The Bears General Manager Shares He Conveyed a 'Crucial' Message to Matt Eberflus
During an interview on ESPN 1000, Chicago Bears General Manager Ryan Poles confirmed that he had a conversation with head coach Matt Eberflus regarding the presence of the team's top defensive players in critical in-game situations.
This discussion came about following the Bears' disappointing loss to the Detroit Lions the week before their Week 12 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on "Monday Night Football." In that Detroit game, the Bears' defense allowed two touchdowns in the final four minutes, and notably, two key defensive players were inexplicably absent for significant portions of both touchdown drives.
Montez Sweat, the team's premier pass rusher, was on the field for only 39 out of 63 possible snaps against Detroit (63%). Interestingly, on third downs and red zone plays against the Lions, Sweat participated in just 9 out of 18 plays. Star linebacker Tremaine Edmunds did not appear on the field for any of the 11 plays during the Lions' game-winning drive, despite playing 41 snaps during the game. Meanwhile, linebacker T.J. Edwards was on the field for 61 snaps.
Poles commented on the importance of having impactful players on the field during critical moments, stating, "My primary concern is having players on the field who can make a difference in the game. So, we've had discussions about this matter," as reported by The Daily Herald.
The reduction in Montez Sweat's snap counts had raised questions, particularly since the Bears had won the time of possession battle significantly, controlling the ball for over 40 minutes of the game's 60-minute duration against the Lions. Fatigue was unlikely to be the reason behind Sweat's limited playing time. It was suggested that perhaps Sweat needed more time to adapt to the team's defensive scheme. Poles acknowledged this and mentioned that it takes time to become familiar with a new playbook.
Sweat himself expressed his desire to be on the field as much as possible, acknowledging that pro athletes need to manage their energy levels. Coach Eberflus emphasized the importance of allowing players to take a brief break when needed and returning to the game as soon as possible during stoppages in play.
In Week 13, in their 12-10 victory over the Minnesota Vikings, Montez Sweat's playing time increased from 63% to 71% of the team's defensive snaps. He had an outstanding performance, registering seven pressures, 1.5 sacks, and a 25% pass rush win rate, according to PFF.
Sweat noted that he was feeling more comfortable with the team than before, indicating positive progress. Given this, and in light of his recent conversation with Poles, Eberflus may be inclined to ensure that Sweat's snap counts remain on the higher side moving forward.
