Bears Film Study sees a return to familiar tradition
Film Study took a bit of a vacation. When we left off, the Bears were showing signs of fielding a defense more consistent with team history.
Based on Sunday’s win over the first-place Lions, the defensive monster is still gaining steam. Coach Matt Eberflus has the confidence to send blitzes instead of taking the safe route. When the Lions did make plays, it was usually because Jared Goff tossed a perfect pass, and there weren’t many of those.
Overall, this Bears defense could use a game-breaker type to create more havoc, but it was already trending in the right direction before defensive end Montez Sweat arrived. The Bears rank second in rush defense behind the 49ers and have 19 sacks in the last nine games.
That’s an improvement from their 2 sacks in the first four games, but they need to average 3-plus to qualify as a truly terrifying defense.
It starts with the line, where Sweat has made a solid group even better. The Bears will have to play without the opposite defensive end Yannick Ngakoue for the rest of the year, but they may have the depth to pull it off. Rasheem Green has been good, DeMarcus Walker is versatile, while rookie defensive tackles Gervon Dexter and Zacch Pickens appear ready for heavier workloads.
The young defensive backs like Jaquon Brisker, Tyrique Stevenson and Kyler Gordon are gaining confidence. Stevenson, especially, has come a long way since the start of the season.
The defense did get lucky on one play in the first half. They blitzed and the Lions made a perfect call, throwing a swing pass to running back Jahmyr Gibbs. Goff put it on the money, but Gibbs dropped the ball, otherwise that was 100% a touchdown. Jaylon Johnson made a fourth-down interception on the next snap.
The Bears need to move on from Eddie Jackson when the season ends and it still feels like linebackers T.J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds should switch roles, but we’re getting close to calling this a good defense.
Common sense offense:
The offense is evolving, as Justin Fields seems to be seeing the field better and taking the easy pass when necessary instead of trying to make a spectacular play. Let’s call this the Tyson Bagent Effect.
Offensive coordinator Luke Getsy has also injected a bit more common sense into the game plan. The Bears’ opening play was a Fields keeper, then they ran a play-action bootleg pass. Neither play amounted to much, but running Fields early kept the defense on its toes. On a D’Onta Foreman 13-yard run, then D.J. Moore’s touchdown sweep, two defenders followed Fields’ fake.
On the opening drive of the third quarter, which produced a tying field goal, the Bears used some short passes to keep the chains moving against a defense giving cushion to receivers. It seems obvious, but the Bears haven’t been great at taking the easy yards.
To keep the offense rolling, the biggest key is limiting the hits Fields takes. The designed QB runs should be limited to two or three per game and aimed toward the sideline. Fields won’t stay healthy if he takes more hits like the one Detroit’s Derrick Barnes delivered on an inside run in the third quarter.
The offensive line had a decent day overall. There were times when the Lions moved Aiden Hutchinson inside to work against right guard Nate Davis and that matchup didn’t go well for the Bears, but otherwise no complaints.
Best play
We could say the best play is any where Fields doesn’t get hit, but let’s credit the defense this week. After the Bears took the 25-13 lead early in the fourth quarter, the Lions went for it on fourth-and-1 at their own 34-yard line.
Gibbs was stuffed for a 4-yard loss and the play was essentially made by Sweat, who wedged beneath tight end Brock Wright to impede Gibbs’ path. At the same time, the Lions sent both tight end Sam LaPorta and left guard Jonah Jackson at linebacker Jack Sanborn. He fought off both blocks and was credited with the tackle.
Unsung hero
A couple of blocks by running back Roschon Johnson early in the game stood out. First of all, on Moore’s 16-yard TD run, Johnson sealed the edge with a solid block on Hutchinson, holding his ground for three seconds as Moore sprinted past. Center Lucas Patrick also had a nice downfield block on this play.
On the Bears’ second drive, they faced third-and-8 at their own 11-yard line. The Lions rushed six, but Johnson picked up blitzing linebacker Alex Anzalone, keeping Fields free to scramble for 19 yards. Instead of punting from their end zone, the Bears ended up driving for a field goal to go up 10-0.
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