Linebacker Dont'a Hightower typically isn¡¯t part of the punt
return team for the
Patriots
Mitchell
Trubisky Color Rush Jersey , but special teams coach Joe Judge saw
something in his preparations for Sunday¡¯s game against the Bears that made him
have Hightower in the game for a punt in the third quarter.The move paid off
handsomely for the Patriots. Hightower steamrolled Bears tight end Ben
Braunecker and smothered Pat O'Donnell¡®s punt just after it came off his foot.
Kyle Van Noy recovered and returned the ball for a touchdown that broke a tie on
the way to a 38-31 Patriots win.Patriots head coach Bill Belichick didn¡¯t want
to talk about the specific reason why the team went with Hightower, who had
never blocked a punt at any level of football.“It¡¯s been a while, but the more
you can do,¡± Hightower said, via NESN.com. ¡°I don¡¯t mind stuff like that,
especially when it¡¯s able to be a big play or be able to change the course of
the game. ¡ That just goes to show that the coaches know what they¡¯re doing and
know what they¡¯re talking about it. As long as we¡¯re able to get that game plan
and go out and execute, good things will happen.¡±The Patriots also got a
touchdown from Cordarrelle Patterson on a kickoff return, so special teams
played a big role in Sunday¡¯s win in more ways than one. After giving up nine
sacks the previous two weeks with back up quarterback Chase Daniel
starting
Pat O'Donnell
Jersey , the Chicago Bears only allowed one on Sunday night against the
ferocious pass rush of the Los Angeles Rams. There¡¯s no denying that Mitchell
Trubisky¡¯s athleticism helps the pass protection out, not only because of his
ability to scramble, but also because of the threat of him as a scrambler. When
attacking a mobile quarterback a defense has to be cognizant of contain, so
you¡¯ll often see at least one of the edge rushers always rushing to the outside.
When going after a quarterback that isn¡¯t as mobile, a defense can attack from
anywhere. Edge rushers can dip back inside and coordinators can call more twists
up front. The Bears give an added wrinkle to their offense by using the read
option and running RPOs. Those plays require discipline from the defense in
maintaining gap integrity and in not flowing to the fakes. But let¡¯s get into
the sack allowed by the Bears this week.First, here¡¯s where the Sackwatch stands
historically after 13 games. 2010 - 47 Martz2011 - 38 Martz2012 - 38 Tice2013 -
22 Trestman2014 - 30 Trestman2015 - 23 Gase2016 - 24 Loggains2017 - 31
Loggains2018 - 29 NagySack 29 - First Quarter 3:35 - John Franklin-MyersIf I
remember correctly, this one was on right tackle Bobby Massie.Sackwatch over,
thanks for coming!But then I checked the tape. There¡¯s so much more to be
gleaned from a football play when you go back and watch it. Check out the look
the Rams were giving presnap. That¡¯s Aaron Donald (#99) between Massie and right
guard Bryan Witzmann. Donald is obviously Witzman¡¯s responsibility with center
Cody Whitehair likely to help if Donald tries to go inside. Left guard James
Daniels will need to step to his inside to cut off Ndamukong Suh (#93) with
Whitehair also ready if Suh tries to cross his face to Chicago¡¯s right A-Gap.
Left tackle Charles Leno Jr. is on an island with defensive end John
Franklin-Myers
(#94)
https://www.thebearsfanshop.com/Kyle-Long-Jersey ,
the guy that eventually picks up the sack. So which man is Massie¡¯s
responsibility? Let¡¯s count the defenders to the outside of Massie.His immediate
threat is the closest guy to him, so he has to be prepared in case inside
linebacker Cory Littleton (#58) blitzes. His next concern is safety John Johnson
III (#43) who walked up late over tight end Trey Burton and threatened to blitz.
His final concern is outside linebacker Dante Fowler Jr. (#56) who is wide of
Chicago¡¯s tight end. Neither Burton, nor tailback Tarik Cohen was helping or
chipping in any way on the play. That¡¯s either by design, or one of those two
missed a check. So that makes it three Rams on one Bear (Massie). Here¡¯s
Massie¡¯s likely thought process. ¡®Littleton is off, so if he comes late I¡¯ll be
able to adjust, but since Johnson is right here I¡¯ll angle my kick step to get
him. (Ball is snapped) Oh, sh*t! He dropped! Littleton isn¡¯t coming either! Now
I need to get to Fowler. Mother @&%#er!¡¯Now watch the play unfold. The Rams
bluffed the blitz perfectly and the Bears were caught. Burton took an inside
release then ran a return route (#43 had him in man coverage). Cohen darted to
the flat (#58 had him in man coverage). Fowler, who was in a wide nine
technique
Tom Waddle
Color Rush Jersey , comes up-field and around Massie¡¯s attempt. Let¡¯s say
that Massie expected help from Burton and Cohen on Johnson and Littleton, and he
was immediately able to focus on Fowler, then maybe he slows him up enough to
give Trubisky time to find a receiver. Then again, maybe he¡¯s still too slow to
cut off Fowler. We¡¯ll never know, so I can¡¯t pin this sack on Massie. I also
can¡¯t pin it on Trubisky because his read progression on this play started to
his right and the rush was on him too quick to work back to his left. I¡¯m also
not going to blame Leno, because he does a very good job staying with his guy.
It was the scramble that freed Franklin-Myers up to get the sack.This was a good
design by the Rams and they just caught the Bears at the right time. This one is
a Sacks Happen. Individual Sackwatch through 13 games:Sacks Happen - 12Mitchell
Trubisky - 5Charles Leno Jr. - 3Kyle Long - 2Bobby Massie - 2Chase Daniel -
2Bryan Witzmann - 1.5Dion Sims - .5Eric Kush - .5Cody Whitehair - .5