Highlights and Takeaways from the Chicago Bears' 2023 Preseason Opener
On a vibrant day at Soldier Field, Chicago Bears fans were treated to an exciting preview of the 2023 squad in their preseason opener against the Titans. Although it's still early days and much can change before the regular season kicks off against the Packers on September 10, some distinct elements from this initial game offer clues to the team's renewed ambitions.
Turning on the YAC
The Bears struggled with yards after catch (YAC) in the previous season, finishing at the bottom of the NFL with just 1,147 yards. However, in the opening game, the team seemed committed to reversing this trend.
During the initial drives, quarterback Justin Fields demonstrated his vision by connecting with DJ Moore on a screen, which Moore converted into a 62-yard touchdown. Later in the first quarter, Khalil Herbert mirrored Moore's performance, taking a short pass from Fields and dashing 56 yards for another score.
Fields praised the ability of his teammates to gain yards after the catch, saying, «Like I said before, just any time you have those playmakers where you can throw the ball five-yards on a slant and he can take it 60-yards, that makes my job easier, it makes the O-Lines' job easier. After a period of time where you're dipping and ducking those short passes, the defensive coordinator gets impatient and starts blitzing more, pressuring more, playing more man-coverage, and that's when those deep shots just naturally happen. I think it's going to be a good thing for us this year. Like I said, we're just going to continue to work and continue to get better. It should be fun.»
A Resurgent Pass Rush
Another area that required attention was the Bears' pass rush, and it certainly got a welcome boost in this matchup against the Titans. The defense was relentless, amassing eight sacks and 11 quarterback hits. Terrell Lewis led the charge with two sacks, followed by rookie Jalen Harris with 1� sacks. Trevis Gipson, who had a somewhat lackluster 2022 season, came alive with a sack and three quarterback hits, showing his determination to secure his place on the roster.
The defense's aggressive play resulted in four turnovers, adding to an overall positive performance.
Head coach Matt Eberflus recognized the improvement, saying, «I thought we attacked the football well. I thought we rushed the passer better than we had, so you can see some improvements there so we are excited about that. Then getting the young guys in there, the young guys that needed the reps. Our first three picks were in there working, and it was really good to see those guys, I thought they operated well.»
A Promising Start
While it's crucial not to overstate the significance of a preseason game, the 2023 Chicago Bears seem to be making the right moves towards correcting some of last season's shortcomings. With dynamic YAC plays and an invigorated pass rush, fans have every reason to look forward to the regular season. The coming weeks will reveal more, but for now, optimism is in the air at Soldier Field.
| POLL | ||
15 AOUT | 34 ANSWERS Highlights and Takeaways from the Chicago Bears' 2023 Preseason Opener Are you happy with the Bears' performance in the first pre-season game? | ||
| yes | 23 | 67.6 % |
| No | 11 | 32.4 % |
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