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Protection calls right, Bears' blocking all wrong- film review
Protection calls right, Bears' blocking all wrong
Dan Pompei On the NFL
Giving up sacks the way a loose slot machine gives up coins is one thing.
But doing it when the protection calls are on the money is something else.
A closer review of the tape of the Bears' 17-3 loss to the Giants showed what happened to Jay Cutler was almost completely on his blockers.
First off, know this: the Giants rarely blitzed Cutler. In Cutler's 20 dropbacks, they rushed four men 15 times, including on eight of the nine sacks.
And also know this: the Bears were not playing it fast and loose with protection. They called for five-man protections only four times in the first half, and as it became apparent the Giants' pass rush was a problem, they adjusted. On six of the last seven dropbacks of the half, the Bears tried to protect Cutler with seven or eight blockers.
Two of the sacks came against five-man protections. Three came against six-man protections and another three came against seven. One came against eight.
So what the tape showed was Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell scheming to get advantageous matchups, individual blockers getting whipped and Cutler making poor decisions.
Grading key: Grades are between 0 and 10 with 0 being complete failure and 10 being perfect.
Offensive line
Grade: 0
The pass protection improved in the second half. But that was like getting the fire under control after nothing was left to burn.
Blockers were beaten with speed. They were beaten with inside moves. They were beaten with stunts and twists. They were late to identify blitzers.
As for the tackles, right tackle Kevin Shaffer allowed a sack, a pressure that led to another sack and had a false start. J'Marcus Webb, who rotated with Shaffer, allowed a quarterback hit in the end zone. Left tackle Frank Omiyale had two false starts and was beaten for a sack.
The interior wasn't much better. Roberto Garza gave up a sack. Barry Cofield split a double-team by Olin Kreutz and Lance Louis for a sack. Edwin Williams didn't see Jonathan Goff coming on a delayed blitz and went to help Matt Forte with a double-team. Goff nailed Todd Collins, which led to an interception. Luckily for Williams, it was called back because Goff was called for roughing the passer.
Oh, and the run-blocking was like a multicar pileup in rush hour.
Quarterback
Grade: 1
Of the 11 times Giants defenders got in Cutler's face, they sacked him nine. That tells you something about how the quarterback was handling pressure. The tape showed at least three of the sacks were Cutler's responsibility.
He didn't make sight adjustments. He refused to throw the ball away except for one time. He failed to protect the football in the pocket (three fumbles). And he didn't make good use of his mobility
Cutler became more and more shell-shocked as the second quarter went on. It's possible his concussion came earlier in the game and his judgment was cloudy. But by the time the quarter was half over, he was almost useless.
His only passes of consequence were an underthrow to Devin Hester on a potential touchdown pass that fell incomplete and an interception.
The best pass of the game, Chicago version, came from third-stringer Caleb Hanie. Both Hanie and Collins also showed better judgment than the starter in terms of avoiding sacks.
Tight ends
Grade: 1
Greg Olsen made a nice adjustment to a pass thrown behind him in the fourth quarter for a 19-yard gain. Other than that, it was a rough day for the tight ends.
Both Olsen and Brandon Manumaleuna were beaten for sacks that resulted in quarterback fumbles.
Olsen was the intended target on both of the Bears' interceptions. On the first, he didn't put up a fight for a poorly thrown pass. On the second, a collision with Goff knocked him off his seam route.
Running backs
Grade: 3
If the roles of Matt Forte and Chester Taylor don't start to evolve, they might want to put on about 100 pounds each. Because all they really do is block.
Neither Forte nor Taylor had enough chances, though, especially in light of the circumstances.
Wide receivers
Grade: 4
They didn't do anything to help the team win, but they didn't do anything to make their team lose either. With only 13 passes thrown their way and most of them short ones, the wide receivers really weren't given much of a chance in this one.
Defensive line
Grade: 5
This grade would have been higher, but the line wore down in the second half and helped allow the Giants 142 rushing yards after halftime.
Julius Peppers played another outstanding game. If he played against the Bears' offense, it would take him about three quarters to set a record for sacks in a season.
Israel Idonije is known as a run defender and so-so pass rusher, but his pass rush was more effective than his run defense in spots Sunday.
If Lovie Smith was hoping to light a fire under Tommie Harris, he's going to need more kerosene. Harris was a non-factor.
Linebackers
Grade: 6
This unit has to take some of the blame for the run defense, but Brian Urlacher continues to play like a candidate for defensive player of the year. He got his hands on two passes, recovered a fumble and was a force in the gaps with another stuff
Safeties
Grade: 4
Danieal Manning and Chris Harris combined to make 17 tackles and Harris recovered a fumble, but they took some bad angles at times.
On Ahmad Bradshaw's 3-yard touchdown run, Manning had Bradshaw stood up at the 2 but couldn't bring him down.
A missed tackle by Harris enabled Brandon Jacobs to get another 21 yards late in the fourth quarter.
Cornerbacks
Grade: 6
Zack Bowman served notice he was back by saving a touchdown with a forced fumble and recovery in the fourth quarter. But on the ensuing Giants' possession, he was beaten on a 30-yard completion.
Tim Jennings is showing an inclination for allowing receivers to run past him, then catching up and sticking his hand up at the last second to knock away underthrown balls. If he keeps playing like that, it will catch up with him. Jennings missed a tackle that enabled Kevin Boss to get 9 yards on an 11-yard gain.
Special teams
Grade: 4
The special teams units failed to take advantage of some nice opportunities. A holding call on Earl Bennett negated a 36-yard return. No one made plays when the Giants bobbled a punt return and fumbled a punt snap.
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interesting thought by miller on the '258" call and cutler not being the same after
15 on 6: Ugliest offensive performance ever
By Jim Miller
CSNChicago.com
If Sunday night's game was the precursor for an early Halloween scare, the Bears succeeded!
I could not even believe what I was witnessing, then asked to comment on, as a former player, for Bears Postgame Live. The outcome of this debacle was the total opposite of what I anticipated. The Bears needed to be like the Jets who went into Buffalo and gave the Bills exactly what they expected - a beat Down!
The Giants were a team at the crossroads and waiting for their own demons to take hold all the way up to halftime. For the Bears to even jog to the locker room down 3-0 after 30 minutes was a miracle. This is after giving up nine sacks, a sack fumble, an interception, three offensive line changes and a total output of only 22 yards offensively.
It truly was the ugliest offensive performance I have ever witnessed from an NFL team.
If the Bears were given a rock for Halloween, (like good ole Charlie Brown), for that performance it would be generous. But before we get ahead of ourselves and fire everyone for a Halloween day massacre, let's understand why the Bears' play was so horrendous and attempt to put it into perspective.
Lost Quarter
From the information I have gathered, Jay Cutler went ghostly at the beginning of the second quarter. Mike Martz calls a 258 with whatever route combination tagged at the time. A 258 is a "QB Dash" play - a good play call at the time - allowing you to change the launch point for a QB when pass protection is an issue.
As a QB, you show a straight drop back of five steps from underneath the center, then dash to the right enabling offensive lineman to "pin in" pass rushers who are "teeing off." The problem is, you have to secure the backside cut off block, or a defensive end (Osi Umenyura) has a 20-yard sprint targeting your QB dead to rights. Greg Olsen amazingly tries a "cut block", when he should just face up. It truly is amazing that Jay Cutler actually got up after such a vicious hit, but he started walking to the wrong sideline. Clearly, he was not sound mentally and anyone who took that hit would have been out of sorts.
It is never a fun moment to be in that sate! I have experienced it, and it truly becomes a one-play-at-a-time senario, where you are trying to pull yourself together.
As the quarter progressed, even former NFL wide receiver Chris Collinsworth noted on a play, "How does Jay not see Earl Bennett on the Shallow cross?" I personally knew something was amiss when Jay missed a nickel blitz from an "empty set" (spread out, no backs), and took another vicious hit from cornerback Aaron Ross. Not recognizing/missing that blitz for Jay would be like Bears fans missing a Bears game - it does not happen! It is football 101, they are bringing one more than you have to block!
The second quarter was now lost, in terms of execution, and the coaches had to figure out if Jay can go in the third. In this house of horrors is where I have a huge problem, outside of the Offensive line protection issues.
Normally, players on the field sense when a player has been "dinged." Mike Martz and the offensive coaches had to have sensed it as well with how Jay was reading/executing plays. All this withstanding; the blown blocking assignments, missed open receivers, lack of running game and the injured starting QB - the storm could have been weathered again by the Bears.
Instead, much like the confusion on the field, the Bears go in at the half with doctors evaluating Jay and no one prepping the offense - Todd Collins or Caleb Hanie for the inevitable. Collins said in his post game presser, "I did not know I was playing until coming out of the tunnel for the second half."
That is unacceptable and poor preparation by the Bears coaching staff!
From Now On...
Bears QB's better be equipped to manipulate this offense. After a three-game warning, Jay should have known he cannot trust his protection early. As a QB, you have to learn to negotiate it!
The play called in the huddle may have primaries, but you better know your dump-offs on every play. Offensively, you must log more snaps when things are "harry." It is the only way you find any rhythm. The "dump off," may not be a big gain, but they may miss a tackle or make a mistake, and you continue to make them line up to diagnose a weakness and find a spark.
Accountability
If we are holding players accountable for performance, the same goes for coaches. That was a horrific game plan by Martz. Mike had his hands full with shuffling offensive lineman, but going in, this game begged for the running game to be tapped. Play action would have been set up and the Bears could have been off to the races at 4-0.
It will be interesting next week in Carolina to see what the Bears unveil. Martz will be making the trip to the principal's office and we'll see if he makes the necessary adjustments.
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Adam_Schefter Jay Cutler went through meetings today as if he would play vs. Carolina. Kevin Kolb didn't attend his Monday meetings after his concussion.
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Halloween has come early for the Bears: Our o-line is scarier than a Halloween fright movie. Our starting LT is out with a hamstring and our two guards are battling knee injuries. At full strength this o-line is below average.
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Originally Posted by
GeorgiaJeff 
Halloween has come early for the Bears: Our o-line is scarier than a Halloween fright movie. Our starting LT is out with a hamstring and our two guards are battling knee injuries. At full strength this o-line is below average.
Hopefully get Williams back this week, think that will help.. we shall see
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the line was looking bad when Williams was playing.
And I have never seen Forte miss so many blocks. I know he is better then that. I expect that crap from our crap oline but not Forte. And Mamu legend has taken a tremendous hit.
how about this for the nonsense gm we have that doesnt know crap about building an offense.......next time the oline just shows only two games of improvement but a whole season of inequities like last season dont get fooled by that and use it as an excuse to not load up on olinemen. It wont hurt if we skip one damn draft from getting nothing but dts. des, dbs lmfao get some damn strategy to fix this mess that fans have been begging for for over 3 years. We dont get paid millions and we can state the obvious over three damn years ago. This idiot gets paid 5 mil a year to be a gm and cant fix an oline.
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Originally Posted by
motownbear the line was looking bad when Williams was playing.
And I have never seen Forte miss so many blocks. I know he is better then that. I expect that crap from our crap oline but not Forte. And Mamu legend has taken a tremendous hit.
how about this for the nonsense gm we have that doesnt know crap about building an offense.......next time the oline just shows only two games of improvement but a whole season of inequities like last season dont get fooled by that and use it as an excuse to not load up on olinemen. It wont hurt if we skip one damn draft from getting nothing but dts. des, dbs lmfao get some damn strategy to fix this mess that fans have been begging for for over 3 years. We dont get paid millions and we can state the obvious over three damn years ago. This idiot gets paid 5 mil a year to be a gm and cant fix an oline.
good point on forte, been meaning to mention that- he was a VERY good blocker his rookie year and missed a few last year, but on whole still very good, this year not sure what has happened? but he is not the same. And agree about manu being a big dissappointment, though as said yesterday, not sure how much the injury affects that- but that BOTH of these contribute to the sack problem, even if 'only" stopped 1-2 a game like they should have.
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This is why I could not understand everyone yelling about Martz and Tice.
On most of the sacks we had at least 6 guys in blocking against 4. Olsen and Manamaluana were pathetic in pass protection and should be getting just as much blame as the rest of the line.
When the DL is getting sacks like that it is not scheme it is the OL just getting straight up beat.
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if mamu still isnt healed up from injury then maybe he should be deactivated and let Clark play. Clark has the discipline and talent to get the job done. Of course Olsen is a liability as a TE. Face facts people he is just a mediocre wr. Depending on him to block is a losing formula
And I know everyone has a boner for Hester but seriously this doghouse crap with DA is hurting the team. The offense is less dynamic without DA. This doghouse thing with Graham prevented him to shine and he was better then Bowman. Look at Lloyd now on Denver without a coach like Lovie holding him back. I believe in accountability but when your gu produces holding the grudge on the player doesnt help the "team"
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Originally Posted by
motownbear if mamu still isnt healed up from injury then maybe he should be deactivated and let Clark play. Clark has the discipline and talent to get the job done. Of course Olsen is a liability as a TE. Face facts people he is just a mediocre wr. Depending on him to block is a losing formula
And I know everyone has a boner for Hester but seriously this doghouse crap with DA is hurting the team. The offense is less dynamic without DA. This doghouse thing with Graham prevented him to shine and he was better then Bowman. Look at Lloyd now on Denver without a coach like Lovie holding him back. I believe in accountability but when your gu produces holding the grudge on the player doesnt help the "team"
so what was llyod excuse on the redskins, is joe gibbs a bad coach now? and llyod actually also played well for the bears then faded quick as he got big headed, let's see how he ends.. before criticizing the bears for a known headcase that calimed he would rather be a music mogul than play football
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