Chicago Bears: Tarik Cohen can torch Detroit Lions
The Chicago Bears need to rely on Tarik Cohen to win a tough road test against the Detroit Lions
The Chicago Bears Thanksgiving test was going to be tough as it was before the Mitch Trubisky news. Now, if the teams quartesrback plays, he is banged up on a short week. Not a good recipe. However, if he does not, it is the game manager Chase Daniel.
A game manager against an inefficient offense in Detroit may not be a bad thing. However, the Lions have also got much better as a ground defense since trading for Damon Harrison. This means that if the Chicago Bears want to move the ball in this game, they have to open up with the pass.
Fortunately for Daniel, he could find a check down option in Tarik Cohen. While the Lions have got better against the run, they have struggled against passes to running backs.
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The addition of Damon Harrison does not take away from the fact that their linebackers are struggling with speed in space. Heck, they are starting Christian Jones after all.
The Lions allow 25% of their targets to go to running-backs, which is the ninth highest rate in the NFL. With that, they rank 29th in success rate allowed. This is why teams are going to so heavy to their running backs against the Lions.
On the other side, the Bears target their backs 24% of the time, which is the ninth most often. In that regard, they rank fifth in the NFL in success rate.
The Bears have a lot of success with Tarik Cohen. The Lions have been losing in the passing game to backs like Cohen. Without help in the running game, look for Tarik Cohen to give whoever the quarterback is spark in the passing game.