Instead of getting down; the Bears rallied around back up QB Josh McCown; an 11 year NFL veteran who was coaching high school football two years ago when he was signed by the Bears to back up Cutler. (McCown threw Larry Fitzgerald’s first touchdown pass)
This is what new Head Coach and QB guru Marc Trestman was hired for right? To make sure there is success from the quarterbacks; right?
McCown was 14-20 (70% completion rate), 204 yards, 1TD, 0INT and a passer rating of 119.6, which by the way is the 7th highest passer rating this season by any quarterback.
Oct 20, 2013; Landover, MD, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Josh McCown (12) scrambles as Washington Redskins linebacker Ryan Kerrigan (91) chases during the second half at FedEX Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
The offense had 2 first downs in the first half and 19 in the second. They had 46 yards in the first half and 313 in the second.
Not bad for the 34-year-old journeyman backup QB.
When McCown came in, Trestman called a good mix of run and pass. On McCown’s first four drives, Trestman called 13 runs and 16 passes (a couple of the runs were called passes that McCown wisely scrambled on). The final two drives were all passes (6).
That was what Trestman was brought in for; to fix an awful offense and to get real production out of the most important position on any given football field.
The Defense.
I am actually at a loss for words about the defense. I think Boomer’s article pretty much sums up how I am feeling about the defense.
If the Bears want to salvage the season (and no, I am not suggesting the Bears are out of it and should pack it in) they need to figure things out on defense.
To me it looks like an execution issue. The defense is not playing fundamental football; they are out of position, taking bad angles and most egregiously; they are not wrapping up when they tackle.
Of course, it doesn’t help matters when your Pro Bowl LB (Lance Briggs) and Pro Bowl CB (Charles Tillman) go out of the game with injuries as well.
The Briggs injury is really going to hurt. He is out 4-6 weeks with a broken bone in his shoulder. Briggs called the plays on defense and got everyone lined up in their spots. Perhaps that was too much to put on his plate.