Key Things To Look For in 2nd Preseason Game
With the second week of the 2022 NFL Preseason almost underway, it will be fascinating to see the new-look Chicago Bears in their 2nd game. While HC Eberflus has stated that the Starters are going to ideally play 6-10 snaps only in this game, there can still be a lot to keep an eye on, even when the guys fighting for their spot on the team are out on the field.
The Bears' first preseason game against the Chiefs last weekend showed a lot of potential in certain guys as well as the overall culture. For starters, Luke Getsy's play-calling on offense had the guys in a rhythm in the final 3 quarters which allowed players like rookie running back Tristan Ebner, WR Tajae Sharp and others to shine. On the defensive side of the ball, rookie Dominique Robinson registered a sack, rookie Jack Sanborn had a pick as well as multiple stops, and rookie Jaquan Brisker absolutely dominated an entire Chiefs offensive series essentially making them go three and out by himself. The rookies on both sides of the ball showed up and made plays, which is a good sign for Ryan Poles in his first year as General Manager. While only preseason, seeing flashes from the young guys is crucial.
Another positive sign from the game against the Chiefs was how disciplined the team looked compared to years past. It was evident that the culture that Eberflus and Poles has preached all offseason is being developed with a solid frame. Guys were playing hard and swarming the ball. The Bears were able to get in and out of the huddle with no issues which was also another positive sign. One key thing that I noticed when I was at Soldier Field was when the Bears had a tight sideline catch that the Chiefs could potentially challenge, the offense quickly went hurry up and got to the line and snapped the ball to prevent the challenge, ultimately protecting the first down and yardage gained. In years past, it would always seem that the opposing team is able to challenge the play there. Another positive sign I noticed at Soldier Field was the coaching staff working with players after every single drive. Whenever whatever QB came off the field, they would immediately go to their spot on the bench with the other QB's and start looking at film together. A complete 180 from last season where I felt like Fields would come off the field and never ever appear to get coached up. These are extreme positives that may be under-looked. Finally, I noticed that whenever someone made a play like the Sanborn interception or our punter pinning the Chiefs within the 20, it would seem like the entire team would get hyped up and go and support said player. This is the culture this young team needs. A strong brotherhood and trust in each other will take this team places.
While Fields will only likely play for one to two series against Seattle, keep an eye on his throwing mechanics as well as his overall time to throw. Against the Chiefs, it still took on average 3.4 seconds for Fields to throw the ball and while the offensive line has yet to be set in stone, ideally that time to throw gets cut down this week. There is no doubt that Fields has all the potential in the world to be a star in this league, but there is work that still needs to be done.
There are still questions about the offensive line position. Where will Teven Jenkins play this week? Who will be getting starting reps this week? These are things to keep an eye on as the synergy and strength of the line are imperative to Justin Fields' success.
Other Notable Things to Keep An Eye On Communication at the Line Of ScrimmageIn and Out of the HuddleBlocking at all levelsDefensive PressurePenaltiesPlay-CallingPlay-Design
Article Written by Alexander Abrams
