CHICAGO, IL – AUGUST 30: Tarik Cohen #29 of the Chicago Bears. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
2. Chicago Bears Have More Offensive Weapons
Besides the clear quarterback discrepancy, the Chicago Bears have better players at the skills positions on offense.
Running back for Seattle- Processing…
Running back for Chicago- Jordan Howard, the first Bears’ player to garner 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons.
Seattle’s receiving corp was average at best last season, but now they lost their second best threat in Paul Richardson to the Washington Redskins, and their best receiver, Doug Baldwin, will miss this matchup due to a sprained MCL.
The Chicago Bears went from having the worst receiving group in the league to one with a lot of promise. Allen Robinson looked good in his debut while Trey Burton and Anthony Miller learn to ingratiate themselves into the offense. The Bears also possess the deep threats in Taylor Gabriel and Tarik Cohen to help keep Earl Thomas on edge back there in the secondary.
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The Bears don’t have an elite offensive line by any means, but the line they do have is more formidable than Seattle’s by a long shot. The Bears last week had only five QB hits while the Seahawks allowed 11, and that’s with Mitch Trubisky at times holding the ball much longer in a new offensive scheme.
If Mitch Trubisky can keep his eyes downfield and get all of his receiving options involved, then this team should give this Seattle Defense real issues. This team has lost Richard Sherman (contract), Michael Bennett (trade), Kam Chancellor (retirement), and Sheldon Richardson (free agent) this past offseason. That group has players that are considered elite at their positions, which officially marks the end of the Legion of Boom.
The matchup between Allen Robinson and Tre Flowers leans favorably to Robinson. Shaquille Griffin, the other starting corner, is solid but he is not going to dominate at any point in this game, whether it be against Taylor Gabriel or Anthony Miller.
Bobby Wagner is one of the best defensive players in the game, there is no doubt. But he and Earl Thomas alone cannot compensate for the holes the Seahawks needs to fill, both on the defensive and offensive side of the ball. With limited secondary help and some key losses on the defensive line, the Bears should be able to run and pass with more fluidity as opposed to last week.
Pete Carrol has been doing this for a long time so I expect him to throw a lot of different looks towards the Bears’ offense. These defensive schemes will confuse Trubisky at times, but the talent the Bears have should find ways to make life a little easier for him.