Down Goes Floyd, LeBlanc’s Redemption, First-String Offense Shows Up, and Other Bullets

Aug 19, 2018

The Chicago Bears won a game in which the team committed 14 penalties for 149 yards, including five that gave their opponents five first downs. It was a preseason game, so let’s not get used to the Bears being that fortunate. There is a lot to work on moving forward.

The injury bug reared its ugly head on Saturday and the Bears are left waiting for updates. In addition to Adam Shaheen’s ankle injury, Bears Radio sideline reporter Mark Grote reported that outside linebacker Leonard Floyd left the game early due to a hand injury. Head Coach Matt Nagy said he doesn’t believe either player suffered a fracture (Rich Campbell, Chicago Tribune), but testing today will tell us everything we need to know. Losing Floyd for an extended period of time would sting. He is the team’s most talented pass-rusher and they really can’t afford to lose a player of his skill level knowing the lack of quality depth behind him.

Without Floyd, the defense was still able to come up with four sacks and eight quarterback hits. I suppose that’s a testament to resiliency. Defensive end Roy Robertson-Harris was the biggest standout, coming away with 1.5 sacks, 3 quarterback hits, and a tackle-for-loss as he tries to play his way into a starting role. Robertson-Harris looks to have successfully made the transformation from tweener outside linebacker to 5-technique defensive end. His ability to make a push into the backfield could help alleviate some of the Bears’ pass-rushing concerns.

Robertson-Harris and Jonathan Bullard were able to get some extended looks because Akiem Hicks did not play. Patrick Finley of the Sun-Times tweets Hicks sat because of “precautionary” reasons.

Caps off to the defense, who found a way to blank the Broncos in the fourth quarter to help fuel the team’s come-from-behind win. And what’s more fitting than the play of the game coming on a perfectly executed Peanut Punch™ by Cre’von LeBlanc:

Cre'von LeBlanc peanut punch pic.twitter.com/RkeUicQ0Ik

— ✶ Ⓜ️𝕒𝕣𝕔𝕦𝕤 ▶️ ✶ (@_MarcusD2_) August 19, 2018

The forced fumble (which was recovered by outside linebacker Isaiah Irving) came after what had been a rough night for LeBlanc. The third-year cornerback fair caught a punt inside-the-5 and fielded another one around the 2-yard-line. Both are big special teams no-nos and can’t happen again if LeBlanc is going to be a viable backup at the position. I understand the Bears don’t want to put Tarik Cohen in harm’s way, but they’ll need a better showing from their other special teamers.

Speaking of which, it’s a bit unsettling to have seen Cody Parkey miss field goals in consecutive weeks. Sure, both were from 50+ yards and I tend to be a little more lenient on long kicks from distance. But to miss from 50+ at altitude? Come on, now. That place is made for kickers to drill deep kicks. At least Parkey remained perfect from inside 50. And I suppose it’s better to get the misses out now because, at minimum, it will give the Bears an idea that maybe they’re better off going for it on fourth down in situations where an iffy field goal is the other option.

For the record: Parkey has attempted just seven 50+ yard field goals in his career … but he has made six of them. Parkey has two 54-yard makes in his career, with one of them coming in 2017. He has made 86.4 percent of his attempts during his four-year career, so I’m not all that worried. Just a bit bothered.

Can you believe we went this long without showing the first team’s highlight touchdown? Us either:

Trubisky to Trey for the TD. https://t.co/lfIEI0yply

— Bleacher Nation Bears (@BN_Bears) August 19, 2018

The Bears’ first-team offense woke up on Saturday and Trey Burton was a factor. Burton caught four passes for 45 yards and the touchdown you see above. Burton was used in different spots in the formation and showed quality route-running and pass-catching skills. We won’t dare to compare Burton to the tight end Nagy had in Kansas City, but it’s worth pointing out that the things Burton did on Saturday are what is expected from the “U” tight end.

First touchdown went to the tight end, so it’s only fitting the last one did, too:

Chase Daniel finds Ben Braunecker in the end zone and the @ChicagoBears take the lead! #CHIvsDEN https://t.co/uMO51rmKGF

— NFL (@NFL) August 19, 2018

Chase Daniel put in that work on Saturday, completing 19 of 28 passes for 189 yards, and two fourth-quarter touchdowns. It all added up to a 110.6 passer rating, which certainly looks great.

And yet, the best catch of the night went to (who else!?) Anthony Miller:

Miller!! pic.twitter.com/KgJa2NnCne

— ✶ Ⓜ️𝕒𝕣𝕔𝕦𝕤 ▶️ ✶ (@_MarcusD2_) August 19, 2018

Things I didn’t want to see that definitely happened: A QB sneak in a preseason game. I appreciate the call to go for it on fourth down and the execution from Mitch Trubisky and the offensive linemen in front of him, but it’s unnecessary to put the quarterback at risk on that play.

Shotgun snaps came into play (again) on Saturday. To be clear, Trubisky should have caught the Cody Whitehair feed that led to the Broncos coming up with a safety. HOWEVER, the snap was a little bit high and on Trubisky’s left shoulder. It wasn’t the easiest play to make, but Trubisky should have made it. Clearly, both players need to work on things here.

An interception ruined what would have otherwise been a nice night for Trubisky. You have to think that he and Tarik Cohen will watch film of the pick and note how they would have done things differently. Remember, it’s still the preseason. Interceptions are teachable moments for quarterbacks, pass-catchers, and coaches alike.

Definitely an interesting look that caught my eye, too:

Whoa, Kevin White in the backfield there. That was interesting.

— Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge) August 19, 2018

written by

Luis C. Medina

Luis C. Medina, who you can find on Twitter at lcm1986, has been covering the Chicago Bears at Bleacher Nation since 2017. Since then, he has written about 3 head coaches, 5 play-callers, and 11 starting quarterbacks. Previously, Luis wrote about the Cubs and MLB at BN (2015-16) and worked in the Chicago Tribune sports department (2011-16). He also co-hosted a Cubs postgame show, Outside the Ivy, in 2019.

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