Bears grades: Brian Hoyer brings some life to offense, but too little, too late

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article_body => "ARLINGTON, Tex. – Comparisons in football are rarely exact because personnel and other factors are involved. But by any measure, even with its largest yardage (390) and points (17) outputs of the year, the Bears’ offense remained a muddled phase of the game, failing until too late in a lost cause to show meaningful progress Sunday night in a 31-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.<\/p>\nThe offense last year, playing against Green Bay, Arizona and Seattle, averaged 294 yards over than 0-3 stretch, and that was including the 146-yard debacle against the Seahawks behind Jimmy Clauson. Through this year’s 0-3 start, the Bears have topped 300 yards just once, the 390 against the Cowboys, but with only 114 total yards in Sunday’s first half, and 188 of the total came in the fourth quarter after they were down 24-10.<\/p>\n[MORE GRADES: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.csnchicago.com\/chicago-bears\/bears-grades-defense-reaches-low-loss-cowboys\">Defense reaches low in loss to Cowboys<\/a>]<\/strong><\/p>\nEven in defeat the Bears last year averaged 30 rushing attempts behind a far poorer offensive line than the 2016 edition should be based purely on supposed talent. For Sunday’s first half, the Bears attempted six runs vs. 12 pass attempts. For the game the Bears attempted just 12 runs by backs and continue to look like anything but a competent rushing offense.<\/p>\nThe Bears attempted to run more in the third quarter but by that time were behind by more than two touchdowns. The offense failed to convert any of its first six third downs and was unable to stay on the field and shift some pressure from the Bears defense to the Dallas defense when the game was still in question.<\/p>\nQuarterback: B+<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\nBrian Hoyer’s first start as a Bear will not make anyone forget Josh McCown but it may raise some intriguing questions about the position as the year goes on. Hoyer was serviceable, completing eight of 12 passes in the first half and 30 of 49 for 317 yards for the game, fourth-highest yardage total of his career.<\/p>\nHoyer injected some life into the offense, which picked up from a halftime deficit of 24-3 to threaten the Cowboys at least a little in the fourth quarter.<\/p>\n“I thought he was good,” said coach John Fox. “All parts [of the offense] were alive. We pass-protected better. We are still hit and miss with the run game. We’d pop a big run, then we’d lose minus-2.”<\/p>\nRunning back: C-<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\nThe problem is still that whatever the Bears might have in the running game, it isn’t making its way into any coherent, consistent part of the offense.<\/p>\nJordan Howard, who provided some flashes in last Monday’s loss to Philadelphia, got chances earlier this week and ripped off a 36-yard run in his first carry. Howard had a 14-yard carry in the third quarter and built a strong case for himself to take over the role of starter going forward.<\/p>\nHoward finished with nine carries for 45 yards as the Cowboys stacked to take his running lanes away as the first half played out and the Bears fell further behind.<\/p>\n“A young guy learning to figure out our system and play better,” said coach John Fox. “I think he’s done well with it and will continue to improve.”<\/p>\nJeremy Langford continues to start but was ineffective early, with a missed handoff on the first series and a juggled pass on the second. Langford left in the third quarter with an ankle injury but not before getting loose for a 23-yard run, his longest carry of the season.<\/p>\nReceiver: B<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\nAlshon Jeffery and Zach Miller provided what receiving firepower the Bears had, with Miller catching all four balls targeted for him in the first half, eight of nine for the game, including second-half touchdown catches of 2 and 6 yards. Miller finished with 78 yards, with a long-gainer of 26 yards.<\/p>\nJeffery caught five passes for 70 yards but was blanketed with double coverage much of the game. Kevin White had a 32-yard reception but still is not breaking loose, targeted 14 times but only catching six, for a total of 62 yards.<\/p>\nCameron Meredith fumbled away a first-down completion in the third quarter with the Bears starting to generate a little offensive momentum.<\/p>\n[SHOP: <a href=\"http:\/\/shop.nbcsports.com\/NBC_Chicago_Bears\/partnerid\/13747\" target=\"_blank\">Get your Bears gear here<\/a>]<\/strong><\/p>\nOffensive line: C<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\nThe line was difficult to assess because of curious play-calling not facilitating the offense in general establishing any rhythm. The best play of the night appeared to be Kyle Long and Bobby Massie creating a gaping seam on the right side for Jordan Howard’s first run.<\/p>\nBut against an average defensive front, the Bears failed to gain any consistent advantage up front. What the line did do, however, is keep Brian Hoyer from being sacked on 49 dropbacks, with only one hit of Hoyer according to preliminary stats.<\/p>\n“I thought we protected the passer way better tonight,” said coach John Fox.<\/p>\nCoaching: D<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\nThat the Bears’ first play, supposed to be a simple handoff, was botched and left Brian Hoyer running with the ball points to coaching and preparation. Hoyer blamed himself for the play, a run-pass option on which he said he should’ve handed off, but the importance of a solid start in a road game cannot be overemphasized, and the Bears didn’t get that, from any possession of the first half.<\/p>\nThe choice of a dump-off to Jeremy Langford short of the sticks on third-and-3 on the Bears’ second series was mystifying, one of the third-down plays on which receivers were put in position of needing to pick up the yardage with the football with the Dallas defense closing. With two supposed Pro Bowl guards, the Bears worked the edges of the Dallas defense early and got nothing.<\/p>\nThe defense was hampered without its two best players (nose tackle Eddie Goldman, linebacker Danny Trevathan) but the Cowboys did generally whatever they wanted against a reeling defense that allowed 10- and 9-play drives on the first two Dallas possessions. The Cowboys were able to get ultra-quick receiver Cole Beasley in single coverage vs. linebackers (Christian Jones, Jerrell Freeman), and soft coverage allowed Dallas receivers uncontested releases with the Bears then unable to close once the ball was out.<\/p>\nSpecial teams discipline was non-existent, with a false start called on long snapper Patrick Scales prior to a field goal, then a recovered onside kick nullified by a member of the coverage team offsides.<\/p>\n"
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Bears

Presented By Mullin

Bears

ARLINGTON, Tex. – Comparisons in football are rarely exact because personnel and other factors are involved. But by any measure, even with its largest yardage (390) and points (17) outputs of the year, the Bears’ offense remained a muddled phase of the game, failing until too late in a lost cause to show meaningful progress Sunday night in a 31-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

The offense last year, playing against Green Bay, Arizona and Seattle, averaged 294 yards over than 0-3 stretch, and that was including the 146-yard debacle against the Seahawks behind Jimmy Clauson. Through this year’s 0-3 start, the Bears have topped 300 yards just once, the 390 against the Cowboys, but with only 114 total yards in Sunday’s first half, and 188 of the total came in the fourth quarter after they were down 24-10.

[MORE GRADES: Defense reaches low in loss to Cowboys]

Even in defeat the Bears last year averaged 30 rushing attempts behind a far poorer offensive line than the 2016 edition should be based purely on supposed talent. For Sunday’s first half, the Bears attempted six runs vs. 12 pass attempts. For the game the Bears attempted just 12 runs by backs and continue to look like anything but a competent rushing offense.

The Bears attempted to run more in the third quarter but by that time were behind by more than two touchdowns. The offense failed to convert any of its first six third downs and was unable to stay on the field and shift some pressure from the Bears defense to the Dallas defense when the game was still in question.

Quarterback: B+

Brian Hoyer’s first start as a Bear will not make anyone forget Josh McCown but it may raise some intriguing questions about the position as the year goes on. Hoyer was serviceable, completing eight of 12 passes in the first half and 30 of 49 for 317 yards for the game, fourth-highest yardage total of his career.

Hoyer injected some life into the offense, which picked up from a halftime deficit of 24-3 to threaten the Cowboys at least a little in the fourth quarter.

“I thought he was good,” said coach John Fox. “All parts [of the offense] were alive. We pass-protected better. We are still hit and miss with the run game. We’d pop a big run, then we’d lose minus-2.”

Running back: C-

The problem is still that whatever the Bears might have in the running game, it isn’t making its way into any coherent, consistent part of the offense.

Jordan Howard, who provided some flashes in last Monday’s loss to Philadelphia, got chances earlier this week and ripped off a 36-yard run in his first carry. Howard had a 14-yard carry in the third quarter and built a strong case for himself to take over the role of starter going forward.

Howard finished with nine carries for 45 yards as the Cowboys stacked to take his running lanes away as the first half played out and the Bears fell further behind.

“A young guy learning to figure out our system and play better,” said coach John Fox. “I think he’s done well with it and will continue to improve.”

Jeremy Langford continues to start but was ineffective early, with a missed handoff on the first series and a juggled pass on the second. Langford left in the third quarter with an ankle injury but not before getting loose for a 23-yard run, his longest carry of the season.

Receiver: B

Alshon Jeffery and Zach Miller provided what receiving firepower the Bears had, with Miller catching all four balls targeted for him in the first half, eight of nine for the game, including second-half touchdown catches of 2 and 6 yards. Miller finished with 78 yards, with a long-gainer of 26 yards.

Jeffery caught five passes for 70 yards but was blanketed with double coverage much of the game. Kevin White had a 32-yard reception but still is not breaking loose, targeted 14 times but only catching six, for a total of 62 yards.

Cameron Meredith fumbled away a first-down completion in the third quarter with the Bears starting to generate a little offensive momentum.

[SHOP: Get your Bears gear here]

Offensive line: C

The line was difficult to assess because of curious play-calling not facilitating the offense in general establishing any rhythm. The best play of the night appeared to be Kyle Long and Bobby Massie creating a gaping seam on the right side for Jordan Howard’s first run.

But against an average defensive front, the Bears failed to gain any consistent advantage up front. What the line did do, however, is keep Brian Hoyer from being sacked on 49 dropbacks, with only one hit of Hoyer according to preliminary stats.

“I thought we protected the passer way better tonight,” said coach John Fox.

Coaching: D

That the Bears’ first play, supposed to be a simple handoff, was botched and left Brian Hoyer running with the ball points to coaching and preparation. Hoyer blamed himself for the play, a run-pass option on which he said he should’ve handed off, but the importance of a solid start in a road game cannot be overemphasized, and the Bears didn’t get that, from any possession of the first half.

The choice of a dump-off to Jeremy Langford short of the sticks on third-and-3 on the Bears’ second series was mystifying, one of the third-down plays on which receivers were put in position of needing to pick up the yardage with the football with the Dallas defense closing. With two supposed Pro Bowl guards, the Bears worked the edges of the Dallas defense early and got nothing.

The defense was hampered without its two best players (nose tackle Eddie Goldman, linebacker Danny Trevathan) but the Cowboys did generally whatever they wanted against a reeling defense that allowed 10- and 9-play drives on the first two Dallas possessions. The Cowboys were able to get ultra-quick receiver Cole Beasley in single coverage vs. linebackers (Christian Jones, Jerrell Freeman), and soft coverage allowed Dallas receivers uncontested releases with the Bears then unable to close once the ball was out.

Special teams discipline was non-existent, with a false start called on long snapper Patrick Scales prior to a field goal, then a recovered onside kick nullified by a member of the coverage team offsides.