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The 2017 Bears defense was one of the NFL's best explosive plays. That has not been carried over to 2018. What happened?
The answer to the question is simple: The Bears have not tackled in 2018 as they did in 2017. But the problem is more difficult to discern, especially for a defense that's been buoyed by continuity and the splash additions of Roquan Smith and Khalil Mack.
"We're gotta get back to it," Eddie Jackson said. "Mental errors, little things, attention to things, things like that effort-wise. But that's some things we can control. We are just going to have a good time and we are going back to playing football. "
The 2017 Bears allowed 27 plays of 25 or more yards, an average of less than two explosive gains per game. Only five of those plays resulted in touchdowns, and even more trouble, only two of those touchdown plays were passed (an 88-yarder to Falcons tight end Austin Hooper and a 28-yarder to Lions wide receiver Marvin Jones).
In 2018, the Bears have allowed 17 plays of 25 or more yards through six games, an average of nearly three per week. Five of those 17 have gone for touchdowns. Worryingly, four of the five big-touch touchdowns have come to the fourth quarter of losses to Green Bay and Miami.
"Just misplacement, communication – it could be anything," linebacker Danny Trevathan said. "I'm not really looking for it, I'm looking to get it fixed and keep it going on and on. That's the thing about the season. I'm glad that we got it started, great teams, Tom Brady and those guys came into our hands, and it's going to help us get better. We're on the right page. There's no downfall, no let-off in us. We're just going to keep putting our head down, going to work and getting better. "
According to Pro Football Focus, the Bears have missed 42 tackles in six games – an average of seven per game. Nineteen of those game against the Miami Dolphins, and the Bears did better in that look against the Patriots, with six missed tackles credited to the defense.
The Bears are less concerned with finding the reason for their previous tackling of the packers, and they are more concerned with finding a cure for the problem. The purpose of this approach to tackling issues may be difficult, but it is not practical, given the limitations in those practices. Tackling drills in the controlled setting of practice is another way, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said.
Every defense misses tackles (the Bears did miss 95 last year). Another disappointed plays – Josh Gordon's 55-yard Sunday win, for example, featured by Jackson and cornerback Prince Amukamara. The Bears had multiple opportunities to bring down Albert Wilson on his 75-yard touchdown in Miami earlier this month, too.
"The one with Josh Gordon was there," said Amukamara. "It probably could've been a 20-yard play, but missed a tackle and it turned into a 55-yarder. And missed tackles was the name of the game against the Dolphins, too. But we've been doing a lot of things to get you back into the game. We just gotta keep improving. "
Bears' have had these issues tackling, or why all of a sudden a defensive But what the reason, it has to get fixed, otherwise the big wins will continue no matter who the quarterback is – Aaron Rodgers, Brock Osweiler, Tom Brady, Sam Darnold, etc.
"We just get back to – we can make tackles, we're gotta get back to making tackles," safety Adrian Amos said. "I do not think it's really a formula or anything. We just gotta get back to wrapping up. "
Received message
While Kevin White has played more snaps (90) than Josh Bellamy (65), Bellamy has been targeted six times compared to White's two. The explanation for that disparity, coach Matt Nagy said, is that Bellamy is able to play all three of the Bears' receiver positions, while White is only an "X" receiver.
But beyond the White-Bellamy question, there's this, too: How does the seventh-round rookie go on?
It's a difficult task for Wims, who impresses during training camp, who are not always the Bears' offense uses. That makes it difficult, but not impossible, for Sundays.
"It's not easy because of the numbers," Nagy said. "So what he has to do when he's out there on a scout team? If he sees a road that is similar to what we do while he runs with the (play) cards, you have to run it like you would in practice. When it comes to playing in our offense and our system, when he does get back he has to make the most of it.
"That's probably the hardest part of a business that's going to make you feel better, you're going to be able to build your quarterback."
The Bilal Bowl is Canceled
Bilal in American sports history play for the Bears and Jets, between defensive tackle Nichols and running back Powell. That is, until this week, when Powell was placed on injured reserve with a neck injury.
Nichols felt bad for Powell, saying he knew about him and was looking forward to tackling Powell in some Bilal. Bilal action.
"I was gonna say a little something to him," Nichols said. "I was gonna say man, you got a fantastic name."
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