Gervon Dexter making a push to be the Bears’ ‘engine’ with the current performances that liberate….
The Bears have been searching for a 3-technique defensive tackle that can drive Matt Eberflus’ defense, like DeForest Buckner did with the Colts. With two sacks in the first two games, Dexter is showing signs his offseason “transformation” is paying dividends.
When Bears coach Matt Eberflus was asked if he’s going to miss DeForest Buckner on Sunday, he was either playing coy or wouldn’t say.
“DeForest is a wonderful, wonderful human being,” Eberflus said. “Great family man. And a really good player. He’s been All-Pro. He’s been Pro Bowl — all those things. He’s a dynamic player, so I wish him the best. Hopefully he heals up fast.”
Truth be told, that Buckner is not playing against the Bears on Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium after being put on injured reserve with a high ankle sprain is a big break for the Bears. Nobody knows just how big more than Eberflus.
The Bears (1-1) will visit the Indianapolis Colts (0-2) Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium. Here are three things that should increase their chances of winning:
A productive ground game no doubt will help the Bears sustain drives, create manageable third-down situations and slow down the Colts pass rush.
“It always starts with running the football,” said tight end Cole Kmet. “I think every offense, the No. 1 goal is to run the football effectively. It always starts there. From there you can open up some things in the pass game as well.”
The Bears entered Week 3 ranked 28th in the NFL in rushing yards, averaging 77.5 yards per game. In last Sunday night’s 19-13 loss to the Texans, Bears running backs combined to gain 27 yards on 17 carries.
After focusing on fundamentals in practice this week, offensive coordinator Shane Waldron is confident that the Bears will improve on the ground.
“The run game is something every single week that we want to be able to lean on,” Waldron said. “So we’ve got to be able to get that going. Through great fundamental work, the practice preparation, I feel like we are heading in the right direction.”
The Bears will face a Colts defense that ranks last in the league against the run, averaging 237 yards per game. The 474 yards that Indianapolis permitted on the ground in losses to the Texans and Packers are the most by any NFL team over the first two games of a season since 1978.
Shoring up their run defense no doubt has been a top priority for the Colts this week.
“I know they’re going to try and make that a key for them,” said quarterback Caleb Williams, “to make sure they stop the run because, just like anybody, you stop the run, you kind of make the team one-dimensional.”
The Colts will attempt to do that without defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, a three-time Pro Bowler who was placed on injured reserve this week with an ankle injury.
