EXTRA POINTS
Cracking Capers
The Bears’ offense has typically struggled against Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers, whose diverse defenses have forced quarterback Jay Cutler into some of the worst outings of his career.
It’ll be on Bears offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains to figure out Capers’ puzzle. It starts with establishing rookie running back Jordan Howard after his unproductive outing last week against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Capers’ defense had been stingy against the run before last week, when Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott had 157 yards on 28 carries. Over five games, the Packers are allowing 72.4 rushing yards per game.
“It’s a unique challenge because they do so much defensively,” Loggains said. “They’re really good against the run. There’s a lot of movements. They’re really good up front. They like to blitz the safeties a lot. No. 21 [ safety Ha Ha Clinton- Dix] is a good player for them. They’re moving him around. They’re attacking a lot.”
No apologies
Receiver Alshon Jeffery made headlines with a profanity- filled interview after the Bears lost to the Jaguars. Though his words may have surprised some, Jeffery, like linebacker Pernell McPhee, often speaks with emotion.
Also like McPhee, Jeffery is a captain, sought out by reporters after games — and the Bears’ red- zone problems were a sore topic for him.
“Sometimes you’ve got to be aggressive,” he said. “Sometimes you’ve got to go with it. That’s part of football.”
Nelson not to be ignored
Packers receiver Jordy Nelson missed all of last season because of a torn anterior cruciate ligament, and he hasn’t looked like the same explosive player he was before the injury. He has five touchdown catches this season, but he also has had problems with drops, and he lost a fumble in the loss to the Cowboys.
He called his performance Oct. 9 against the New York Giants — four catches for 38 yards on 13 targets — “embarrassing.”
Despite Nelson’s struggles, Bears defensive coordinator Vic
Fangio sees a player the Bears have to limit.
“He’s still the primary and one of the favorite targets of the quarterback [ Aaron Rodgers],” Fangio said. “I still see a very good receiver. I can’t speak for him and how he’s feeling. A lot times it takes those guys a half of a season to get back to where they feel like they should be. But he’s still running good. He’s still getting a lot of balls thrown his way. And he’s definitely one of their primary targets.”