The Chicago Bears open the season towards their hated rivals, the Inexperienced Bay Packers. Listed below are some gamers to observe within the sport.
Chicago Bears soccer is right here! Week 1 is upon us and the Bears tackle their hated rivals, the Inexperienced Bay Packers.
There’s a unhealthy historical past for Chicago right here. They misplaced eight video games in a row and 13 of their final 14 towards Inexperienced Bay.
Nonetheless, each groups are in transition.
The Bears fully overhauled the roster after solely profitable three video games final season. There was an infusion of expertise on the staff and now the staff is stronger and deeper. For the Packers, they now have Jordan Love main the offense. They traded Corridor of Fame quarterback and Chicago Bears killer Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets.
Now there’s a sense of the unknown with each groups. How does every staff deal with its new state of affairs? Each groups are extra evenly matched than they’ve been for years.
Regardless of that, anticipating the Bears to beat the Packers is tough. There have been so many situations by which that they had management of the sport solely to have the Packers snatch victory away. Final season, there have been video games that had been shut all through, solely to see Inexperienced Bay draw back late.
In fact, there are particular gamers who need to play nicely to ensure that the Bears to lastly win. Listed below are some to regulate within the sport:
Lucas Patrick
Lucas Patrick has to have a superb sport. He got here in final season to be the beginning heart. Nonetheless, he suffered a damaged thumb on the primary day of coaching camp. He missed the remainder of coaching camp and each preseason sport.
He began the season at guard till his thumb fully healed. Then, when he lastly acquired an opportunity to start out at heart, he suffered one other damage and missed the remainder of the season.
This season Patrick was imagined to be a useful reserve participant. He might play all three inside line positions. With Teven Jenkins going onto injured reserve, Cody Whitehair, who moved from proper guard to heart, stays at proper guard.
Which means Patrick begins on the place he was initially imagined to play.
Patrick has to have chemistry with quarterback Justin Fields. The middle is vital for the quarterback. He’s the quarterback of the offensive line and he calls the blocking alerts.
The Packers are going to go after the Bears up the center. They are going to check the inside to see if they’ll defend Fields. If Patrick struggles with blocking schemes and the Packers are capable of rush the center, it will likely be a protracted day for not solely Fields but in addition the operating backs.
Yannick Ngakoue
The Chicago Bears struggled to get to the quarterback final season. They ranked final in sacks and quarterback knockdowns.
Basic supervisor Ryan Poles made fortifying the defensive position a precedence. The 2 beginning defensive ends are totally different. Yannick Ngakoue and DeMarcus Walker are newcomers. Trevis Gipson was a shock lower and Dominique Robinson and one other newcomer, Rasheem Inexperienced, are the backups.
Ngakoue would be the key to the sport. He has a historical past of wreaking havoc within the opponent’s backfield. He hasn’t had fewer than eight sacks in any season. Prior to now two seasons, he has 19.5 sacks.
If Ngakoue is ready to put stress on Love early on, then the Packers should throw a double-team on him. That signifies that Walker can have one-on-one alternatives. He might then make noise himself.
The Bears signed Ngakoue simply for that reason. Let’s see if he does it instantly.
Tyrique Stevenson
The Bears moved up within the second spherical to pick Miami (FL) cornerback Tyrique Stevenson. He’s a big-bodied, speedy, and athletic defender.
Stevenson was locked right into a battle with one other rookie, Terell Smith, for the beginning job. He received the battle primarily due to his expertise in a pro-style protection in Miami.
There’s something to concern with Stevenson, although. Being a rookie there might be some rising pains. Nonetheless, there is likely to be extra with him. He’s a playing defender. He finds himself across the ball, however he hasn’t been capable of end the play.
Within the preseason, Stevenson really had an opportunity to make 4 interceptions. He was there and had the chance to make the turnover.
It didn’t occur, nonetheless. He dropped one in all them, and one other acquired into the receiver’s fingers for a primary down. The third went for a landing earlier than he lastly acquired an interception within the closing preseason sport.
Stevenson is an aggressive defender. With that, there might be loads of increase or bust performs. With Jaylon Johnson on one facet and Kyler Gordon within the slot, the Packers will go after the rookie. Realizing that he’s a gambler, Inexperienced Bay desires to take benefit and maybe make some huge performs.
Let’s see if Stevenson is extra increase than bust towards the Packers.
Khalil Herbert
The Chicago Bears led the league in speeding in 2022. That was one of many few vivid spots of the season.
The primary purpose for that, although, was Fields’ 1,143 speeding yards. With struggles alongside the offensive line and ineffective receivers, offensive coordinator Luke Getsy needed to lower the playbook and have Fields run loads.
The Bears need Fields to make an influence along with his arm. He has higher targets and a greater offensive line. They nonetheless need him to make an influence along with his legs however with fewer makes an attempt. In 2022, he had 160 speeding makes an attempt.
The bears don’t desire a repeat of that. Fewer carries with a much bigger influence is what they need.
Now that David Montgomery is with the Detroit Lions, Khalil Herbert is the beginning operating again. He’s a fast and elusive runner. Final season he averaged an excellent 5.7 yards per carry.
Now he’s the person who will get the primary name.
Having an efficient operating sport with out Fields carrying it helps the quarterback. If the protection is apprehensive about Herbert, D’Onta Foreman, or Roschon Johnson, then Fields, probably seeing an eight-man entrance, can drop again and full some passes downfield.
If Herbert can proceed to interrupt off huge runs then Fields will be capable of chill out a bit and make huge performs along with his arm. If everybody else is roofed, he can then take off. As soon as he will get into the open area nobody will cease him.
Hopefully, that would be the case on Sunday.
Justin Fields
Let’s inform the reality — all of us need to see what Fields does. He’s the primary topic of the sport. All of us need to see what he does along with his new toys.
Fields now has instruments to work with. He has D.J. Moore as his WR1. Moore will assist Fields by with the ability to catch almost any ball thrown his means.
Fields additionally has a wholesome Darnell Mooney again. He’s the participant Fields had one of the best chemistry with final season. As well as, Chase Claypool had a full offseason to be taught the offensive system.
Additionally, Fields has a big-play, speedy rookie in Tyler Scott. Along with Cole Kmet at tight finish, there’s additionally Robert Tonyan who could make huge performs.
We need to see Fields present what he might do along with his arm. If he might hit his receivers and frequently strikes the chains the Inexperienced Bay protection can have a protracted day. Because of this, Fields might lastly get his first win towards the Inexperienced Bay Packers.