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Week 9: Defense Stops The Run In Loss
The 4-3 defense looked pretty good.
by Steve Saslow
Here are our position by position grades:
Quarterback:
Ryan Fitzpatrick was his usual self. He made some nice plays especially on third downs. He then made some big mistakes including two late interceptions and some inaccurate incompletions.
Grade C-: Completed a career high 31 passes but was too inaccurate.
Running Backs:
Fred Jackson just seems off this year. He ran eight times for only 16 yards and a score. He had a big fumble as well and five short passes. He did score a touchdown.
C.J. Spiller is lost in the offense and had 20 yards on seven carries but 15 came on one play.
Corey McIntyre had one carry for a one yard touchdown run. His first career touchdown.
Grade D: It would be an F if it wasn't for the two scores.
Receivers:
Lee Evans dropped a pass on the two minute drive before halftime. Only had three catches for 31 yards
Roscoe Parrish made some tough catches and nearly came up with a few misthrown passes. He had seven catches for 60 yards and has become a very gritty player.
Steve Johnson is becoming a great fantasy player as he had 11 catches for 145 yards and may be the top guy now.
David Nelson had a nine yard pass on a third and eight play in the 2nd quarter than beat that with a fourth down catch in the final minutes of the half. He appears to be Fitz's go to guy on third downs.
David Martin caught an 11 yard pass in tight coverage.
Grade A-: The WRs are doing very well but the TEs remain MIA.
Offensive Line:
Demetrius Bell had a lot of help with Julius Peppers and did ok.
Geoff Hangartner was called for a holding penalty that wiped out a 30 yard pass play to Spiller.
Cordaro Howard had a false start penalty on a third and long play.
Mansfield Wrotto had a few series at right tackle as well.
Grade C: Only gave up one sack but there was pressure. No push in the running game.
Defensive Line:
Kyle Williams was in on six tackles and had one quarterback hit. Another solid game.
Marcus Stroud was very quiet with just two tackles.
Dwan Edwards didn't do much as the 4-3 was used a lot in this game.
Spencer Johnson had the trifecta a sack, forced fumble, and recovery early in the fourth quarter. He also had six tackles.
Grade A-: The line played very well and good penetration.
Linebackers:
Akin Ayodele got the start on the inside for Andra Davis and was in on two tackles.
Chris Kelsay got some pressure playing mostly defense end which helped create a takeaway early in the fourth quarter. He failed on many plays to keep his containment giving Cutler room to scramble.
Reggie Torbor made a nice backfield hit on Forte on the Bears first drive but didn't bring him down. He had penetration on a Taylor run later in the 1st quarter. Broke up a pass on the goal line midway through the fourth quarter. He had six tackles and was all over the field.
Paul Posluszny had the quietest 10 tackles I have ever seen.
Arthur Moats got good penetration on one Forte run.
Grade B+: Perhaps three linebackers is better than four.
Secondary:
Drayton Florence made an outstanding open field tackle on a reverse to Hester for a one yard loss.
Leodis McKelvin missed a tackle in the red zone on the Bears first touchdown drive. He was beaten for a 16 yard gain late in the third quarter.
Jairus Byrd was very busy with 10 tackles.
Donte Whitner got called for a big pass interference penalty on a third down breakup. He was in on eight tackles.
Bryan Scott made a great open field tackle on a screen to stop a play that good have been a big gainer. Knocked down a third and goal play that forced a missed FG. He dropped a sure interception on a deflected pass.
Reggie Corner broke up a third down pass on the Bears second drive. He was than beaten for a 24 yard pass to Knox to convert a third down play. He got called for a dumb hands to the face penalty on 3rd and 12 play giving the Bears a first down in the red zone on their first TD drive.
Grade B: Did a nice job in coverage especially without the help of a pass rush.
Special Teams:
Brian Moorman had three punts, two inside the 20 but just a 29 yard average with a net of 28.
Rian Lindell had the first missed extra point of his career, it was blocked.
Roscoe Parrish had a six yard punt return.
C.J. Spiller had no returns.
Coverage Units held the best punt returner in the game to three yards on one return and a 21 yard average on kickoff returns.
Grade D: Kicking game failed them in this one.
Coaching:
Chan Gailey had no choice but to abandon the run. The team was ready to play. Two point conversion was right call but wasted timeout on bad challenge.
George Edwards had the team ready to go in the new 4-3 defense.
Bruce DeHaven was let down by his kicking game.
Grade C+: They are as close as can be and getting a win.
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