–The Jets can anticipate more blitzing than the Bears have shown so far this season. They’ve been among the teams blitzing the least to date, even as their pass rush has slowed.
With rookie Sam Darnold completing only 52 percent over his last five games, and last week getting sacked three times with three interceptions against Minnesota, the Bears will likely be looking to force mistakes.
“I feel like that’s one of the things a lot of people around the league do when young guys come in because there’s still some things that they don’t know, that they’re going to continue to grow and learn form,” safety Eddie Jackson said. “Right now we just want to take advantage of that.
“You know you’re going to have your chances at turnovers out there, but they do some good things on the ground, too.”
–Wide receiver Kevin White may finally get his big shot this weekend as wide receiver Allen Robinson II continues to miss practice time due to a groin strain.
White caught the Hail Mary last week and had his first catches of the season as he tries to make an impact for the first time since being the team’s No. 1 draft pick in 2015.
Head coach Matt Nagy has praised White in the past for accepting a blocking role on runs and screens without complaint. He set forth a path for White to get more playing time.
“Just Kevin controlling what he can control, having a positive attitude, understanding it’s a long season, and he’s been doing that, so I appreciate that,” Nagy said. “He knows that and so for him just keep taking one day at a time and staying positive, and I think you’re going to see that from him.”
Nagy said White hasn’t been struggling with the complex offense.
“We have a bunch of good players on this team, so he’s one of them,” Nagy said. “Depending on what personnel you’re in in the offense, you only have a certain amount of wide receivers. But he’s been patient and he’s been, like I said earlier, selfless, which I like and he’s going to continue to get opportunities.”
–The Bears are tied with Buffalo for the most illegal formation penalties (6) and have had a touchdown brought back by one last week. Some of it might have to do with Nagy’s complex offense.
“Details, we have to be better detailed and there has to be a sense of urgency of that’s two times now in critical plays where you score a touchdown and it gets called back,” Nagy said. “That can hurt you, that can really hurt you, so over-communicate when you’re out there on the field, whether it’s with the referee or whoever the sideline judge is. Make sure they know that you’re on or off the ball, your teammates know that you’re on or off the ball and so our guys understand that.”
Ultimately, the blame goes above the players.
“So I’ll take the blame for that, we can’t have that, that’s the details they have to have and understand,” Nagy said.
–Two criticisms of quarterback Mitchell Trubisky often made are his footwork and the occasional “oh no” pass, the kind he never should have thrown. He understands what’s going on with both situations, especially the footwork.
“Sometimes it’s pressure, good scheme by the defense, a bunch of twists up front,” he said. “Sometimes the protection – I believe the O-line has been playing awesome these last couple weeks. And then also it’s a product of me running early, trying to make plays with my feet and then even running through the game when I don’t need to.”
Trubisky said he has the “oh no” feeling on some of his passes, just like coaches.
“I’m going to continue to stay aggressive,” he said. “Coach Nagy has my back all the way, which I appreciate. My teammates have my back, which I appreciate. So I’m trying to make plays for the offense but I know I’ve got to take care of the football.”
–The guard rotation with James Daniels and Eric Kush switching out will continue, although Kush is missing practice this week with a neck injury that has plagued him for several weeks.
“They’re doing a good job with it,” Nagy said. “Both guys are true professionals, handling it the right way, both helping each other out. There’s no concern over selfishness; they don’t have that.”
Nagy also said he doesn’t have concerns the switching is causing a lack of continuity in run blocking.
BY THE NUMBERS: 28 — Jordan Howard had 28 more carries last year (118) after six games than he has this year (90).