Chicago Bears: 5 things to watch against the New England Patriots
By Todd Welter
Will the Chicago Bears coaching staff shake up the starting offensive line?
The Chicago Bears offensive line has been a major woe this season. Against the Washington Commanders, Justin Fields was sacked five times.
He spent the rest of the time when he dropped back to pass running for his life. Some of the sacks Fields has taken are his fault as he has held onto the ball too long.
Chicago has allowed the highest pressure percentage and sack percentage in the NFL, but as a team they rank 2nd in pass block win rate (sustaining blocks for 2.5 seconds 68% of time). Justin Fields averages the longest time to throw in the NFL at 3 seconds. https://t.co/5sw7uhY48C
— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) October 18, 2022
When you use the eye test, the Chicago Bears’ offensive line is getting beaten badly in pass protection.
9⃣0⃣ with the SACK
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) October 14, 2022
📺 @NFLonPrime #WASvsCHI pic.twitter.com/Z4lPZjj41W
Left tackle Braxton Jones played like a rookie fifth-round pick out of Southern Utah making just his sixth career start. He was constantly getting beat by Montez Sweat’s bull rush.
Center Sam Mustipher continues to allow pressure to come from the A-gap. It has not helped that left guard Cody Whitehair is missing some time with a knee injury.
The coaching staff has hinted there are changes on the way. Some speculation has Lucas Patrick moving to center and veteran Michael Scholfield at left guard.
Here is what I am hearing the #Bears offensive line will look like when they start the game Monday night against the #Patriots in New England. LT: Jones LG Schofield C Patrick RG Jenkins RT Borom. Mustipher will be a backup at Guard and Center. #TakeThat
— David Kaplan (@thekapman) October 21, 2022
Patrick was signed in the offseason to man that position but a training camp injury to his hand altered that plan. Now healthy enough to snap the ball, it appears the coaching staff is ready to Patrick to a position where he is better suited to play and Mustipher goes to the bench.
If Scholfield does not have anything left in the tank, they could also go with Alex Leatherwood while Whitehair is out. Although Leatherwood first needs to prove he is in shape as he has been sidelined to start the year with mono.
Leatherwood is the Las Vegas Raiders’ first-round pick from last year who was surprisingly cut after training camp. The Chicago Bears picked him up hoping his horrendous 2021 campaign is behind him and his best football is still on the horizon.
Jones has been given the patience to develop but if he continues to be overmatched, it would not be shocking to see veteran Riley Reiff inserted into the starting lineup. Something needs to be done to improve the protection around Fields. Otherwise, he will be running for his life again.