Bears must increase DJ Moore's involvement to break their 11-game losing streak.
The rapport that emerged between Chicago Bears' quarterback Justin Fields and receiver DJ Moore during the offseason seemed to vanish in their 38-20 defeat to the Green Bay Packers.
Although Moore led the team with 38 routes, he was only targeted twice, translating to a 5.3% target rate � the lowest for any player in Week 1 as per ESPN Stats & Information. Since his 2019 breakout season with the Panthers, this marked Moore's smallest game reception.
The main concern post-game revolved around Moore's limited involvement. It's perplexing how Moore, a pivotal figure in the trade deal that sent the top draft pick to Carolina, became so marginalized.
«There were various factors at play," admitted offensive coordinator Luke Getsy. «It might have been protection issues or Justin's perceptions. But we do design plays with DJ in mind, and he's aware and hasn't expressed frustration. Sometimes, the defensive cover just steers the ball elsewhere."
In the match against Green Bay, Moore often found himself double-teamed and had to deal with All-Pro cornerback Jaire Alexander for the majority of his routes. In the upcoming game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Moore will be matched up against Jamel Dean, a defender he's never scored a touchdown against.
Tyke Tolbert, the wide receivers coach, stressed, «DJ is a seasoned player and will naturally draw attention. We need to be proactive, shifting him to ensure he gets more opportunities.»
The Bears' strategy against the Packers lacked verticality, failing to exploit Moore's knack for deep receptions. While Moore had previously shown prowess in long-range receptions in 2022, against Green Bay, out of his 38 routes, only eight spanned 20 yards or more. None of those long routes resulted in targets.
The incessant pressure on Fields by Green Bay's defense, evident in 42% of his dropbacks, restricted his options and hindered his connection with Moore.
Fields acknowledged his caution, «Given players like DJ and Chase [Claypool], I should risk more long throws. Their ability to contest 50-50 balls is an advantage I need to capitalize on.»
The QB's reticence was accentuated by only one tight-window throw during the Packers game. A stat from last season revealed that among quarterbacks with a minimum of 125 pass attempts, Fields had the lowest tight-window percentage at 9.1%.
Head coach Matt Eberflus emphasized the need for Fields to first scan for receivers downfield before opting to scramble. He pointed out a missed opportunity in the Packers game where Fields could have connected with an open Moore.
Eberflus stressed, «It's about seizing those chances. If they present themselves, you take the shot.»
Given Moore's commendable record against Tampa Bay � boasting 58 catches, 766 yards, and three touchdowns � the Bears need to prioritize leveraging him more efficiently.
«Making sure our top talent, like DJ, gets the ball is crucial,» Eberflus concluded. "While some plays are structured around him, and teams will sometimes counteract that, we need to find consistent avenues to involve DJ more actively."
| POLL | ||
16 SEPTEMBRE | 40 ANSWERS Bears must increase DJ Moore's involvement to break their 11-game losing streak. Should the Bears involve more D.J. Moore? | ||
| Yes | 31 | 77.5 % |
| No | 9 | 22.5 % |
| List of polls | ||
