Bears News: Washington on containing Josh Jacobs, Jayden Reed |
CHICAGO - It took until week 11, but the Chicago Bears are finally starting division play this Sunday when they take on the Green Bay Packers (Noon / FOX). The Bears and Packers are in two very different scenarios.
While Chicago has failed to score a touchdown in the past two games and has fired its offensive coordinator, Green Bay has a solid offense but is coming off a loss to the Detroit Lions on Sunday, Nov. 3. “A great opportunity for us. Our first division game was against a really good offense, really good opponent, and rivalry team. We’re looking forward to the challenge,” defensive coordinator Eric Washington said. “This offense has done a really, really good job of being efficient on early downs. They have, I think, the least amount of third-and-seven plus scenarios in the league, and so, that speaks to what they’ve been able to do on first down as it pertains to the run, the play action passing game, and the ability to protect the quarterback and stay out of negative plays.” One thing Green Bay has done well this season the Bears have not is consistently run the football. Running back Josh Jacobs has over 75 scrimmage yards in every game this season except for their week three win against the Tennessee Titans. Given Chicago’s struggles against the run game this season, Jacobs could cause problems for the Bears. “This offense starts with Jacobs. Downhill, very very tough, physical runner. He looks quicker and faster this year as opposed to last year, looks a lot more dynamic, breaks a lot of tackles. They do a nice job of opening holes for him and his ability to be downhill really sets up (the) play action attack with (quarterback) Jordan Love and so, quick passing game, all those types of things,” Washington said. “Very shifty. The burst is there, the confidence is there and so, I think the last couple years, he was finding his way back, finding his footing. But now, we’re seeing the All-Pro, Pro Bowl caliber player that we’ve seen from him previously. The confidence is there. He’s very quick, hitting the holes downfield, physical. He’s not looking to avoid anyone.” Love provides some opportunities for Chicago’s defense. He has a tendency to put the ball in danger. Currently, he is leading the NFL in interceptions with 10. The Bears defense is tied for No. 11 in the league in interceptions, but they will have to step up their game in this contest. This is especially true given Chicago’s struggles against running quarterbacks. “He also had that element of having to account for him as a rusher and so, that’s tough to defend when the second rusher is a quarterback and all of a sudden now, that becomes an assignment issue or an assignment circumstance for our defense,” Washington said. “So, he’s got a well-rounded ability to continue to move that offensive philosophy and he’s only going to get better.” Chicago’s defense will have to take charge in this game. The offense is undergoing some renovations with a new offensive coordinator in Thomas Brown. Green Bay does not have the same problem. Their quarterback has a clear chemistry with his receivers, particularly Jayden Reed, who leads the team in receiving yards with 620; he also has 110 rushing yards as the Packers have proven success with their wide receiver screens. “Just an unbelievable target, a really good target. A really good catch radius and the one thing about all of these skill players is their tenacity and ability to block at the point of attack and away from the point of attack and so, (Reed’s) no different,” Washington said. “We just have to do a really good job of getting off blocks and just making sure that we control their passing attack.”
