No Time to Nap in Naptown

Matt Eberflus ruined the narrative.

They can't talk about Justin Fields' play this week because Eberflus isn't using him against the Indianapolis Colts Saturday in preseason game No. 2.

There's always the fallback, Eberflus' connection as the former Colts assistant who even still owns a house in the area.

Whoops.

"I sold it too weeks ago," Eberflus said.

There's no doubt Eberflus' announcement about resting Justin Fields changes the way to watch Saturday night's second Bears preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts.

The first priority atop everyone's list is always how Fields works in the passing game, and especially with receiver DJ Moore. "Selected" starters will miss the game, as well, and it's a good bet Moore, Darnell Mooney, Khalil Herbert and maybe even Cole Kmet would be among them, although they may want to keep Kmet around early in the game for blocking.

What Eberflus' announcement does is put the bottom of the roster on top for this week.

The Bears are using this game the way teams prior to three-game preseason did the fourth preseason game. They're going to get a good look at the players down at the bottom of the roster now and make decisions on the last roster spots.

The third preseason game's purpose is yet to come. It could be only confirmation of what they see from the backups this week, or it could present an opportunity for a quick look for a few series at the starters before the regular-season opener.

So those being the new parameters, here's a revised look at what to watch for from the Bears in their second preseason game.

P.J. Walker's Consistency

The backup quarterback is important. They need to be confident they can turn to him and last week's effort inspired only fear. His performance wasn't good, but the passer rating of 16 was more the result of one throw for an interception than representative of a terrible effort. The past week of practice has been one of ups and downs for Walker, as most practices are. Better decision-making and basic fundamental passing mechanics need to be seen from Walker, who will likely get the start.

It’s all love, @Colts 🫶 pic.twitter.com/roY8q8u8kj
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) August 18, 2023

Backups' Run-Blocking

If anything looked disappointing with the Bears offense in Week 1 beyond Walker and Velus Jones Jr. fielding punts, it was the blocking by their second-team line in the running game. They've had to shift around their line because backup center Lucas Patrick was injured, but now both starter Cody Whitehair and Patrick are hurt and Doug Kramer should get the start. He might play most of the game. It's good for him because he went out last year in mid-August with a foot injury and sat out the entire season. The only other lineman with extensive center experience is Dieter Eiselen, so if someone other than those two plays it will be a surprise. Roschon Johnson's 24-yard run behind backups, Khalil Herbert's 11-yard run behind mostly starters and a kneel-down for a 2-yard loss by Tyson Bagent aside, the Bears averaged only 2.6 yards a carry. The line they do use needs to have a better push. This likely will be from the line of Aviante Collins, Alex Leatherwood, Kramer, Ja'Tyre Carter and Larry Borom.

Sub Cornerback Competition

Kindle Vildor, Jaylon Jones, Terell Smith, Greg Stroman Jr. and Michael Ojemudia are competing for what might be two backup cornerback positions. You could toss Josh Blackwell into that list but his position seems secured because he's the only viable slot cornerback backup on the roster to Kyler Gordon. Smith is just back from injury and has to be a strong favorite for one of those backup spots as their fifth-round draft pick. So, essentially, making plays on passes and special teams will be big for the others as they fight for what could be one roster spot.

Roschon Johnson Versatility

It would seem unlikely Trestan Ebner will play but it can't be ruled out. If he is, then Roschon Johnson will get a huge load of the offense after he had 12 carries last week. More important than the carries will be how he does as a receiver and pass blocking. They know he can run. His 24-yarder last week was a thing of beauty and ferocity. Johnson had only 2 yards on three catches last week. Better route running and picking up blitzes or chip-blocking are important in the passing game.

Backup Run Stoppers

Last week the Bears unleashed their second-team pass rush and it helped them come up with the eight sacks. However, the backups who recorded most of the sacks did not face much of a Titans running game. The Titans ran only seven times in the second half when young defensive linemen Gervon Dexter Jr., Zacch Pickens, Travis Bell and Terrell Lewis played. If backup defensive linemen are playing from the outset, as Eberflus suggested, we'll find out more about their ability to get into a gap and get upfield to stop running plays than during the seven runs last week showed.

Any Return Men Present?

The Bears are dipping down deep into the return man bin now because Velus Jones Jr. has an injury and won't play, and Tyler Scott missed Thursday's practice so he must be considered someone who could miss this week's game. So they'll need to come up with a kick returner and punt returner if even for only this week. Joe Reed was doing it in Thursday's practice. Anyone with a good chance of making the team needs to step forth. Most likely, they'll look at Dante Pettis if he's deemed fit to play. He had been out for the first two weeks on the non-football injury list and then needed time to ramp up but could now be available. Tyrique Stevenson? Considering how good Stevenson looks as a cornerback now, giving him a risky chore like punt return seems like an invitation to disaster.

A Tight End Among them

The Bears know what to expect from Kmet, Robert Tonyan Jr. and veteran Marcedes Lewis. If they need a fourth tight end on the roster or for the practice squad, Jared Pinkney, Stephen Carlson and Lachlan Pitts are battling and someone needs to stand out among them.

Overall Efficiency

Eberflus himself provided this description of what they really need to see this week above all else.

Everyone needs to be sharper.

"I see it on both sides right now, I see it in the kicking game, I see it all over," Eberflus said. "I just think it's really everybody when I'm looking at it.

"It needs to be tighter, it needs to be more efficient, the detail needs to be there. Precision and detail matters because then you know what to do, know how to do it and play with speed. That's how you win a down, that's how you win football games. Until you get that, then you're not in the spot where you need to be."

Twitter: BearDigest@BearsOnMaven

Add us as a preferred source on Google