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Bears 21, Browns 7: Bears reserves show consistency in preseason finale

By Chris Kwiecinski

Sep 1, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Jahwan Edwards (40) is brought down by Chicago Bears outside linebacker Leonard Floyd (94), strong safety Chris Prosinski (31) and running back Jacquizz Rodgers (35) by during the second half at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 1, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Jahwan Edwards (40) is brought down by Chicago Bears outside linebacker Leonard Floyd (94), strong safety Chris Prosinski (31) and running back Jacquizz Rodgers (35) by during the second half at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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Alas. You can always count on the Browns for a little team pick me up, no? Heck, even quarterback Brian Hoyer looked good. Regardless, the time for preseason is over for the Chicago Bears and now the real McCoy, in the form of the Houston Texans, is on deck. Finishing the preseason 1-3 might seem dismal, especially with games one and three flaunting an anemic offense, but the real fruits of John Fox and Ryan Pace’s labors will be on shown on Sept. 11. Hold your breath, Bears fans.

While the last rapid reactions have focused on the good and bad the first team players had to offer, most starters didn’t play tonight. In lieu of that, I will be focusing on a bunch of takeaways from the final preseason game rather than just the good and bad.

Starters

To those who started the game, i.e. Hoyer, Kevin White, Jacoby Glenn and Jonathan Bullard, we salute you. No, really, seeing a consistent string of scoring drives from the Hoyer led offense and some strong stops from Bullard and the defense can only be positive signs. Bullard, who was strong all preseason, continued to make plays, Glenn had another pick and Hoyer finished with a solid line, 12-16 for 112 yards, and looked comfortable with the Bears offense. Oh yeah, speaking of Kevin White…

Kevin White

So THAT is the Bears plan for Kevin White. Loggains and the Bears offense Thursday opened with a healthy dose of Kevin White, and it seems clear the Bears have a plethora of plays designed to get White into the open field. White finished with four catches for 57 yards, including a sleek 26-yard catch and run on an inside drag route. If Hoyer can make those kinds of throws to White, then its a pretty sure bet Cutler will be able to get him the ball, and that there are a few more plays in the playbook designed for White and his elusive abilities.

Robbie Gould

One of the things that was somewhat odd was the lack of a second kicker throughout training camp. And, if there ever was a preseason for a second kicker, this might’ve been it. Robbie Gould, one of the most accurate kickers in Bears and NFL history, has been uncharacteristically underwhelming this preseason and that continued Thursday. While Gould finished the game 3/3 on field goals, two of the three field goals were almost misses and he missed two extra points; one was a flat out miss, while the other wasn’t elevated enough and got blocked. Either way, of all the concerning things to see from the Bears a struggling Robbie Gould is one of them.

Jordan Howard

The Bears had a healthy dose of running game in the fourth quarter, and it seemed to be like the dueling pianos. Jacquizz Rodgers and Jordan Howard were both given turns with the rock, and Howard was the one that turned in a winning performance. The Indiana product had 16 carries for 107 yards and a score, while Rodgers had eight carries for only 15 yards. Howard may have gotten more carries, but the Rodgers was the second running back the Bears went to after starter Ka’Deem Carey, and he failed to have a run longer than four yards. If there was any doubt on Howard’s roster status, he might’ve erased those doubts Thursday night.

“On The Bubble” roster spots

This was the final preseason game, yes, but also a final chance for third, fourth and fifth stringers to show their stuff to Fox and the coaching staff. Here are some notable performances from players who were fighting for a spot on the 53-man roster.

  • Christian Jones had 10 tackles, 1.5 sacks and two QB hits in a performance that reminded me he was on the roster. While he won’t be a starter this year, he’ll most likely be an inside linebacker backup.
  • Fan favorite Daniel Braverman only had two catches for 17 yards, looked lost on special teams and didn’t see much playing time. While the seventh round pick built a lot of hype in camp, it didn’t carry over into the preseason. Braverman should be a practice squad addition.
  • When it comes down to the running back position, Jordan Howard clearly has the edge over Jacquizz Rodgers. Rodgers may be the coaches favorite, but Howard has shown he has better, younger and more agile legs. He’s a better weapon, and has earned the third RB spot.
  • Woah. I’m not sure where cornerback De’Vante Bausby came from, but he had a pretty decent game with a couple tackles and a pass break up in the second half. He looked pretty solid at corner, considering the inconsistent play among the back up Bears defensive backs.
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