Monday Night’s performance was certainly something that well, just flat out sucked. The Bears are in a weird place. I mean, look, they’re 5-2. They’ve played OK overall (obviously better on defense than offense) and still managed to win 5 games already this season. What is just absolutely maddening is that “performance” on offense. Just completely unable to get anything going. Is there some trouble in paradise between Foles and Nagy? I’m not certain, but something is definitely off.
PLAYCALLING
This has been the biggest issue that most fans of the Bears and pundits alike have been questioning and for good reason. The Bears are not playing to their own strengths. Why is Foles rolling out to his left, throwing to a one route option? That is so easily defendable that its laughable at best. Its like Nagy thought Trubisky was still in the game, Foles is simply not a mobile QB yet they’re rolling him out more than they did when Mitch was in at QB, makes no sense.
While I love Patterson and what he can bring to the team in terms of intangibles, can we say enough is enough with him as a RB? Can we stop running to the short side of the field on 3rd and short situations, no matter who is in there at RB? Losing Cohen has had a much larger impact than anyone could have imagined as not only the run game suffers, but so does the punt return game as thus far, no one has stepped up to fill his video game like shoes. I’m hopeful that Lamar Miller has something left in the tank and they bring him up to the roster from the practice squad soon to help contribute to the struggling (that is putting it lightly) run game. Without the run game, the Bears are so easy to defend against. Miller is working his way back from a torn ACL so time will tell if he can contribute anything at all.
There have even been rumblings that some folks want Trubisky back in there instead of Foles. Will that happen this year? I won’t rule it out but I’m not there in that camp…yet. It is worth mentioning that offensively, the team produced better with Trubisky under center? Its all just entirely too stupid and frustrating at the same time.
OFFENSIVE LINE
This is what makes my blood boil. Time and time again, the guys up front are simply getting beat. They’re getting pushed around and other teams are having a field day with them. Filling gaps, no holes for runners, not enough time to pass, its just getting worse. I thought maybe Pace had a play in him to get some o-line help before the trade deadline (clock is ticking!) but I’m not holding my breath on that one. First it was our guard James Daniels that went down with a season ending injury, now its center Cody Whitehair that got dinged up last week and is questionable to play this week. YIKES PATROL.
INJURIES
It only took 7 weeks, but now injuries seem to be mounting and its not great. Take a look here at the injury report released on Thursday.
Not practicing at all were Khalil Mack, Cordarrelle Patterson, Allen Robinson and Cody Whitehair. Those are 4 big pieces to the teams success. In addition to that, seeing Eddie Jackson being limited both days with a knee injury is not great either. The Bears just have to have that next man up mentality as it looks like WR Riley Ridley could get his first snaps of the season on Sunday against the Saints.
Speaking of, the Saints themselves have some injury issues at WR as both Michael Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders are not likely to play, yet another instance where the Bears are facing a team without one or more of their superstars. Hell, I’ll take it, no shame in catching a break. Preview later this week, or maybe not, who knows.
UPDATE: You can find the Bears injury report here, but Whitehair has been ruled out while the following players are questionable for Sunday:
Eddie Jackson
Khalil Mack
Sherrick McManis
Cordarrelle Patterson
Allen Robinson
Ugh.
Bear Down.
GO BEARS! 