5 things to watch for when the Bears face the Buccaneers
By Todd Welter
The Chicago Bears need to see more from their wide receivers in this one.
2. D.J. Moore getting more targets
Moore was acquired in the offseason to give Fields a legit No. 1 wide receiver. He had just two catches for 25 yards against the Packers. Those two receptions were his only targets.
This is a player the Chicago Bears traded the No. 1 overall pick to get (along with a boatload of draft picks in return from the Carolina Panthers). Having just two targets is coaching and quarterback malpractice.
The Bears ran a lot of screens without using Moore who is excellent at getting yards after the catch. If the offense is going to run smoke screens at the frequency they did last week, D.J. should be getting the ball in those instances.
The game plan should focus on Moore getting a lot of touches especially since the Bucs are the team where he has gained the most yards in his career.
3. Chase Claypool responding after a lazy Week 1 performance
Claypool took a lot of heat after the Packers game when the film showed he was loafing out there. It was not lost on head coach Matt Eberflus who felt the need to address Chase’s effort after the contest.
Matt Eberflus said he met with Chase Claypool after the Green Bay game about his effort blocking on the perimeter. Those plays were the catalyst for several unsuccessful screen passes, something the Bears hope Claypool can turn around this week.
— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) September 13, 2023
Eberflus: "You all saw the plays…
Eberflus said he would not rule out making Claypool a healthy scratch this Sunday. It appears more than likely that Claypool will get a uniform against Tampa. The hope is he responds with a better effort than what he gave against Green Bay.
#Bears WR coach Tyke Tolbert is planning for Chase Claypool to play Sunday. He's taken all his regular snaps, has been the first WR in meetings and has hustled more than any other receiver in practice this week, he said.
— Patrick Finley (@patrickfinley) September 14, 2023
Maybe Claypool did not want to block as much as he was asked against the Packers. If Fields is going to push the ball down the field more, it could get Claypool engaged in the event.