Matt Nagy was trying to steer the conversation away from quarterback Mitch Trubisky on Friday, saying that the Bears had 11 players on the field Thursday — presumably, when they weren’t getting flagged for having 12 or taking timeouts for having 10.
“If we all go out there watch, whatever that thing’s called, the [film] that you all watch,” the Bears coach said Friday, “then we could sit down and go through every play and see that it is 11-man football.”
Here’s what it showed from Thursday’s 10-3 loss to the rival Packers:
The pick
Packers cornerback Tramon Williams said Adrian Amos had a feeling the route was coming. The Bears had run a corner route earlier in the drive, and the safety sensed Allen Robinson would again on third-and-10 from the Packers’ 16 with 2:03 to play.
Robinson, lined up in the left slot, did just that. Amos ranged to his right and leapt to intercept the ball in the end zone.
Trubisky said after the game he should have held the former Bears safety in the middle of the field with his eyes a bit longer. In reality, he stared Robinson down instead.
Trubisky would have been happy to let Robinson battle Amos one-on-one for a jump ball— but that’s not what happened. As Trubisky threw the ball, Williams, the nickel corner, dropped into the end zone. Robinson was essentially double-teamed, with Williams in front and Amos behind him.
Adrian Amos might have sealed it for the Packers. (Via @thecheckdown) pic.twitter.com/kez8wELmWZ
— USA TODAY NFL (@usatodaynfl) September 6, 2019
“Those are one of those ones, right after you let it go you want it back,” Nagy said. “And we’re gonna continue to keep working with his eyes, making sure he’s going to where my eyes are going during the game.
“And then also, too, in that situation, they’re playing soft and off and they’re letting you dink-and-dunk underneath. That’s a learning tool for him.”
Short-yardage stinkers
The Bears faced third-and-1 twice — and had to punt both times.
About four minutes into the second quarter, Nagy sent out 12 personnel — two tight ends and one running back. The running back, though, was wide receiver Cordarelle Patterson, who played the position intermittently for the Patriots last year. Patterson lined up behind Trubisky, who was under center.
It was an odd choice, given that the Bears signed Mike Davis and drafted David Montgomery this offseason to bulk up their running back room. But it was a look they’d shown in training camp.
“We could’ve had Walter Payton back there and he wasn’t getting anything,” Nagy said. “It wouldn’t have mattered.”
Here’s why: Packers defensive tackle Kenny Clark used his left arm to swim over lunging center James Daniels. Safety Adrian Amos blitzed between right tackle Bobby Massie and tight end Bradley Sowell, beating Sowell through the hole.
The Bears lost two yards. Daniels was called for a hold, making a bad play even worse. The penalty was declined.
Matt Nagy: "We could've had Walter Payton back there and he wasn't getting anything. It wouldn't have mattered." pic.twitter.com/EBXwTnFA6H
— Patrick Finley (@patrickfinley) September 6, 2019
“Anybody that watches the way he’s run in other scenarios like that, he’s done some damage back there,” Nagy said of Patterson. “If he gets it, it’s a beautiful play call.”
Five minutes into the third quarter, the Bears faced another third-and-1. Nagy put Trubisky in the shotgun to run a run-pass option with running back David Montgomery, who stood to his left. Trubisky pulled the ball, looking left for tight end Adam Shaheen in the left flat. Newly acquired linebacker Preston Smith wasn’t fooled, forcing Trubisky to try to run before getting tackled short of the first down by Clark.
“It should have just been an easy hand(off) and ride the wave and convert,” Trubisky said Thursday. “It kind of looked like I was going to have a throw with the RPO, so I know that one was on me.”
Nagy wasn’t pleased with his team’s blocking.
“Our offensive line holds themselves to higher standards,” he said.
The deep ball
Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers had a rare moment’s peace early in the second quarter. He faked a handoff right to Aaron Jones — the Bears sensed the ball was going that way, as their defensive line shifted just before the snap. He then faked an end around to Davante Adams, running right to left.
The play-action sucked in safeties Deon Bush — who played that drive for Ha Ha Clinton-Dix — and Eddie Jackson.
Aaron Rodgers had a lottttt of time on the 47-yard pass to Valdes-Scantling pic.twitter.com/hukBPLu7Bc
— Patrick Finley (@patrickfinley) September 6, 2019
The four Bears who rushed the passer — Khalil Mack was on the sideline — weren’t within five yards of Rodgers when he threw deep to Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Cornerback Prince Amukamara was in man coverage in the middle of the field with little safety help. Amazingly, the Packers had two receivers on pass routes — and the Bears had five men in coverage.
Valdes-Scantling hauled in the 47-yard catch, the longest play of the night.
“We had a position there to be able to try to make a play with the coverage that was called,” Nagy said. “And it didn’t happen.”
