Week 8: Chicago BEARS vs. New Orleans Saints, 3:25 local time (FOX)

[raw]

This is a game the Bears have no business winning, but with all the injuries on the Saints side and Robinson playing, Mack likely too, they have a legit shot at pulling it off

The Bears absolutely have a chance to win. Saints D isn’t going to allow them to run away from anyone. If Chicago gets enough big plays, the Saints weakness, they can win.

 

Getting big plays is also the Bears weakness (along with getting small and medium plays). They're the only team that hasn't scored a TD beyond 50 yards since 2018.....and every other team has at least 2.

[NOLA]

This is a game the Bears have no business winning, but with all the injuries on the Saints side and Robinson playing, Mack likely too, they have a legit shot at pulling it off

The Bears absolutely have a chance to win. Saints D isn’t going to allow them to run away from anyone. If Chicago gets enough big plays, the Saints weakness, they can win.

 

Getting big plays is also the Bears weakness (along with getting small and medium plays). They're the only team that hasn't scored a TD beyond 50 yards since 2018.....and every other team has at least 2.

Saints have allowed 6 plays over 48 yds in the last 4 games.

[raw]

Sounds like Mack and Patterson will play along with Robinson. Dwayne Harris was activated from the practice squad and will return punts today. So, the Bears will be improved there.

 

I'd love to see the Bears come out in 3-wide and just see what the defense does. Bears are MUCH better running out of 3-wide (11 personnel), by like 2 yards per carry, but run most with multiple TEs. I'd like to see them play Montgomery, Robinson, Miller, Mooney and Kmet for at least half the snaps today, mixing in Graham in the redzone, Patterson when Montgomery needs a break (not just to set up toss plays), and if they have to Demetrius Harris on short yardage plays. I'd even consider a Mitch package in short yardage, just to give the D something else to think about.

 

Defensively, I'd probably play exclusive nickel D. On early downs, play big nickel. Deon Bush over Skrine. Bush gives them another LB type at the 2nd level and serves the double purpose of taking Kamara in pass game assignments. Gotta keep the Saints from isolating Trevathan in coverage. He's a complete liability and easily the most exploitable part of this defense. Without Thomas, Sanders and Callaway; I'm fine with trusting Bush, Jackson, Gipson or even Roquan against whoever they put in the slot, except in long distance, which should put the Bears in dime anyway and take Trevathan off the field.

 

This game is winnable. But the Bears cannot afford mistakes on offense. Not even talking about turnovers. First 4 drives against the Rams, had a converted 2nd and 2 beyond the 50 called back by a holding call, which put them into 2nd and 12. Then a drop from Demetrius Harris which would have moved the chains. Then didn't protect for another 1/2 second which would have allowed Foles to (hopefully) find Miller breaking wide open for a potential TD, instead they settled for a FG. Then the false start on 4th and inches (QB sneak may have been short anyway). When you aren't talented or coached well enough to create something out of nothing on offense, you have to be mental mistake free. Penalties, drops, open receivers missed can't happen.

[BigbadB]

Hearing it is super windy in Chicago today, which doesn't bode well for the kicking game. Don't expect much of an impact on the long pass play, since neither team is good at that with the current personnel anyway.

[WrigleyField 22]

Sounds like Mack and Patterson will play along with Robinson. Dwayne Harris was activated from the practice squad and will return punts today. So, the Bears will be improved there.

 

I'd love to see the Bears come out in 3-wide and just see what the defense does. Bears are MUCH better running out of 3-wide (11 personnel), by like 2 yards per carry, but run most with multiple TEs. I'd like to see them play Montgomery, Robinson, Miller, Mooney and Kmet for at least half the snaps today, mixing in Graham in the redzone, Patterson when Montgomery needs a break (not just to set up toss plays), and if they have to Demetrius Harris on short yardage plays. I'd even consider a Mitch package in short yardage, just to give the D something else to think about.

 

Defensively, I'd probably play exclusive nickel D. On early downs, play big nickel. Deon Bush over Skrine. Bush gives them another LB type at the 2nd level and serves the double purpose of taking Kamara in pass game assignments. Gotta keep the Saints from isolating Trevathan in coverage. He's a complete liability and easily the most exploitable part of this defense. Without Thomas, Sanders and Callaway; I'm fine with trusting Bush, Jackson, Gipson or even Roquan against whoever they put in the slot, except in long distance, which should put the Bears in dime anyway and take Trevathan off the field.

 

This game is winnable. But the Bears cannot afford mistakes on offense. Not even talking about turnovers. First 4 drives against the Rams, had a converted 2nd and 2 beyond the 50 called back by a holding call, which put them into 2nd and 12. Then a drop from Demetrius Harris which would have moved the chains. Then didn't protect for another 1/2 second which would have allowed Foles to (hopefully) find Miller breaking wide open for a potential TD, instead they settled for a FG. Then the false start on 4th and inches (QB sneak may have been short anyway). When you aren't talented or coached well enough to create something out of nothing on offense, you have to be mental mistake free. Penalties, drops, open receivers missed can't happen.

This may a really crazy thought, but in traditional nickel what about putting Skrine outside and putting Fuller in the slot? I'm not sure he's ever played slot, but thinking along the lines of having him lay the lumber on anything they try across the middle. You may accomplish something similar with the big nickel as you suggested, but just a thought as I see Fuller and Johnsons coverage kind of being wasted in this game on the outside.

 

Or I'll also throw out having Jackson be the "big" part of the nickel with Bush back at FS. Puts him in the action on all the short game stuff.

[raw]

Sounds like Mack and Patterson will play along with Robinson. Dwayne Harris was activated from the practice squad and will return punts today. So, the Bears will be improved there.

 

I'd love to see the Bears come out in 3-wide and just see what the defense does. Bears are MUCH better running out of 3-wide (11 personnel), by like 2 yards per carry, but run most with multiple TEs. I'd like to see them play Montgomery, Robinson, Miller, Mooney and Kmet for at least half the snaps today, mixing in Graham in the redzone, Patterson when Montgomery needs a break (not just to set up toss plays), and if they have to Demetrius Harris on short yardage plays. I'd even consider a Mitch package in short yardage, just to give the D something else to think about.

 

Defensively, I'd probably play exclusive nickel D. On early downs, play big nickel. Deon Bush over Skrine. Bush gives them another LB type at the 2nd level and serves the double purpose of taking Kamara in pass game assignments. Gotta keep the Saints from isolating Trevathan in coverage. He's a complete liability and easily the most exploitable part of this defense. Without Thomas, Sanders and Callaway; I'm fine with trusting Bush, Jackson, Gipson or even Roquan against whoever they put in the slot, except in long distance, which should put the Bears in dime anyway and take Trevathan off the field.

 

This game is winnable. But the Bears cannot afford mistakes on offense. Not even talking about turnovers. First 4 drives against the Rams, had a converted 2nd and 2 beyond the 50 called back by a holding call, which put them into 2nd and 12. Then a drop from Demetrius Harris which would have moved the chains. Then didn't protect for another 1/2 second which would have allowed Foles to (hopefully) find Miller breaking wide open for a potential TD, instead they settled for a FG. Then the false start on 4th and inches (QB sneak may have been short anyway). When you aren't talented or coached well enough to create something out of nothing on offense, you have to be mental mistake free. Penalties, drops, open receivers missed can't happen.

This may a really crazy thought, but in traditional nickel what about putting Skrine outside and putting Fuller in the slot? I'm not sure he's ever played slot, but thinking along the lines of having him lay the lumber on anything they try across the middle. You may accomplish something similar with the big nickel as you suggested, but just a thought as I see Fuller and Johnsons coverage kind of being wasted in this game on the outside.

 

Or I'll also throw out having Jackson be the "big" part of the nickel with Bush back at FS. Puts him in the action on all the short game stuff.

 

I'd keep Fuller and Skrine where they are because that may be too much to change in a short week, but I don't hate that thought. The thing about Jackson as the "big" in the nickel is that run D would be much better off with Bush than Jackson in the box (there's a double entendre here). My thinking w/ the big nickel is that the DL is going to get beat anyway, so instead of getting a 3rd DL in there, big nickel gives you another player on the 2nd level if you operate under the assumption that the RB is going to get past the first level.

[NOLA]

[Soul]

To think that the Bears are the worst rushing team in the NFL at 84.1 YPG is difficult to wrap my head around as a Bear fan, but here we are. With wind as a potentially large factor I’d feel better knowing we could pull back on the pass and get positive yards on the ground but we can’t.

[raw]

FWIW, statistically weather seems to have very little effect on the game. Wind, rain, snow doesn't typically slow down explosive teams unless the weather is very extreme (high winds, torrential downpours, blizzard, fog bowl).

[Proven Veteran]

So apparently you're actually allowed to return Hekker's punts.

[jersey cubs fan]

[WrigleyField 22]

Wonder who the heck the backup center is...?

[raw]

My God!

 

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[raw]

Wonder who the heck the backup center is...?

Alex Bars was snapping the ball in warmups per someone on Twitter (Biggs?). I guess that means he's backup C and not starting LG like he should get a chance to be.

 

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[raw]

10 play drive. 6 runs, 4 screen passes behind the LOS.

 

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[Soul]

Ummm....what?

[raw]

Biscuit!

 

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[raw]

Lol. .what a terrible call

 

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[raw]

Lol. .what a terrible call

 

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X2

 

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[Soul]

Whhiiifffff on that block on the sack.

 

 

 

But, good FG

[Tim]

yeah, this line is a problem.

 

We really need to spend more draft capital on the line.

[raw]

yeah, this line is a problem.

 

We really need to spend more draft capital on the line.

Sadly, the original OL was 3 guys getting over 9M on average annually, a 2nd round pick and a former 1st rounder. Investments were made, just poorly.

 

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[UMFan83]

134 yards allowed on the Saints first 2 drives and somehow they only managed 3 points from it.

 

Great to see some goalpost luck for us for once

[Soul]

134 yards allowed on the Saints first 2 drives and somehow they only managed 3 points from it.

 

Great to see some goalpost luck for us for once

I guess we’ll need those kind of stats to happen to win today.

[Soul]

Wow, an offense showed up.