reporters set up the Bears game

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  • November 13, 2019 at 12:06 pm #108081
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    Jacob Infante@jacobinfante24
    #Bears DT Nick Williams is tied for first among interior defensive linemen with 6 sacks so far this year. Few around the league have had as big of a breakout season as he has.

    ==

    ME: a modest start on this topic. More later!

    November 13, 2019 at 12:27 pm #108083
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    Damn. Another topnotch DLine. Sigh.

    This is why i like running quarterbacks.

    w
    v

    November 15, 2019 at 1:41 am #108136
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    November 15, 2019 at 1:56 pm #108147
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    November 15, 2019 at 3:34 pm #108149
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    November 15, 2019 at 7:39 pm #108170
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    November 16, 2019 at 10:19 am #108187
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    November 16, 2019 at 10:40 am #108190
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    Bears were the first to stop Rams and Sean McVay

    Lindsey Thiry

    https://www.espn.com/blog/los-angeles-rams/post/_/id/40997/bears-were-the-first-to-stop-rams-and-sean-mcvay

    THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — The Los Angeles Rams’ offensive line has been decimated by injuries, and behind it, quarterback Jared Goff has struggled to improvise.

    A season after appearing in Super Bowl LIII, the Rams are 5-4 and clinging to a 17% playoff berth chance, according to ESPN’s Football Power Index.

    And now the Rams host a Chicago Bears defense on Sunday (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC) that became the first unit to effectively stop Rams coach Sean McVay’s offensive juggernaut last season.

    The Bears are 4-5 and, similar to the Rams, have experienced a downturn this season after reaching the playoffs. But the Bears’ defense packs a similar punch to last season, when it shut down the 11-1 Rams in a 15-6 victory during Week 14.

    “They were a great defense, period,” McVay said this week about the 2018 Bears. “I don’t run away from the fact that I didn’t handle that night well at all.”

    The six points in that game were the fewest scored by the Rams in a regular-season game since McVay became coach in 2017.

    The key to that performance, according to Bears coach Matt Nagy?

    “Being able to stop the run,” Nagy told reporters this week in Chicago. “You stop the run and then you penetrate the line of scrimmage and be able to try to affect the quarterback, his timing, make him move in the pocket and do different things there.”

    Running back Todd Gurley rushed for 28 yards on 11 carries in that game, and Goff threw a career-high four interceptions, which amounted to a third of his season total on his way to a second consecutive Pro Bowl.

    “We’ll be ready if they do it again,” Goff said.

    He should count on it. The Bears have allowed 3.66 yards per rush (fourth in the NFL), 327 yards per game (ninth) and 17.4 points per game (fourth) this season. Their front seven still features star outside linebacker Khalil Mack, who will be hungry for a sack after failing to take down a quarterback the past two games.

    Mack will have a makeshift offensive line to feast on.

    The Rams must play three first-year starters, with veteran right tackle Rob Havenstein sidelined because of a knee injury and center Brian Allen on injured reserve because of a damaged MCL.

    “It’s part of the job description, and when you play quarterback at times, it’s not always going to be like we had the last couple years,” said Goff, referring to his offensive line the past two seasons, which started the same five linemen in each season. “This is closer to reality and just going to prepare for it.”

    The Rams’ offensive line was the best in the NFL last season, with a pass block win rate of 74%. This season, the group has struggled — even before it was struck by injuries — and has the 25th-best pass block win rate at 54%, according to ESPN Metrics Powered by NFL Next Gen Stats.

    Goff has suffered as a result. His total quarterback rating of 39.7 is the fifth worst in the NFL.

    The fourth-year quarterback, who signed a four-year extension with $110 million in guarantees before the season, understands there are plenty of areas where he must improve.

    “Throw more completions,” Goff said. “Get the ball in our guys’ hands and get rid of the ball. Get rid of the ball. Be accurate, be on time, everything. I can be a lot better at a lot of things.”

    Last week, in a 17-12 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Goff had three turnovers, including two interceptions and a lost fumble.

    He has three games this season with multiple interceptions, which trails only Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston, who has four. And Goff is responsible for 14 turnovers this season, the third most behind Winston (18) and New York Giants rookie quarterback Daniel Jones (17).

    Goff has fumbled nine times, losing five.

    Needless to say, ball security and reacting under pressure have become points of emphasis.

    “Playing in the timing and rhythm, sometimes taking a sack, keeping two hands on the ball, is the best thing to be able to do there,” McVay said. “It’s something we’re going to continuously drill and make a big point of emphasis.”

    November 16, 2019 at 4:50 pm #108220
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    Rams Week 11 preview: 5 questions with Bears Wire

    Rams Week 11 preview: 5 questions with Bears Wire

    To preview the game, we talked to Bears Wire managing editor Alyssa Barbieri about what’s gone wrong with Chicago and how this matchup will go.

    Is Mitchell Trubisky the biggest reason for the Bears’ struggles?

    There’s plenty of blame to go around when it comes to Chicago’s disappointing season. Whether it’s play-calling on Matt Nagy’s front, poor offensive line play or Bears leading the league in drops, it’s more than just Trubisky. But with that said, Trubisky is the biggest part of why this Bears offense is struggling. Despite showing flashes this season, Trubisky has failed to take a step forward, instead regressing drastically. Nagy isn’t doing him any favors shying away from what made Trubisky successful last season — utilizing his mobility. As a result, his confidence has taken a hit. The Lions game was the first time Trubisky looked confident back there, as Nagy scaled back the playbook. Surely they’ll look to continue the trend and try to build off last week’s encouraging performance.

    Besides Khalil Mack, who is the Bears’ best player?

    Two of my answers fall on guys currently on or headed to injured reserve in defensive tackle Akiem Hicks and linebacker Danny Trevathan. But what that said, receiver Allen Robinson has proven himself to be a special talent that is being wasted by mediocre quarterbacks. Robinson is easily the most productive player on Chicago’s struggling offense, and he’s managed to be productive with opposing teams knowing that Trubisky will be looking for him every time. Robinson’s fast approaching his season totals from a season ago — on a worse offense — and with still seven games left to go. Although he’ll face a tough challenge against [his] former Jaguars teammate, cornerback Jalen Ramsey.

    What can the Rams do to have success against Chicago’s defense?

    While Khalil Mack has been hailed as the player that makes the Bears’ defense go, Chicago is learning the hard life is without Akiem Hicks, who has been the anchor on that line. The Bears defensive line has been gashed since they lost Hicks to injured reserve after Week 5. While they certainly have talent up front in Eddie Goldman, Bilal Nichols and Nick Williams, who leads the team in sacks, they’ve struggled to find stability in the middle of the line, where without Hicks teams have been able to attack with success.

    What’s been the biggest difference for the Bears from last season to this year?

    Last season, everything seemed to go right for the Bears. They caught every break, whether it was with injuries or the schedule, they didn’t have to really face much adversity. This season is a completely different story. They’re feeling the effects of significant injuries and they’re struggling with living up to expectations following last season’s success. Their flaws are multiplied as the heat is turned up on a 4-5 team that was supposed to be Super Bowl contenders.

    What’s your prediction for this game?

    While I expect the Bears’ defense to take advantage of the Rams’ offensive struggles, ultimately it’s going to come down to which offense struggles more. With that said, it’ll likely be Chicago’s. Rams 17, Bears 13

    November 16, 2019 at 5:37 pm #108224
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