Courtney Cronin
LAKE FOREST, In poor health. — A litany of particular groups points turned a sore spot for the Chicago Bears throughout their 47-42 win over Cincinnati in Week 9.
From permitting a 98-yard landing return on the opening kickoff to poor execution on a fourth-quarter onside kick that allowed the Bengals to attain two touchdowns in a 49-second stretch, Bears particular groups coordinator Richard Hightower shouldered the blame for his unit's play.
“No one in that room needs to get it corrected greater than the gamers, alright?” Hightower stated. “And we're going to work night time and day to get all of it cleaned up. I can promise you that. I'll bust my ass and they're going to too, alright, to get it cleaned up.”
Within the first half, Bears kicker Cairo Santos had a area aim blocked and missed a 47-yard try, the latter of which was negated by a penalty on Cincinnati that allowed Chicago's offense to come back again on the sector and rating a landing three performs later.
Chicago additionally noticed Devin Duvernay's 52-yard kickoff within the second quarter wiped away after Bears huge receiver Jahdae Walker was flagged for offensive holding.
Coach Ben Johnson identified a number of downside areas with Chicago's kick protection and stated the Bears performed “too passive” at factors all through the Bengals sport.
“It is lane integrity,” Johnson stated. “We now have to do a greater job shedding blocks, rallying to the soccer. We had been too passive at instances. There are a variety of issues we are able to clear up there and it is not simply anybody explicit participant, it is all people. It is all of the coaches. It is all of the gamers. We now have to get this factor mounted.”
Chicago's particular groups items performed a big function in serving to the Bears win back-to-back video games earlier this season. Cornerback Josh Blackwell blocked a area aim as time expired in Las Vegas to assist the Bears beat the Raiders 25-24 and kicker Jake Moody booted a 38-yard sport profitable area aim in Washington in Week 6 hours after he was elevated to the game-day roster whereas Santos handled a thigh harm.
Hightower didn't mince phrases when describing how his items performed in Cincinnati and the variety of alternatives they missed.
“I believe for certain it was a nasty sport,” Hightower stated. “I believe everybody can see that. However it's my unit, I at all times take duty for it. So, I've at all times carried out that and I'm at all times going to try this.”
