Chicago Bears Have Significant Pass Protection Issues
by John B on Dec 22, 2010 8:57 PM EST
Email
Print
Whenever I watch the Bears this year, what always sticks out to me is how effective almost every blitz against them is on passing plays. I have remarked more than once that I feel like I am watching the 2007 Jets. Surely you remember the offensive line that featured Adrien Clarke and Anthony Clement. The unit was so bad that Mike Tannenbaum had little choice but to spend big to land Alan Faneca and Damien Woody the next offseason in free agency.
My feelings are pretty accurate. I looked it up and found that the Jets allowed 3.3 sacks per game that year. The Bears have allowed 3.4 this year. In addition to the 48 sacks Chicago has allowed this season, Pro Football Focus says they have allowed 26 quarterback hits and 153 quarterback pressures. The Bears are allowing at least pressure on just over half of their passing plays this year. For some context, the Jets are allowing pressure on just over a quarter of their passing plays, and Mark Sanchez has shown a willingness to hold the ball for quite a while in the pocket.
Part of it has to do with the long developing pass plays of Mike Martz's scheme, but Chicago's offensive line has been a sieve aside from center Olin Kreutz, who has allowed only 1 sack, 2 hits, and 9 pressures. Their tackles, Frank Omiyale and J'Marcus Webb have both allowed over 10 sacks and 34 pressures.
The lesson here is simple. The Jets should blitz, blitz, and blitz some more in this one. Gang Green is built to attack. This matchup seems to be in New York's favor.
13 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
i can't agree more
it was driving me nuts at the end of te gm sunday (aside from the last 2 plays) that they were playing coverage and not blitzing
metsjetsknicksrangers.............can it get any worse?
The funny thing is they have 14 sacks in their last 4 games.
Again, i’m big on sacks, but not that big on them. What I mean is, I prefer constant pressure. Pressure that helps create turnovers. One of the reasons the Jets have so few interceptions is the lack of constant pressure does not force bad throws.
I agree as well
But recall, the Giants killed them for 10 or 11 sacks in Week 4. The sacks seem to come in large groups, so if we can scare the crap out of Cutler in the beginning, I’d say even Vernon Gholston might snag a sack. Also, Cutler is similar to Brett Favre in that he slings it and often forces throws under pressure. As far as I know, Revis doesn’t have a single pick on the season. I’m looking for one or two picks of Cutler on Sunday, though not necessarily by Revis.
It was funny, I just read: “Chicago Bears Have Significant Pass Protection Issues…” and thought, “That’s good, because the New York Jets Have Significant Pass Russ Issues.”
by cult hero on Dec 22, 2010 10:15 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
maya is right
Take away the Giants and Carolina games (15 sacks total), that sack average drops down to around a respectable 2.4 sack per game. QB pressures on Cutler means nothing. He does a good job of throwing on the run than in the pocket. They have improved immensely after the bye week with their run game and Culter getting rid of the ball quicker. Blitzing a LOT is going to reopen that soft game over the middle and they have the receivers to do it.
Shut down their run game, timing of blitzes, keeping their offense OFF of the field with OUR run game/sustained drives, playing with the defensive intensity they did against the Steelers are going to be the keys to winning against the Bears. Give them a chance to run wild and we will be in trouble.
Take away the Giants and Carolina games (15 sacks total), that sack average drops down to around a respectable 2.4 sack per game
Numbers regress to the mean over the course of an entire season. Taking games away randomly makes analysis less accurate. I don’t really see what is gained by taking games away. It really just skews the results IMO. Those games happened and displayed things about their offensive line.
QB pressures on Cutler means nothing. He does a good job of throwing on the run than in the pocket.
The numbers don’t really back this statement up. His completion percentage drops 14 points and his QB rating drops almost 40 points according to Pro Football Focus when he is pressured.
Editor-In-Chief
Gang Green Nation
SB Nation's Jets Blog
http://www.ganggreennation.com
Is it all about numbers?
That’s my point. It’s not at all about the stats. Their offensive line was a little depleted early on (chis williams) and their run game was not utilized much. The Bears have made adjustments to enable them to go 6-1 after the bye week. Given this and the Jets ability to stop the run, pick the spots to blitz when we know they are in throwing.
Their record has more to do with their third ranked scoring defense than anything.
It’s not all about the stats, but they do tell the story in this case. They have been slightly better in recent weeks, but they’re still really bad protecting the quarterback. Maybe it’s gone from putrid to just smelly, but they still allow a ton of pressure. Cutler like pretty much all QB’s is a lot better when he doesn’t have to face pressure.
The way the Jets had success attacking Cincy’s mediocre offensive line is a blueprint for this week. The Bears also have a suspect receiving corps, which minimizes the risk. That is a topic for another story, though.
Editor-In-Chief
Gang Green Nation
SB Nation's Jets Blog
http://www.ganggreennation.com
sunday will tell
And I hope you are right. But our success is based off of our defense as well, no? IMO (just figured out what the hell that means) think the Jets success, in this game as the rest of the year will be based on our run game, long, painful time consuming drives. Keeping their offense off of the field. Can’t wait to read the posting about their recievers. Anyone have any thoughts about Hester vs Smith making a difference?
One small problem.
They have two burners at WR in Hester and Knox. If Revis still has Hammy issues we may need to bring safety help way over the top, especially if our blitzing has been as ineffective as it has been all year. Every Bears game I’ve watched they’ve beaten someone deep or came a WR drop close to it. It’s pretty much how they score. So sure, if we blitz effectively keep on doing it, but if they pick it up like most other teams we’ve face then I don’t think it’s going to reap the results many of you think it will.
john b
i some questions… if the pass defense is so good on the jets how come they have given up 2 times more passing td’s than we have?
in 474 attempts how come the jets only have 16 td’s?
if i were a fan instead of worrying about whats wrong with the other team, i would worry about my team in relation to the other
The jets have 1 good corner one great corner. they are used to focusing on the number 1 and 2 wr’s chicago has neither. there was a comment made about martz not utilizing his te’s but greg olsen leads the team in td receptions.
Who does revis focus on slot guy devin hester? starters earl bennett or johnny knox?
Something you could focus on is our defense vs your offense :-) lol
┌∩┐(•_•)┌∩┐
by Tommy Ohyeah Mcduffie on Dec 24, 2010 3:57 PM EST reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Gang Green Nation
Related FanShots on Gang Green Nation
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Shutdown Corner - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
- The Shutdown Corner Podcast: Greg Cosell on the NFC South Draft
- BREAKING: Tim Tebow did not become a great quarterback today
- Jerry Jones says Cowboys championship window is closing; Tony Romo disagrees
- Lawrence Taylor was told his Super Bowl ring was bought by Charlie Sheen
- Chad Ochocinco gets robbed, mourns loss of Starbucks gold card
