For those few remaining optimistic Bears fans, here are a couple positives to look forward to as the season goes on.
Eddie Royal is Back
Royal is showing when healthy he can be a big contributor on offense. When the ball gets in the shifty receivers hands, he has an act for making that first man miss. The veteran already has one receiving touchdown on the season, which is tied for his total last year. He also provides a huge spark in the return game. Other than Alshon Jeffery, Royal is a guy to watch as the season progresses.
The emergence of Jerrell Freeman as a leader
Freeman is the heart and soul of this defensive unit. He leads by example, and in both losses to the Houston Texans and Philadelphia Eagles, has not given up on a single play. Freeman knows how to hit, fill run lanes and drop back in coverage, and is showing the Bears why they needed him to be the anchor for this defense.
He embodies what the Bears defenses of old used to bring to Soldier Field on game day. He will continue to be a playmaker and a force in the middle of the defense as the season goes on.
Quick and to the point on the positives from an embarrassing loss to the Eagles on Monday night and now the negatives.
Due to the fact that this list can go on into the very early morning, I will just keep this list short as brief as possible.
Offensive Line Struggles
The offensive line play has not shown any sign of improvement from last week. Yes, the big boys up front have not had much time to get any chemistry going, but when you allow an Eagles defensive line to constantly apply pressure and get in the backfield, it’s more than just a chemistry issue.
Most disappointing has been the play of right tackle Bobbie Massie, who has consistently been beaten off the line and given up big plays in the backfield. Kyle Long doesn’t seem to be playing with the confidence and edge we are used to seeing from him, and left tackle Charles Leno Jr. doesn’t seem to be doing any better on the opposite side. This Bears team will go as far as this O-line takes them, and if that’s the case, the Bears will be going nowhere, just like the offense did on Monday night.
Where’s the Coaching?
The coaching staff was our number one reason to give a damn about the season … Boy, we were wrong. Head coach John Fox has not established an identity for this team, except that in the second half of games the Bears will rollover to their opponent and move onto the next week.
At the end of last season, Fox’s Bears established an identity of fighting to the end, but that is nonexistent thus far this season. The Bears have scored a total of seven points in four quarters of football in the second half, those seven coming from Royal’s punt return.
The blame for the second half slumps could be pointed at offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains. The expectation was that he was going to keep the offense similar and have it cater to Jay Cutler. Through two games, the offense has been stagnant, nonexistent, and downright disappointing. Â Fox has an act for turning teams around in his second year with a team, that seems furthest from the truth with the Bears squad.
Overall Reaction
In all phases, offense, defense, and special teams the Bears have been beyond disappointing to start the season. It’s tough to say there is a light at the end of the tunnel for this Bears team and its only week two.
Maybe I just expected more from the team after they showed signs of hope towards the end of last season.
The blue-collar city of Chicago deserves to have a football team that is at least enjoyable to watch and over the past four seasons, the team hasn’t even come close to doing that.
When legendary coach Mike Ditka questions as to who he was going to pick to be the winner of this game, and the Bears go out and completely lay an egg, all you can say is “Come on, man.”
Related: Week 2 Postgame Show — Bears End Up Beaten, Battered, and Broken on Monday Night
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