BYE WEEK IS EYE WEEK FOR THESE BEARS
TIME TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH SEVERAL INJURED AND/OR UNDERACHIEVING PLAYERS
Earlier this week, Bears coach Matt Nagy added an intriguing twist to the perfunctory self-scouting process of the NFL’s bye week.
“To me, it’s not so much about [looking for tendencies and predictability] as it is now you’re able to self-scout the players and how they’re performing,” Nagy said Monday after the Bears’ 24-21 loss to the Raiders in London. “That’s what this one’s probably a little bit more about, with where we’re at offensively.”
The logical inference is that changes might be made when the Bears return to Halas Hall on Monday. Don’t expect too much. The speculation centers mostly on the underperforming offensive line, and particularly right guard Kyle Long. It’s far from the only culprit, but it’s a fair starting point for a rejuvenation.
You fix the offensive line, improve the run game, put quarterback Mitch Trubisky in advantageous down-and-distance situations, build rhythm and momentum that put pressure on the defense to defend the whole field, and suddenly receivers are open and Trubisky’s job is that much easier. That’s hardly foolproof, but it’s a reasonable improvement plan in Week 6 when your roster is pretty well set.
Be that as it may, the Bears (3-2) have several players to watch when they begin the post-bye portion of their schedule:
1. Mitch Trubisky, QB
— The Bears are going into this week hoping Trubisky will start against the Saints. Last year, he struggled against the Rams after missing two games with an injury, then played well in victories over the Packers and 49ers. He has to be back. And he has to be better.
2. Akiem Hicks, DE
— He suffered what looked like a nasty elbow injury via friendly fire early in the Raiders game. After linebacker Khalil Mack, there’s no defensive player the Bears can less afford to lose for an extended period of time.
3. Kyle Long, RG
— Battling a hip injury, Long has regressed past the point of simply not being as good as he was in his prime. Whether it’s through his own improvement or Plan B, the Bears need to upgrade the performance at this position.
4. Charles Leno, RT
— A Pro Bowl player as an alternate last year, Leno is struggling to find his 2018 form. He already has been called for more penalties (eight) in five games than he was all of last season (seven).
5. Roquan Smith, LB
— He returned from a one-game absence because of a personal issue but wasn’t the same player against the Raiders, despite nine tackles. If this situation lingers, Nick Kwiatkoski will look like a better option more and more.
6. Taylor Gabriel, WR
— He has missed two games with a concussion he suffered after scoring three touchdowns in the second quarter against the Redskins. The Bears have other issues but still no speed element to replace Gabriel.
7a-7b. Cody Whitehair, LG, and James Daniels, C
— Their position switch in the offseason seemed like a sure thing but hasn’t panned out as expected. Nagy said he is not considering switching back, but their play is key to an offensive line improvement.
8. Leonard Floyd, LB
— He was on his way to a much-anticipated breakout season when he sacked Aaron Rodgers twice in the opener, but he hasn’t made an impact play since — and was particularly quiet against the Raiders, with one tackle.
9. Bilal Nichols, DL
— He has missed the last three games with a broken right hand he suffered in Week 2 against the Broncos. The Bears’ depth has covered for his absence, but if Hicks is out any length of time, Nichols’ return becomes much more vital.
10. David Montgomery, RB
— The rookie might be a good fit for Nagy’s offense, but he has struggled to make something out of nothing. He has 69 carries for 225 yards (3.3 average) and two touchdowns and nine receptions for 72 yards (8.0 average).