Bears offense presents nice test for the Titans
Bears offense presents nice test for the Titans
This weekend’s game between the Tennessee Titans and Chicago Bears should be a good one. Both team’s starters are expected to play the first half. That will be the most extensive work for both squads.
Backup players are likely to work in with the first string to see how they fare. For example, Derrick Henry is DeMarco Murray’s backup. Each will spell the other during the first half.
The Bears are like the Titans of not long ago- they are either in rebuild mode or ‘let’s try and make something of this’ mode. The Titans are clearly the better team this week. The Bears first string defense is fine and presents a nice test for the Titans offense. Any depth after that is highly questionable.
The Bears have been quite active signing players. Chicago lost wide receivers Alshon Jeffery and Marquess Wilson in free agency. To replace them, they have added several veteran wide receivers. The year before, they lost Matt Forte, but they have four good running backs now. To go with talented rookie Adam Shaheen, the Bears have three tight ends with NFL starting experience. At quarterback, the Bears have talented rookie Mitch Trubisky and three other quarterbacks with starting experience. As far as a preseason opponent goes, they are stacked.
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Much of the Bears talent would commonly be described as ‘good’ not ‘great.’ I’m not sure if this is the proper way to build a team, but this is a Titans column.
The Titans have done very well with their depth at linebacker, safety, and cornerback. They can’t keep everyone though. Soon enough, the Titans will only be allowed to have 53 players on their roster. It is extremely likely that they will have to cut quality talent for the first time in years. Which players make the team will not solely be decided upon this Bears contest, but it will be the most recent impression left upon the staff. It’s not everything, but it will be considerable.
For fun, let’s make some pretend matchups:
Kalan Reed versus former New York Giants receiver Victor Cruz.
Curtis Riley versus the speedy former Steeler Markus Wheaton.
Remember Kendall Wright from last year? He is on the Bears and his offensive coordinator is Dowell Loggains, also formerly of the Titans. Wright is a depth wide receiver on the Bears. What if covering Wright makes or breaks who is the Titans fifth cornerback? If Wright plays earlier, what if whether Adoree Jackson or Brice McCain stops him translates to which players is the Titans starting third cornerback?
Josh Bellamy and Deonte Thompson have been around. It only gets marginally easier for either cornerback named Smith or Jeremy Boykins.
Remember discussing safeties other than Byard covering the tight end? Remember discussing outside linebackers covering the tight end too?
Can Kevin Dodd cover Zach Miller? How about Johnathan Cyprien covering Dion Sims? Josh Carraway looks good, but can he cover Adam Shaheen? Can Jayon Brown cover veteran Daniel Brown?
The Titans depth defense has only faced inexperienced quarterbacks. Dick Lebeau is an NFL legend that is the Titans defensive coordinator. Surely those inexperienced quarterbacks worried of facing a defense coached by a legend. This week, the Bears have veterans at quarterback. They may not be the best veteran quarterbacks, but they are less likely to be fooled than some undrafted free agent signed off the street. The Titans defensive depth can actually watch tape on a quarterback for a change.
I have regularly written about the Titans inability to stop runs up the middle. The last three seasons, they have allowed roughly six yards per carry to runners there. That is the worst in the NFL over that span. The Bears have some good running backs and they drafted a very impressive center in Cody Whitehair. How will the Titans defense fare? Have they solved this issue? Will the rookie push the Titans nose tackles around? Can the Titans inside linebackers shed the fullback and get to the running back?
In some ways, the Bears depth offers an excellent matchup and really are a great model for the Titans staff to utilize to evaluate their players.
