CHIEF CONCERNS
Game 3 of the exhibition season means things are getting serious, but Bears still have plenty of issues to address
CHIEFS AT BEARS NOON SATURDAY, FOX- 32
The preseason scrutiny seems to be souring coach John Fox’s mood as the Bears turn for home heading into Saturday’s exhibition against the Chiefs at Soldier Field ( noon, Fox- 32).
While the third preseason game is generally viewed as an all- important “dress rehearsal” — a regular- season preview with at least some game- planning, halftime adjustments and perhaps decisions on some key position battles — to Fox it’s just another week he’d like to prepare for in a hermetically sealed bubble away from prying eyes.
What is Fox hoping to accomplish in this last tune- up for the starters? To find some capable reserves with so many regulars banged up? To establish a running game and protect Jay Cutler with an offensive line missing Kyle Long? To keep Cutler clean? To win the special- teams battle against the Dave Toub- led Chiefs? To see Brian Hoyer eliminate the doubt that the Bears have a capable backup to Cutler? To play a clean game — with no penalties or negative plays?
“Improve from Week 2 to Week 3,” Fox said. “We’re here. It’s not a season. They call it preseason for a reason. It’s to evaluate, put your players in positions, take a look at players — because [ eventually] we have to select 53 guys out of the 90.”
Still, there will be plenty of intrigue in this one, right from the start — who’ll play and who won’t? The Bears were without 13 players from their 90- man roster in Thursday’s practice, including Long, linebacker Pernell McPhee, cornerback Tracy Porter and nickel back Bryce Callahan. Linebacker Danny Trevathan was limited. Wide receiver Eddie Royal and tight end Zach Miller were in non- contact red jerseys.
About the only certainty is that the Bears will be a work in progress no matter what happens against the Chiefs as they try to establish starters on offense and defense while building roster depth. Here are some of the many focal points against Kansas City:
Offensive line
After the O- line showed improvement from Week 1 to Week 2, Long’s shoulder injury has thrown a wrench into the Bears’ plans. With center Ted Larsen replacing Long, Cornelius Edison is expected to start against the Chiefs — an audition for a possible Week 1 starting role if Long doesn’t heal in time.
Edison played only 12 games at center in college — though he was the FCS Rimington Award winner as a senior at Portland State — and has not played in a game since suffering a torn ACL while preparing for the 2015 draft. It’s not impossible that Edison could develop into a starting center in the NFL. But being
part of an unsettled interior line increases the degree of difficulty.
Negative plays
Unless Cutler, Alshon Jeffery and Kevin White turn the offense into an NFL revelation, the Bears figure to have little margin for error. Penalties and sacks have stunted the offense throughout the Cutler era. In a current state of flux, the Bears need to stay clean to give themselves the best chance for growth.
Secondary
Second- year safeties Adrian Amos and Harold Jones- Quartey have a lot to prove, but the bigger question mark is at cornerback. With Kyle Fuller and Callahan out, the Bears will be looking for an inexperienced cornerback to take advantage of an opportunity to start: Jacoby Glenn, rookie Deiondre’ Hall and De’Vante Bausby are at the top of that list.
Special teams
The Chiefs have had excellent special- teams units in three years under Toub, the Bears’ former special- teams coordinator, so this could be a prime test for the Bears to show something in the return game. Their long punt return is 12 yards ( 2.1- yard average). Their long kickoff return is 25 yards ( 20.5- yard average). Deonte Thompson and rookie Kieren Duncan on kickoffs and Marc Mariani, Daniel Braverman and Duncan on punts have gotten the best looks in practice and the preseason.
Hoyer
Being the No. 2 quarterback in the preseason is not an easy job, but even considering that, Hoyer has yet to provide a lot of confidence that the Bears have a viable option if Cutler can’t play. Hoyer has thrown an interception in each of the first two games and is 11- for- 24 for 166 yards with no touchdowns for a 34.4 passer rating. If the Bears are curious about an option to Hoyer as the No. 2, Browns castoff Connor Shaw seems to have the edge over 2014 sixth- round draft pick David Fales for that opportunity.