Chicago Bears: Takeaways from preseason opener

The Bears next preseason game will be Thursday, August 18th at New England. They are going to be needing as many playmaking wide receivers as possible to help out whoever wins the starting quarterback job.

The Bears definitely have a ways to go before the regular season starts, and that’s what the preseason is for – to work out the kinks and develop a positive rhythm heading into the season opener. It’s not like the defending Super Bowl champions got better (they got worse) and the Bears have improved at several different positions since a year ago.

No, Thursday night’s game against the Chicago Bears didn’t count. He also contributed on the Bears’ kick coverage teams.

The Bears’ first-team offense produced one first down, on Jay Cutler’s first play of the game, and four punts. It’s the preseason and the Bears offensive line isn’t exactly stellar. Coaches wanted to evaluate him at cornerback against Denver’s No. 1 offense, so they started him and gave established veteran Tracy Porter the night off.

Plenty of those mistakes were made by third-stringers, but there were multiple issues when the starters were in the game.

As a bonus and since the game was so bad for the beloved, enjoy this dog getting more yards in 20 seconds than the Bears had all game. The pass protection was more alarming.

But at Soldier Field on Thursday night, the Denver Broncos tipped their hand.

Seven sacks though, plus some poor snaps from the second-string center Cody Whitehair do not bode well for a unit already seen as a weakness. He was sacked twice.

If the Bears lose Carey or Washington for an extended period of time, it won’t necessarily devastate the roster, but it will chip away at the depth that always proves to be so crucial for an National Football League team’s success in a season. Ray and Barrett blew up plays near the line of scrimmage, with Ray showing his improved awareness and strength at the point of attack against the run.

Floyd didn’t get to the quarterback but on one notable play he beat his man with an inside move and attracted a double team as a result.

Offensive line coach Dave Magazu is always praised for his ability to get the most out of his offensive lines.

The Bears allowed Cody Latimer (pictured) to break two tackles on a 21-yard reception and there were a few other plays where the first defender there missed or didn’t finish.

The time to complain about the release of Matt Slauson is over. However, the rookie fourth-round pick out of Northern Iowa, Deiondre Hall, really put himself on the radar of fans and analysts with a strong debut.

“It says we’re at another level right now”.

Cutler is not panicking after one game but admits the team has some work to do.