The first preseason game didn’t provide any more clarity on the Denver Broncos starting quarterback position. He was the most reliable target on the field, a quality he has not possessed through his first two seasons. On second and third down Siemian sent two passes into the end zone and both times the Bears’ fourth round draft pick stayed with his man and broke up the plays.
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The Broncos dominated the Bears in all three phases and shut them out, 22-0. Erickson also caught a 3-yard touchdown pass from A.J. McCarron with 47 seconds remaining in the first half. The Bears had 35 sacks last season and that better improve in 2016. “That’s why we’re paying these guys to play, that’s why I’m paid to play”. “I just want to go out there and play football”. Who won’t? I/m here to say that for at least Week 1 of the preseason, the person who stepped up and got my game ball is Mark Sanchez.
Really good stuff from Touchdown Trevor in his quest to take the lead for the defending Super Bowl champs. The Bears defense only tallied 8 turnovers last season. Then combining that with Eddie Goldman, Will Sutton, Ego Ferguson and the outside linebackers this Bears team, if healthy, and the front seven are potentially a force to be reckoned with. With the additions of Akiem Hicks, Jerrell Freeman, Danny Trevathan and Rookie Leonard Floyd. I’ve said that this offense resurrected Jake Plummer’s career and it will hopefully do the same for Sanchez, well, Mark took me literally by throwing a left handed pass. We’ll see if that’s the case when the Bears reunite with former teammates Cornelius Bennett and Shea McClellin next Thursday night. Guard Ted Larsen took his place and will be the center. The Bears have three new starters on this line so they need time to gel, but Magazu needs to make sure this unit becomes a well-oiled machine before week one against the Houston Texans. Looking at the first depth chart and watching training camp, the top two candidates are second year pro Jeremy Langford and Ka’Deem Carey. Even though it’s only one preseason game it was a disappointing showing all around and might be proof that Chicago’s not as good as we thought they were coming into this year. But the aspect that impressed the most was his pass protection. “I am kind of going day to day”. The Bears’ running game was anemic. By the looks of it, the Chicago Bears still have a long way to go.
“We need to get better”, Cutler said. I just pray nothing happens to Cutler.
“I don’t know”, he said, per a team transcript. The amount that we played our first group tonight, there’s no way we could get that done. Watching Floyd over the last 2 weeks I understand why the Bears moved up to get him. “So it’s hard to do that, but I’m happy to be back out here now”.
To that end, the Bears put rookie guard Cody Whitehair in at center for part of the game on Thursday night, with mixed results.
The Bears definitely have a ways to go before the regular season starts, and that’s what the preseason is for – to work out the kinks and develop a positive rhythm heading into the season opener.
Both head coach John Fox and quarterback Jay Cutler recently expressed their desire to see Jeffery participate in exhibition games after the wide receiver missed the entire 2015 preseason due to a severe calf strain. The Bears visit Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots on Thursday August 18th at 5:00pm.
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The fact that those four key players were not on the field and the defense played that well, it is beyond incredible.
