caught trying to get under it more so than actually tracking it. It ended up hitting off my arm. Really, I was just trying to find a way to get under it. Because you can find (the football), but if you don’t get under it, it doesn’t matter.”
Still, is {that a} play Johnson can and will make at this stage of his profession?
“Absolutely,” Hoke mentioned. “And he knows that. Nobody’s beating himself up more than he is right now. And I do feel for him because he’s working at it. After practices, the quarterbacks are throwing to him. In pregame, I throw to him. He’s working extra. He knows that is something has got to continue to grow with as a player. And he’s working at it every day. But at the end of the day you’ve got to make those plays in those moments. … He’s well aware.”
5. The Bears stay fairly wholesome heading towards Monday night time.
Rookie linebacker Noah Sewell (knee) was the one participant to overlook Friday’s follow due to harm. Offensive deal with Larry Borom additionally didn’t take part as a result of an sickness, and tight finish Marcedes Lewis had a deliberate relaxation day. Beyond that, the Bears are in good condition.
Center Lucas Patrick was in a position to follow in full after struggling a again harm in opposition to the Lions. Running again D’Onta Foreman (ankle) additionally returned to follow in a restricted capability and hopes to proceed ramping up Saturday.
()
Source: www.bostonherald.com