Tag: JP Holtz

POLL: What impressed you most about Bears’ offense vs. Cowboys?

The Bears offense was firing on all cylinders, and they got production from every position group in Thursday’s win over the Cowboys.

Don’t look now, but the Chicago Bears have an offense. The Bears have put together back-to-back impressive offensive performances after a season of utter disappointment and, at times, complete embarrassment.

I think I speak for all Bears fans when I ask: Where has this been all season?

The Bears offense was firing on all cylinders, and they got production from every position group — and play calling — in a 31-24 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday. Chicago tied their best output of the season with 31 points — the other outing coming in Week 3 against the Washington Redskins, which was aided by some takeaways on defense.

Quarterback Mitchell Trubisky topped his best performance of the season with an even better performance against the Cowboys. Trubisky utilized his arm and legs to attack Dallas’ top 10 defense. He completed 74% of his passes and tossed three touchdowns with one interception, as well as rushed for 63 yards and another score.

For the first time all season, the Bears got production from their tight ends — in this case, J.P. Holtz and Jesper Horsted. Holtz lead the Bears in receiving with 56 yards on three receptions while Horsted had four catches for 36 yards.

For all of the times that the offensive line has gotten flack for their poor performance, they’ve had a solid couple of games, including against the Cowboys. They gave Trubisky time to throw the ball and opened up holes in the run game as David Montgomery totaled 86 rushing yards on 20 carries.

The Bears receivers also got in on the action. Allen Robinson continues to have a monster year, where he had two touchdowns and five receptions for 48 yards. Anthony Miller followed up a career game with a milder performance — three receptions for 42 yards — but he also scored his first touchdown of the season. Riley Ridley even caught a pass for 5 yards as he relieved the injured Javon Wims.

You also have to give it up for Bears coach Matt Nagy, who called one heck of a game. It took far too long, but he’s finally found what’s working for his quarterback and offense this season.

There were plenty of things to be impressed with on the Bears offense, but who was the most impressive?

VOTE!

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Studs and duds from Bears’ 31-24 win over Cowboys

The Chicago Bears kept their playoff hopes alive with a 31-24 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night. Mitch Trubisky picked up where he left off on Thanksgiving with little trouble finding the endzone in another strong performance. …

The Chicago Bears kept their playoff hopes alive with a 31-24 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night.

Mitch Trubisky picked up where he left off on Thanksgiving with little trouble finding the endzone in another strong performance.

Outside of one head-scratching interception, he threw the ball with accuracy and confidence. The return of his scrambling ability added a key dynamic to the offensive success.

The injuries kept mounting for the Bears defense, but they never showed signs of a dropoff as new players rotated in.

Dallas kept it close in the second half, but Chicago was in control for most of the final three quarters.

Here are the studs from the Week 14 contest.

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Could Cordarrelle Patterson be Bears’ answer at tight end?

Bears versatile weapon Cordarrelle Patterson asked Matt Nagy if he could potentially fill in at the tight end position.

Cordarrelle Patterson is as versatile as they come. He can play wide receiver, kick returner and running back. But what about tight end?

With the Bears thin at the tight end position, could Matt Nagy employ the versatile Patterson as a tight end? It’s not as crazy as it may sound, considering that discussion has gone back to August about the idea, according to Chicago Sun-Times reporter Jason Lieser.

The struggles of the Bears’ tight ends have been well-documented this season, as they’ve been virtually non-existent in this offense.

With Trey Burton on injured reserve and Adam Shaheen and Ben Braunecker ruled out this week, the Bears will turn to Jesper Horsted and JP Holtz at tight end. Patterson has even gone to Nagy to inquire about potentially filling in at the position.

The kick return specialist/receiver/running back is the kind of player that you want to have on the field as often as possible, and given the struggles of the offense — particularly tight ends — this season, why not try Patterson at tight end? The mismatches would be incredible and could open up this offense.

While tight end requires different responsibilities that would require an offseason to learn, Patterson couldn’t possibly be worse than what the Bears have put on the field this season at the tight end position.

Patterson did line up at tight end at times with the New England Patriots last season, so it wouldn’t be entirely new for him.

We’ll see how Nagy ultimately decides to utilize Patterson in this offense on Thursday and in these final five games of the season.

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Don’t expect to see Bears WR Taylor Gabriel or TE Ben Braunecker on Thanksgiving

Matt Nagy says it will “probably be a stretch” to see Bears WR Taylor Gabriel or TE Ben Braunecker play Thanksgiving vs. Lions.

As the Chicago Bears prepare to face the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving, they’ll likely do it down two offensive weapons.

Wide receiver Taylor Gabriel and tight end Ben Braunecker remain in concussion protocol, and both aren’t expected to play Thursday against the Lions.

Bears coach Matt Nagy said that it “would be probably a stretch” for Gabriel or Braunecker to play on Thanksgiving.

The Bears are already thin at tight end before Braunecker’s concussion, as Trey Burton is on injured reserve and Adam Shaheen is sidelined with a foot injury. Now, it’ll be the Jesper Horsted and J.P. Holtz show.

Gabriel’s absence could open the door for rookie receiver Riley Ridley, who’s been inactive this season on the 53-man roster. With Gabriel inactive, look for Anthony Miller, Javon Wims and Ridley along with Allen Robinson on offense.

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Was benching TE Adam Shaheen was the right move for Bears?

The Bears benched TE Adam Shaheen for Sunday’s game against the Lions, and it appears that he’s in Chicago’s doghouse.

Prior to the start of Sunday’s Week 10 matchup against the Detroit Lions, the Chicago Bears made some moves on the offensive side of the ball.

Not only did they decide to switch Cody Whitehair back to center and James Daniels back to left guard, but they opted to make a change at tight end by benching tight end Adam Shaheen, who was inactive as a healthy scratch.

“We want all of our players to be able to be completely detailed and play hard and do everything they can to be the best player they can be,” Bears coach Matt Nagy said Monday.

While Shaheen was a healthy scratch in Week 10, don’t expect an immediate return to the lineup Sunday against the Rams.

“We’re still working through all of that,” Nagy said.

Reserve tight end Ben Braunecker seemed to have more success in one game than Shaheen and Trey Burton have had all season. Braunecker caught his first career touchdown pass — an 18-yard reception from Mitchell Trubisky in the waning minutes of the first half to give the Bears a 7-6 lead. It was a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

Expect to see more of Braunecker moving forward as he’s a better receiver than Shaheen and a better blocker than Burton. The Bears have also utilized tight end J.P. Holtz in their offense, especially as a fullback.

Much has been made about the performance of Bears tight ends this season, and rightfully so. They haven’t been productive in this unit, but then again, who has? Chicago’s offense has struggled mightily in its first eight games, and they seemed to get a glimpse of a spark at the end of the first half leading into the third quarter.

Shaheen, a former second-round draft pick, has been ineffective and costly at times. His special teams fumble on the final play of the game against the Philadelphia Eagles ended any hope of a last-second miracle comeback by the Bears offense.

But even when Shaheen is on offense, he hasn’t done a whole lot. He has just nine receptions for 74 yards this season.

Matt Nagy seemed to send a message to his team by benching Shaheen and switching a struggling Daniels back to left guard: Do your job or we’ll find someone that will.

Shaheen’s benching and the switch on the offensive line likely won’t be the last changes we see on this Bears offense moving forward in the final seven games of the season if the struggles continue.

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