It’s solely the preseason, however for first-year Chicago Bears coach Matt Eberflus, Saturday’s 19-14 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs felt gratifying.
The day gave Eberflus a possibility to check many elements of his program and was his first likelihood to run all the present on recreation day. Afterward Eberflus expressed his eagerness to evaluate all of it, together with the game-day operation and communication, the schemes on each side of the ball and the efficiency of his gamers — from established starters to undrafted rookies clawing to win a roster spot.
The Bears have a fast turnaround this week earlier than heading to Seattle for a Thursday night time recreation in opposition to the Seahawks.
The preseason debut confirmed what to construct on and illuminated areas in want of extra work. Here’s our three-phase evaluate of Saturday’s recreation.
Offense
Reason for optimism: There have been flashes in Justin Fields’ 18 snaps over three collection. On third-and-4, Darnell Mooney gained a step on his defender and Fields lofted a ball to the left sideline that solely Mooney may leap to seize for a 26-yard completion. One drive in a while third-and-9, Tajae Sharpe pulled in a 19-yard move with one hand.
“We knew we’d have man coverage,” Sharpe mentioned. “We had some pressure on that play. He gave me a go ball and he put it up in a great spot, back shoulder. Gave me a chance to go up and make a play.”
Fields and the Bears want extra of these performs this season. He accomplished simply 4 of seven passes for 48 yards with no touchdowns, however on condition that he was taking part in with out a number of starters, the pair of lengthy completions allowed the Bears to go away Soldier Field with some hope.
Eberflus mentioned Fields’ operation was clean, noting how he hurried to the road to keep away from a Chiefs problem flag at one level. Fields mentioned he’s feeling “way more comfortable” with a yr of expertise. And the Fields-Mooney connection continues to look sturdy.
Reason for concern: The Bears’ depth of playmakers on offense was a query to start with, so it’s clearly regarding that 5 of probably the most notable sat out with accidents.
Running again David Montgomery, tight finish Cole Kmet and vast receivers Byron Pringle, N’Keal Harry and Velus Jones Jr. didn’t play. Eberflus has categorised Montgomery, Kmet and Jones as each day. But they’re nonetheless lacking key time to construct chemistry with Fields.
The Bears punted on all three of Fields’ collection, stalling on the Chiefs 43-yard line twice. Eberflus famous a few drops that harm the Bears.
In a stark distinction, the Chiefs offense marched 72 yards in 11 performs for a landing on beginning quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ solely drive.
Fields categorised the Bears efficiency as “all right,” noting they need to get higher at “pretty much everything.”
“There’s always room to improve,” he mentioned. “We’re not perfect at anything.”
Worth noting: Solidifying the offensive line has been a key storyline at camp, and the sport supplied a take a look at a few of the elements, although perhaps not the complete beginning 5.
The Bears gave rookie Braxton Jones the beginning at left sort out, the place he has taken many of the first-team reps in latest practices. The fifth-round select of Southern Utah had a promising efficiency.
Veteran proper guard Michael Schofield had probably the most notable miscue when Chris Jones beat him for one among two sacks of Fields. Eberflus was requested about Fields working beneath stress.
“We’ll look at those plays, where the pressures were, how we can firm it up,” he mentioned. “Was it a situation where we needed to do a better job with our pass sets, whatever that might be. But we’ll get that cleaned up.”
Veteran Riley Reiff, who has taken many reps at first-team proper sort out, sat out the sport, and the Bears began Larry Borom as a substitute. With middle Lucas Patrick persevering with his restoration from a hand harm, Sam Mustipher began there. If Patrick recovers in time for the season opener, it is going to be price watching to see if the Bears put Mustipher again into competitors with Schofield at proper guard.
Defense
Reason for optimism: You’ve heard of Eberflus’ H.I.T.S. precept by now. So how did it prove Saturday? Rookie security Jaquan Brisker definitely checked the field for hustle within the first half, first with an aggressive cease on Chiefs operating again Derrick Gore for a 2-yard loss after which two performs later with an instinctive break and a close to interception on a Shane Buechele move over the center.
Intensity? Fellow rookie Dominique Robinson recorded the primary of the protection’s two sacks, coming unblocked off the fitting edge within the third quarter and smothering Buechele for a lack of 12. Micah-Dew Treadway later sealed the win with a 9-yard sack of Dustin Crum on fourth-and-4 with 1:19 remaining.
Takeaways? The Bears received that battle 2-0, because of a Jack Sanborn interception and fumble restoration. Those turnovers led to 9 factors.
And situational smarts? In the second half, the Bears protection held the Chiefs to 18 complete yards, two first downs and 0 factors.
Reason for concern: Cornerback Kyler Gordon, the staff’s prime draft decide, was prominently featured on the Gameday program. But Gordon was inactive and has been out for nearly two weeks with an undisclosed harm. Adding to the priority, the rookie additionally missed all of minicamp in June and elements of organized staff actions due to harm setbacks.
Gordon’s sturdiness and availability are price maintaining a detailed eye on for the remainder of the month. You can wager Eberflus needs him on the follow area as quickly as attainable, hoping to get him a minimum of some motion in preseason video games.
“When players miss time on the grass, the actual playing of the game and working on the fundamentals and techniques, that hurts,” Eberflus mentioned. “That hurts our football team and hurts their development.”
Worth discussing: As the proud new proprietor of a pink problem flag, Eberflus received his first alternative to drive officers to evaluate a replay early within the second half.
The play in query was a 9-yard completion from Buechele to Josh Gordon proper in entrance of the Bears sideline. With fast and clear communication from above, Eberflus was inspired to throw the problem flag as Gordon’s proper foot was clearly not in bounds.
Challenge issued. Challenge received. Call overturned. But what occurred from there actually proved vital.
Forced into third-and-10 slightly than third-and-1, Buechele was intercepted by rookie linebacker Sanborn on the subsequent snap. Sanborn’s takeaway gave the Bears a brief area, and the offense responded with a fast 27-yard landing march for his or her first factors. That’s the ripple impact high quality groups grasp. Shrewd teaching maneuvering results in higher alternatives for fulfillment, which ceaselessly result in massive performs, which typically result in touchdowns.
Those are the varieties of conditions Eberflus has been coaching for as he works to turn out to be a pointy in-game coach. They’re additionally key for groups with a skinny margin for error just like the Bears. Consider {that a} small step in the fitting course however an excellent begin nonetheless.
Special groups
Reason for optimism: Rookie punter Trenton Gill, a seventh-round decide, had a pleasant debut, placing three of his seven punts contained in the 20-yard line. He had a median of 42.6 yards with a internet common of 36.4.
Gill and lengthy snapper Patrick Scales additionally helped kicker Cairo Santos decide up the place he left off final season. When the Bears let longtime punter Pat O’Donnell go within the offseason, Santos misplaced the holder who helped him throughout a franchise-record field-goal streak.
But Santos mentioned Gill put his thoughts comfortable the primary day they labored collectively, and he nailed area objectives from 20 and 47 yards Saturday plus an additional level.
Reason for concern: The Bears’ first punt return within the first quarter wasn’t ultimate. Dazz Newsome muffed the catch. He recovered it on the 14-yard line, however an unlawful block above the waist on Jaylon Jones pushed the Bears again to their 7.
The Bears turned to Dante Pettis to return punts subsequent, and he had three truthful catches earlier than Chris Finke received some work. Rookie vast receiver Velus Jones Jr., an electrical returner at Tennessee, sat out the sport with an harm.
Worth noting: Sixth-round decide Trestan Ebner, who returned kickoffs and punts at Baylor, had two kickoff returns for 53 yards, together with a 34-yarder to open the sport.
He was stable all-around as he fights for a task, however the Bears produce other choices on kickoff returns, together with Jones, operating again Khalil Herbert and vast receiver Byron Pringle.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com