Chicago Bears Week 7: Takeaways

6.) Shea McClellin better not be in the starting lineup next week

What has McClellin done to deserve his job back as soon as he was healthy? Granted, McClellin has shown some signs of becoming a decent OLB in the first few weeks of the season, but he has made plenty of mistakes as well (-2.6 overall grade). The Dolphins made a point of running the read option to McClellin’s side whenever they needed a big play and 45 of Tannehill’s 50 rushing yards came on runs right at McClellin. I tried to talk myself into Shea as a legit OLB, but he was a liability on Sunday and wasted a strong effort from the D-line. After rookie Christian Jones played better last week than McClellin had all season, the Bears should have left Jones in the lineup. That ship has sailed, but hopefully they won’t compound their mistake by keeping McClellin in the lineup next week. The Bears need to show the ability to adjust week-to-week and get the right players on the field regardless of their draft position. In Atlanta the Bears D played its best game in the Trestman / Tucker era and they should both do whatever they can to recreate that performance while they still have jobs.

7.) Jordan Mills also need to be benched 

Lost in last year’s offensive explosion was the fact that rookie RT Jordan Mills was a turnstile in pass protection. According to Pro Football Focus, Mills was the worst starting RT in the league and by far the worst pass blocker (-37.6 grade). Mills had a great debut in week 1 vs the Bengals, but only had one other decent game out of the next 15 (DAL) during his rookie season. Most young players make their biggest leap performance wise between years 1 & 2, but Mills looks like the same sub-par RT he was last year. PFF has Mills rated as the 2nd worst RT in the league this season, just barely ahead of rookie Seantrel Henderson (BUF).  Mills has given up almost twice as many QB hurries (18) as any other O-lineman on the team, has given up a team high 5 sacks, and has twice as many penalties as anyone on the offense (6). Last season the Bears didn’t have a better option, but this year rookie G/T Michael Ola has been one of the Bears best lineman in his 4 starts filling in for injured starters Matt Slauson and Jermon Bushrod. If Ola can hold his own at left tackle he should be able to play RT which is considered an easier position. Mills gave up a key strip sack on Sunday and once again had the lowest overall grade of any player on the Bears offense (-3.2). If the Bears are going to have a chance to make the playoffs this year, they need to put their best 5 O-linemen on the field and Mills clearly isn’t one of them. Even swing tackle Eben Britton would be an upgrade, but for the future of the Bears and Jay Cutler’s health… Michael Ola is the best choice for the Bears at right tackle.

8.) Kyle Fuller broke his hand and has a hip pointer

If Sunday’s loss to the Dolphins wasn’t bad enough, the Bears best corner Kyle Fuller broke his right hand and suffered a hip pointer injury. It’s unknown how long Fuller will be out, but Bear coaches are optimistic that neither injury will require surgery and are still holding out hope that Fuller can play this week in New England. The Bears have a bye after next week’s match-up with the Patriots so it may make sense to rest Fuller this week and hope he can come back for the Bears week 10 match-up in Green Bay. The Packers game is shaping up to be a must win game for the Bears and they will need Fuller against the Packers dangerous receiving core.

9.) The Soldier Field turf was one of the Bears best defenders. 

I counted at least four plays that a Dolphin offensive player tripped on the Soldier Field turf. How is it possible that the Bears have turf issues every year? Shouldn’t a billion dollar business have the resources to make sure the field has a safe, playable surface when every other team in the league seems to pull it off? It’s embarrassing.

Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

10.) Dante Rosario could be looking for work tomorrow

If your job title is “blocking TE” then you shouldn’t be missing easy blocks like Rosario did on a Cutler scramble in the first half that could have went for big yards or at least a 1st down had Rosario blocked the man in front of him. If that wasn’t bad enough, Rosario’s 4th quarter fumble sealed the Bears loss. Rosario was fighting for an extra yard or two when he should have been getting out of bounds to stop the clock and was stripped by Dolphin CB Cortland Finnegan. Is Matthew Mulligan still available on waivers? It may seem harsh, but the Bears have already cut Rosario twice this summer and blocking TEs are a dime a dozen. The Bears should be able to find one that can block and hold on to the damn ball.

11.) The Bears special teams unit had their best game of the season

Might as well end on one of the few positives from Sunday’s loss. The much-maligned special teams unit had a solid game for the first time all season. Rookie punter Pat O’Donnell boomed three punts for an average of 53 yards and pinned two inside the twenty. It’s been an up-and-down season for O’Donnell so far, but he showed what he is capable of on Sunday. The special teams unit was also responsible for a blocked field goal in the 4th quarter that theoretically kept the game within reach. The Bears kick returners havent been able to average more than 21 yards per return in any game this season, but on Sunday Chris Williams had two returns over 21 yards, one for 25 yards and one for 50. Williams was able to show his world-class speed and should have locked down the job for the near future at least.