PERSONNEL NEWS

Strategy And Personnel

The Sports Xchange

September 29, 2018 at 9:44 am.

FRIDAY INJURY REPORT
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

–OUT: DT Beau Allen (foot)

–QUESTIONABLE: CB Carlton Davis (groin), DT Vita Vea (calf), S Jordan Whitehead (shoulder, hamstring), CB Marcus Williams (hamstring)
CHICAGO BEARS

–OUT: CB Prince Amukamara (hamstring), CB Marcus Cooper (hamstring), WR Anthony Miller (shoulder)

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: NT Eddie Goldman has made the Bears difficult to run against, and this is critical because it forces teams to pass — and the pass rush is their strength. The Bears are one of three teams not to have allowed a rushing touchdown. They are second against the run at 65.3 yards a game and fourth in average yards allowed per rush. Goldman also provides a strong push inside on the pass rush, but his primary duty has been a run plug. Not a massive player, but a strong, stout nose, Goldman stays low and maintains his technique. The Bears realized what they had in Goldman, who is in his third year, and just before the season locked him up with a contract extension through 2022.

GAME PLAN: The best way to turn Ryan Fitzpatrick from a red-hot passer to an interception machine is with pass-rush pressure from the middle of the line of scrimmage. Fitzpatrick struggled greatly in Monday night’s game when Pittsburgh achieved pressure from the interior of the line and got in his face. He threw interceptions on three straight passes. Fitzpatrick rarely succeeds when forced to move laterally and throw. He’s not slow, and actually is rather quick-footed when scrambling straight ahead. But he’s slow moving laterally and has poor footwork in such situations. Putting pressure on him with Danny Trevathan blitzing the A-gap and Roquan Smith playing pass defense, or vice versa, is a good way to supplement the regular pass rush from Akeim Hicks and Eddie Goldman or Roy Robertson-Harris. The Bears have to pick their spots to play man-to-man in the secondary because Fitzpatrick has a nice feel for the deep sideline and seam routes. If he gets enough time to release the ball, his tall, agile wideouts and tight ends can go get it. It’s better to be in zone defending those plays.

The Bears have been the second-best ball-control team in the NFL at an average possession time of 34:42. Maintaining the ball by improving their running attack and the short passing game’s efficiency is a good way to keep an explosive Bucs offense on the bench. The difference for the Bears in this one is they have to complete drives with touchdowns instead of field goals. Statistics would suggest it will be difficult to get Jordan Howard and Tarik Cohen running lanes, but the Bucs’ defense hasn’t really been tested on the ground. They’re built to rush the passer. They’ve been involved in three shootouts, and when they had to stop Pittsburgh’s running attack at the end of their game they couldn’t do it. Attacking with the inside zone and occasional jet sweeps or screen passes is the best way to move the ball and keep Tampa Bay’s own offense watching the game.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH

–Bears LCB Kyle Fuller, who has given up two TD passes, vs. Bucs WR Mike Evans, who is averaging 122 yards receiving a game. Fuller is giving away about six inches and 35 pounds to a receiver who is built like Calvin Johnson and may be close to having that type of reputation. Evans has averaged 4.5 catches for 66.7 yards with two total TDs in four games against Fuller and the Bears. The two TD passes allowed by Fuller so far have been a matter of an inch one way or the other: A pair of diving catches at the back of the end zone.

–Bears LG Eric Kush, who has allowed one sack this season, vs. Bucs DT Gerald McCoy, who has 1.5 sacks this season. The Bears have played Tampa Bay four straight years and McCoy had 2.5 sacks in those games. The 3-technique defensive tackle is a load because of his quick, powerful first step into the gap. Kush has had a fair start, although last week he took both of the penalties he’s had this season — a chop block and false start. The Bears’ offense can’t afford penalties in its current state. Nor can they afford to have McCoy in Mitchell Trubisky’s face. If the Bears ever want to get Jordan Howard running for his first 100-yard game this season, Kush will need a big effort in the zone blocking scheme.

–Bears LB Roquan Smith, who has 12 tackles and a sack, vs. Bucs TE O.J. Howard, who has 11 catches and 222 yards. Smith has had a relatively quiet debut, although he’s made plays. He’s just been surrounded by plenty of other playmakers. Most teams would have to cover Howard with a strong safety. The Bears can get away with putting Smith on him because of his great downfield speed. The two will likely tangle in the Bucs’ run blocking, as well.

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