Bears Week 8 @ Cowboys, Sunday 10/30 1pm

[raw]

Short week, so getting this started. Plus, I'm hot! 1 in a row! I believe the Bears are wearing orange w/ orange helmets again the day before Halloween. Adjust your expectations accordingly.

[gflore34]

Do not care about the score just would like to see consecutive good games from Fields. Last night adjustments were made to the scheme in an effort to put Fields in a position to succeed. Gives hope for what may come when Fields is surrounded by better offensive talent in 2023.

[Tryptamine]

Fields flashes of good are starting to grow more consistent and while there's still a lot of bad in there, it's overall a positive. I'm not too worried about the batted ball interception, that is going to happen. I'm more worried about ball security. Fields puts the ball on the ground a lot when he's scrambling in the pocket. With that said, I don't expect a win but it would be nice to a see a competitive game. The offense is going to have its hands full with the Dallas defense.

[jersey cubs fan]

10 point dogs. Seems like a prime opportunity to horsefeathers the bed for the bears after that domination against a subpar patriots team. The designed QB run probably won’t work as well against the cowboys. They got a short week with another road game. This one sets up for real “moral victory” status. A well played loss would be fine. A win puts them on the fast track to actually competing this year.

[raw]

Fields flashes of good are starting to grow more consistent and while there's still a lot of bad in there, it's overall a positive. I'm not too worried about the batted ball interception, that is going to happen. I'm more worried about ball security. Fields puts the ball on the ground a lot when he's scrambling in the pocket. With that said, I don't expect a win but it would be nice to a see a competitive game. The offense is going to have its hands full with the Dallas defense.

 

Yeah, the fumbles are bad. Some of the short throws are horrendous. But there was a concerted effort to design power runs for him (Getsy must have watched some Bills tape with the time off). They moved the pocket just enough, but when they didn't, Fields was able to maneuver in the pocket. Just consistently do this is all I want. He's going to hold onto the ball, he's going to get sacked a lot. Just let him play ball the way he plays ball.

 

I have 0 idea what they do against Dallas though, if they can't run the ball well. Luckily the Cowboys don't seem to be too great defending the run. I'd imagine their DVOA isn't great vs. the run, but they are 20th ranked in counting stats. The teams in similar situations with bad offenses/QB issues (NYG, WAS, DET) were all able to run the ball pretty well against them on a YPC basis. The Bucs in Week 1 had BY FAR their best rushing day of the year against them.

 

But when the Bears pass, it's gonna be ugly. One thing in their favor is the Cowboys pass rush mostly comes off the edge. Their interior is not very good. Of course, they blitz a ton, so yeah Fields is going to take a beating.

[Rex Buckingham]

Micah Parsons is gonna have a field day

[Old Style]

Dear 6 pound 8 ounce baby Jesus please let us win on Sunday. I don't have to go into the office next week but I know a lot of loudmouth Cowboy fans so a win would be a wonderful early Christmas gift.

[UMFan83]

This is going to be a really tough one. The Dallas defense is playing on another level right now.

[BigSlick]

Just look competent and like an NFL team. High bar, but I think they may be able to clear it.

[WrigleyField 22]

On Fields holding the ball front:

 

There were 2 interesting signs based on the PFF splits re: TTT.

 

It was only 5 blitzes, but on those 5 blitzes, Fields threw quickly (1.57 compared to 3.41 on the season) This should be an easy area to coach quick decisions as you know on a blitz where the extra defender is lost and where to throw hot. Hope that's a real change and not sample size noise.

 

He also actually had a quicker TTT on play action than non play action (3.05 v 3.88). This is somewhat bizarre, but I guess importantly the PA TTT was appropriate time and not dead last in league time as it has been. For the year he has been 3.59 TTT on PA.

 

So both of these were positive micro signs on the TTT front. And I think in both cases they are designed to be quicker/simpler reads and in the case of PA also generally help your pass protectors and receivers. Perhaps good indicators that on the true pass set, his line and receivers are really having a much larger impact.

 

So scheme did a lot of help last night. Big increase in designed runs. About a 10% swing towards PA. And in limited opportunities Fields did better making quick throws on the blitz. So right now he's probably still like an F true pass set QB, especially due to the erratic short throws. But he's an A+ runner and if he can be like a B/C+ PA passer, there's hopefully blocks to build on, especially once he has real talent around him.

[Sosa21MVP]

I will be making my first trip to Jerry's World for this game. \:D/

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Fields flashes of good are starting to grow more consistent and while there's still a lot of bad in there, it's overall a positive. I'm not too worried about the batted ball interception, that is going to happen. I'm more worried about ball security. Fields puts the ball on the ground a lot when he's scrambling in the pocket. With that said, I don't expect a win but it would be nice to a see a competitive game. The offense is going to have its hands full with the Dallas defense.

 

I'm in the same place. He's shown definite improvement in the last few weeks in some of the areas of concern. His pocket presence is way better, he's shifting away from the pressure consistently instead of running into it half the time. He's throwing the ball away more often when he should, he's pulling the trigger a little more consistently. He's made some successful hot reads against blitzes.

 

I don't know if he's ever going to be the pocket passer of my dreams, but he looks like he can be a useful NFL quarterback.

 

But I don't wanna get *too* effusive with the praise from yesterday. He made some bad decisions, he has accuracy problems, and he fumbled four times.

[Brian707]

Bears 20 Cowboys 19

 

I'm drinking the kool-aid. If the Bears cab continue being successful running the ball they can win

[raw]

Fields flashes of good are starting to grow more consistent and while there's still a lot of bad in there, it's overall a positive. I'm not too worried about the batted ball interception, that is going to happen. I'm more worried about ball security. Fields puts the ball on the ground a lot when he's scrambling in the pocket. With that said, I don't expect a win but it would be nice to a see a competitive game. The offense is going to have its hands full with the Dallas defense.

 

I'm in the same place. He's shown definite improvement in the last few weeks in some of the areas of concern. His pocket presence is way better, he's shifting away from the pressure consistently instead of running into it half the time. He's throwing the ball away more often when he should, he's pulling the trigger a little more consistently. He's made some successful hot reads against blitzes.

 

I don't know if he's ever going to be the pocket passer of my dreams, but he looks like he can be a useful NFL quarterback.

 

But I don't wanna get *too* effusive with the praise from yesterday. He made some bad decisions, he has accuracy problems, and he fumbled four times.

 

I have to laugh at his short throws sometimes. And I actually GET what's happening. His footwork is really out of whack on short throws. I have learned teaching my son to pitch, if you step into your throw properly and you have a really good arm, you can really throw the ball extremely hard. So, I feel like he's trying to throw "easy" on these quick throws and is not trying to put his all behind it. But he's aiming and his footwork is a mess. Footwork seems mostly fine on long throws.

 

But then later in the game, after a couple bad short ones, he did step into one on a WR screen to Mooney and he threw it about 95 mph from 15 yards away and it was about a foot over Mooney's head. Mooney caught it, but the play only went for 3-4 yards instead of probably 8-9 if the throw is in his chest.

[Old Style]

I will be making my first trip to Jerry's World for this game. \:D/

Prepare for a [expletive] getting in and out of that place. I hate it.

[UMFan83]

Thought this graphic was interesting since I'm always complaining about the Bears taking kickoffs out of the end zone. I get the idea in theory....if you break one and start at the 50 or even take it to the house, it makes up for 4-5 returns that you are down at the 18 or something. But if you don't have a HR hitting returner, just kneel.

 

[Derwood]

Micah Parsons is gonna have a field day

 

He might murder Fields

[BigbadB]

Micah Parsons is gonna have a field day

 

He might murder Fields

 

You can put Borom down for a bad PFF score already. He has no chance of containing Parsons.

[Old Style]

Micah Parsons is gonna have a field day

 

He might murder Fields

 

You can put Borom down for a bad PFF score already. He has no chance of containing Parsons.

Wouldn't he be matched up mostly against Jones?

[raw]

 

He might murder Fields

 

You can put Borom down for a bad PFF score already. He has no chance of containing Parsons.

Wouldn't he be matched up mostly against Jones?

 

He'll line up everywhere. He'll get reps against the LT, RT and against the interior.

[Derwood]

 

You can put Borom down for a bad PFF score already. He has no chance of containing Parsons.

Wouldn't he be matched up mostly against Jones?

 

He'll line up everywhere. He'll get reps against the LT, RT and against the interior.

 

Yeah, Parsons lines up all over the place. He's a menace. I'm kinda mad that Bears took Fields one pick ahead of him

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Bears 0.5 games out of a playoff spot.

 

I know the most likely scenario is they fizzle out to 5-12 or something like that, but there's a lot of dogpoop in the NFC and sometimes you get to be the luckiest dog poop and a bunch of close games go your way. The 7th seed in the NFC is going to a bad team.

[UMFan83]

Bears 0.5 games out of a playoff spot.

 

I know the most likely scenario is they fizzle out to 5-12 or something like that, but there's a lot of dogpoop in the NFC and sometimes you get to be the luckiest dog poop and a bunch of close games go your way. The 7th seed in the NFC is going to a bad team.

 

The problem with potential playoffs is that the Bears have already dug themselves a nice hole. They are 1-4 vs. NFC teams (with 2 of their 3 wins coming against NE and HOU) and already lost H2H tiebreakers with WAS and GB, 2 teams that are both currently 3-4. If the Giants fall back to earth, we've lost that tiebreaker too. We do own the tiebreaker over the 49ers, but they are only 1 GB in their division and possibly the favorites if the Seahawks aren't as legit as they looked and the Rams don't get it together.

 

Obviously there's plenty of time to change those trends, but its not a great start for tiebreaker purposes.

Edited October 26, 2022 by UMFan83

[WrigleyField 22]

Bears 0.5 games out of a playoff spot.

 

I know the most likely scenario is they fizzle out to 5-12 or something like that, but there's a lot of dogpoop in the NFC and sometimes you get to be the luckiest dog poop and a bunch of close games go your way. The 7th seed in the NFC is going to a bad team.

What's going to play a huge factor I think is how teams respond to this new offensive play mix.

 

Through six games, teams basically conceded the RB run game and the Bears couldn't really make them pay in the air.

 

If teams are still conceding the RB run game, are they also just going to concede 80 yards on the QB run game too? While it's not necessarily my favorite long term play for Fields development, it could lead to short term results.

 

So if Cowboys adjust to the RB and/or QB run game, does it finally open up the receiving game enough?

 

Right now the intermediate passing game of the Bears is good enough I don't think teams can ignore it. If they somehow design their scheme to basically concede the short passing game though, can they also combat a combined the QB/RB run game package? Or can the Bears be at a position that teams are gonna give them something that they just need to be patient and take over and over.

 

Obviously teams will adapt so hopefully Getsy has got ideas not reliant on stealing from the Ravens run game.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Bears 0.5 games out of a playoff spot.

 

I know the most likely scenario is they fizzle out to 5-12 or something like that, but there's a lot of dogpoop in the NFC and sometimes you get to be the luckiest dog poop and a bunch of close games go your way. The 7th seed in the NFC is going to a bad team.

What's going to play a huge factor I think is how teams respond to this new offensive play mix.

 

Through six games, teams basically conceded the RB run game and the Bears couldn't really make them pay in the air.

 

If teams are still conceding the RB run game, are they also just going to concede 80 yards on the QB run game too? While it's not necessarily my favorite long term play for Fields development, it could lead to short term results.

 

So if Cowboys adjust to the RB and/or QB run game, does it finally open up the receiving game enough?

 

Right now the intermediate passing game of the Bears is good enough I don't think teams can ignore it. If they somehow design their scheme to basically concede the short passing game though, can they also combat a combined the QB/RB run game package? Or can the Bears be at a position that teams are gonna give them something that they just need to be patient and take over and over.

 

Obviously teams will adapt so hopefully Getsy has got ideas not reliant on stealing from the Ravens run game.

 

 

I would also like to see how well the game plan works in games where you don't get a +3 turnover ratio and recover all 6 fumbles. That's not gonna happen every time.