Bears Defense Must Focus on Fundamentals to Succeed
The Chicago Bears' defense has been generating buzz with its ability to force turnovers and make big plays, but behind-the-scenes concerns about their reliability in the basics have been lingering all season. With quarterback Joe Burrow out of commission, the team's latest challenge is finding ways to limit the production of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jake Browning or his backup, Joe Flacco.
The Bears' lead in takeaways - 16 so far this season - has masked some glaring issues with their defense, particularly when it comes to stopping the run and generating pressure on third downs. Opponents have been able to exploit these weaknesses all too often, resulting in a lack of success against teams that find themselves in red-zone situations.
Head coach Ben Johnson, who previously had no experience on the defensive side of the ball, has brought in veteran coordinator Dennis Allen to help address these concerns. Johnson has indicated that he's not interested in micromanaging the defense and instead prefers to work with Allen, allowing him to call his own shots on game day.
While Allen has plenty of experience as a coordinator and head coach, this is one area where Johnson can benefit from bringing some offensive expertise to the table. However, at the end of the day, fixing the Bears' defense comes down to its ability to stop the run and force opposing teams into third-and-longs. That's what will drive the team forward on a weekly basis.
The Bengals have been struggling without Burrow, but they've shown signs of life with Flacco under center. If he does end up suiting up for Sunday's matchup against the Bears, it could spell trouble for the team's defense. Flacco hasn't thrown an interception or fumbled in his three starts this season.
The main concern for the Bears' defense will be containing Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, who are among the league leaders in yards and catches per game. The Bengals have been averaging 7 yards per carry over their last two games, a pace that could undermine the Bears' strategy of setting up third-and-long situations.
Ultimately, the key to success for the Bears' defense will be its ability to nail down the fundamentals: stopping the run, generating pressure on third downs, and making stops in critical situations. While takeaways are always welcome, they're just a bonus - it's the other aspects of defensive play that truly matter.
The Chicago Bears' defense has been generating buzz with its ability to force turnovers and make big plays, but behind-the-scenes concerns about their reliability in the basics have been lingering all season. With quarterback Joe Burrow out of commission, the team's latest challenge is finding ways to limit the production of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jake Browning or his backup, Joe Flacco.
The Bears' lead in takeaways - 16 so far this season - has masked some glaring issues with their defense, particularly when it comes to stopping the run and generating pressure on third downs. Opponents have been able to exploit these weaknesses all too often, resulting in a lack of success against teams that find themselves in red-zone situations.
Head coach Ben Johnson, who previously had no experience on the defensive side of the ball, has brought in veteran coordinator Dennis Allen to help address these concerns. Johnson has indicated that he's not interested in micromanaging the defense and instead prefers to work with Allen, allowing him to call his own shots on game day.
While Allen has plenty of experience as a coordinator and head coach, this is one area where Johnson can benefit from bringing some offensive expertise to the table. However, at the end of the day, fixing the Bears' defense comes down to its ability to stop the run and force opposing teams into third-and-longs. That's what will drive the team forward on a weekly basis.
The Bengals have been struggling without Burrow, but they've shown signs of life with Flacco under center. If he does end up suiting up for Sunday's matchup against the Bears, it could spell trouble for the team's defense. Flacco hasn't thrown an interception or fumbled in his three starts this season.
The main concern for the Bears' defense will be containing Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, who are among the league leaders in yards and catches per game. The Bengals have been averaging 7 yards per carry over their last two games, a pace that could undermine the Bears' strategy of setting up third-and-long situations.
Ultimately, the key to success for the Bears' defense will be its ability to nail down the fundamentals: stopping the run, generating pressure on third downs, and making stops in critical situations. While takeaways are always welcome, they're just a bonus - it's the other aspects of defensive play that truly matter.
. They need to shore up those run-stoppin' skills and bring some pressure on third downs, 'cause takin' turns over ain't gonna cut it in the long run 
. I mean, yeah, 16 takeaways is cool and all, but if they can't stop the Bengals from gettin' that yards-per-carry thing goin', they're gonna be in for a world of hurt 
. And with Flacco at QB, that's a recipe for disaster – the dude ain't throwin' no pick or fumblin' none so far this season 
. It's all about gettin' back to fundamentals and makin' those stops when it matters most 
.
. But if you dig deeper, there are some serious concerns about their reliability in the basics - stopping the run and generating pressure on third downs 
. Head coach Ben Johnson has brought in veteran coordinator Dennis Allen to help address these issues, which is great news 
. But what really matters is that Johnson is giving Allen the freedom to make calls on game day and not micromanaging him too much 
.
. He's been pretty efficient so far, and their offense has shown some life without Jake Browning 
. But at the end of the day, it all comes down to stopping the run and making third-and-longs 
On the other hand, if Allen's all about calling his own shots, maybe the Bears will finally see some success.
I'm torn between thinking they'll be fine if they stop the run and pressure on third downs, but at the same time, those Bengals receivers are like magnets for touchdowns.
The Bears need to focus on fixing those fundamental issues before they get exposed by the Bengals' passing game. I mean, 7 yards per carry is crazy! 
) if they wanna shut down the Bengals' offense.
They're relying on their turnovers and big hits instead of focusing on stopping the run and getting pressure on 3rd downs. It's like they're playing a game of whack-a-mole - one turnover, but then another team just pops back up in its place 
. Coach Johnson needs to trust Dennis Allen more and let him focus on fixing those fundamental issues 
. The Bengals' offense might be struggling without Burrow, but Flacco's got some tricks up his sleeve 
. And with Chase and Higgins leading the charge, it could be a long day for the Bears 
. But you know what'll really hurt the Bears? If they can't contain those two wideouts, Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins... game over 
. It's all about fundamentals, yeah right 
. They're gonna need more than just a few experience coaches to fix their defense 
. And with Flacco under center, it's gonna be tough to get turnovers too 
Defense is all about execution, if you can't stop the run, you'll be eating yards 
. They need to get their act together and not make it easy for Flacco to cook 
. Containing Chase & Higgins will be key, but stopping the run is where it's at 
they need to focus on stopping the run not just getting turnovers lolol what happens when teams can run all over them and still score ? 
ben johnson needs to bring in some new blood and stop relying on coaches who are out of their depth 
. And third downs? Forget about it. They just can't seem to get any pressure on the QBs. I think Coach Johnson made a good call in bringing in Dennis Allen, but they need to focus on the basics - stopping the run, getting pressure up, and making those crucial stops in key situations 
. Can't they just keep it simple for once? Like, stop the run and get to the QB. It's not rocket science, you know? 
! If they can nail down stopping the run and generating pressure on third downs, they'll be golden 
), it's about consistency and fundamentals. With coach Ben Johnson working closely with veteran coordinator Dennis Allen, I think they can turn their game around 
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