Chicago Bears: Offensive Line Fails in Week 1
The Chicago Bears now have an 0-1 record in 2016, are 0-4 against the Houston Texans all-time, and the offense was the responsible party for the loss.
The Chicago Bears attitude was to come out fast, hard and explosive. They appeared to be going the right direction in the first quarter with good protection for quarterback Jay Cutler. Some holes were opened up for running back Jeremy Langford, allowing him to get the first touchdown of the season.
During the preseason, the offensive line was in question as to whether or not they would be able to protect Cutler. It was evident in Week 1 against the Houston Texans that the concerns are valid.
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Right-tackle Bobbie Massie was supposed to be the replacement for Jordan Mills. Acquired off of free agency from the Arizona Cardinals. In the offseason, both Massie and right guard Kyle Long practiced together to get a duo rhythm going. It looked promising—until after the first quarter when Massie seemed to be out-matched against the Texans’ defense.
On several occasions, Long had to come in and help him block. Massie was off his stance and too stiff, often chasing the defender. If Long is going to play the season injured with a torn labrum in the shoulder, playing both positions at the same time is not going to help. This is a serious issue the coaching staff will have to address quickly.
There is still uncertainty in the center position as rookie Cody Whitehair was thrown in on a few plays and had a bad snap that caused a fumble on a fourth-and-1 attempt. Wide receiver Kevin White who had not played football for an entire year struggled to catch a pass by Cutler and at one point stopped on an active play. The stop forced an interception by Cutler. However, Cutler took ownership as a leader and captain should.
Another issue was on the left side with Charles Leno Jr. and Mike Adams. They were also overtaken by the Texans pass rush. Cutler was sacked five times, three from the right side and two from the left side.
The Bears coaching staff will review this game with each and every one of the players on the offensive line with vigor. When the offense line is solid, they give Cutler plenty of time to make a play. In the first quarter, there was some success in his throws and good decisions when not rushed.
But when the whole offense breaks down, the chaos in the pocket can’t recover. Cutler has great rhythm when the offense clicks and that is what the Bears have to shake off and adjust in Week 2 against the Philadelphia Eagles at Soldier Field.
White and Cutler need to be in sync if there is going to be any achievement between the two. Veteran slot receiver Eddie Royal has that chemistry with Cutler and almost caught everything that was thrown his way. Royal came through and will continue to be Cutler’s go-to player this season, alongside Alshon Jeffery. Once White can get past the jitters and follow through on his routes, he will be another target for Cutler to trust.
An important area to fix is also on the third down conversions. The Bears completed 30 percent of their third downs while the Texans completed 60 percent. Time of possession was also a factor as the Bears were under 30 minutes, which impeded the performance of the defense with enough time to rest.
There were some positives and negatives in Week 1. But the Bears cannot continue to fail in protection. If the offensive line can work cohesively, it will make for a nice win at Soldier Field.