Bears report card vs. Colts not one to take home to mom and dad
“I thought our defense played well.”
That was head coach Matt Nagy's opening comment Monday morning following the Bears' 19-11 loss to the Indianapolis Colts.
“They flew around and did their job. Nineteen points is enough for us to win a game.”
Then came the bad news.
“On offense you know third down, 4-for-14, we gotta ... this has been a theme for us, so what we gotta make sure we do as coaches is make sure that we are putting these guys in the best position possible to help them out and then when we do that, when we put them in a good play, then they gotta execute.
“That's the give and take on both sides.”
After studying the tape, I'd say that's fair and objective enough, it just doesn't do justice to the levels at which the offense failed to execute against what came into town as far and away the NFL's top-rated defense and left the same way. And 8 penalties for 103 yards is unacceptable, period.
Quarterback: Nick Foles had a bad game. He gets consideration for ring rust and lack of game-speed action over the last 11 months since he was given a seat in Jacksonville, and the fact he is still getting to know and develop timing with teammates. But Foles' near total lack of accuracy for almost 60 minutes and in particular on third down was stunning. Hub's grade: C-minus
Running backs: 13 carries total, 10 for David Montgomery and 3 for Cordarrelle Paterson isn't much to grade. I couldn't find one attempt on tape where either appeared to misread the hole, was slow getting to the line or was the cause for a play to fail. The one nice running back play of the day was Montgomery taking the short swing pass from Foles at the start of the second quarter and turning a corner that didn't appear to be there for a 17-yard gain. Hub's grade: C-plus
Receivers/tight ends: I understand Darnell Mooney is looking like a steal in the fifth round of the draft, but when did he become the Bears' No. 1 receiver?
With 3:47 to play, Mooney had been targeted eight times, Allen Robinson just five. Yes, the Colts focused on taking away Robinson, but who do we fault here, the playcaller, the quarterback or the pass catchers?
Anthony Miller caught three of the five balls thrown to him, the first miss was catchable but thrown behind him, and the second miss that became a pick with 11 minutes to play was an awful throw that could have been hauled in with a highlight-reel grab.
There doesn't appear to be a lot left in Ted Ginn and Javon Wims, Demetrius Harris and Cole Kmet were for the most part MIA. Hub's grade: C
Offensive line: Pass protection has struggled all year, and with the immobile Foles it was magnified greatly. The run blocking for the first time was just as bad. Yes, the Colts' front is tough, but it isn't the 1985 Bears. Hub's grade: D
Front 7 ‘D':The defense was good enough. With that great offensive line, they held the Colts to 2.7 a carry on 38 tries. Roquan Smith, Akiem Hicks and Khalil Mack were around the ball all afternoon, and considering what a monster the Colts' Quenton Nelson is, Roy Robertson-Harris acquitted himself pretty well.
Still, too much sloppy tackling and the pass rush was just OK. Hub's grade: B
Secondary: Kyle Fuller, who had been all-world the first three weeks, had a bad day, and Jaylon Johnson looked like a rookie more than you'd like, but still, allowing 186 yards passing and just 4-13 on third down after a shaky 4-6 start isn't bad.
The issue is, these guys have set the bar pretty high for themselves. Hub's grade: B-minus
Special teams: A blocked punt, 2 holding penalties, an unsportsmanlike conduct flag, allowing Nyheim Hines a 21-yard punt return with very little return game of their own #8212; it was a very bad day. Hub's grade: D
Coaching: Not much jumps out, but using your second timeout with 10:00 left in the first half and then running a busted play out of the timeout, all those penalties and Foles and the offensive line just not ready to play ... Yes, players have to make plays. but coaches have to share the blame when they don't. Hub's grade: C