Cubs News: Washington breaks down facing Jared Goff, Lions run game |
CHICAGO—The Chicago defense has faced many challenges this season, but perhaps no greater challenge than playing the Detroit Lions this coming Thanksgiving (11:30 a.m. / CBS).
The Lions have an incredibly talented offense led by quarterback Jared Goff and running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs. “Very prolific. The quarterback, veteran player, has seen everything that you can possibly throw at him. This offense is fueled by (a) very strong and productive rushing attack, two great players who are heading that charge. The offensive line is a veteran group and they’re really adept at blocking the run concepts that they will feature. The receiving core, extremely dynamic, great speed. They have individuals (that) can stretch the field, really good. They (also have) players who will do a good job as possession players underneath to provide reliable targets for the quarterback and the backs are also targeted in the passing game. So, we’re going to have to do a really good job of making sure that we defend the run, attack the line of scrimmage, create negative plays and put this team in third and seven plus situations. That’s our formula. We’re going to continue to work and tweak this formula until we get it the way that we know we’re capable of.” Goff is having an MVP-caliber season. He leads the league in yards per attempt with nine and has thrown 20 touchdown passes. His completion percentage of 72.9 this season is the highest of his career, and the three-time Pro Bowler has only one game with an interception in his past eight games. “He’s getting the ball out of his hand and the passing game is really controlled. They push it down the field some. But, they do a great job of getting the football out of his hand so that he doesn’t have to hold it for an extended period of time … He has a really good idea of what you’re doing. He’s a smart player. He’s seen a lot of defense, a lot of coverage concepts. He understands the leverage of the defenders. That gives him some information,” Washington said. “So, he’s able to manage the game and to work this offense to perfection and also, he’s very selfless. For a guy that’s had a lot of success as a gunslinger, he doesn’t mind utilizing the rushing attack to help.” Perhaps an underrated aspect of the Lions offense is their offensive line. They have one of the best offensive lines in the league with numerous veteran players. They are the ones that set up the rushing game with Montgomery and Gibbs. What does not help Chicago is how their defensive line has struggled, particularly against the run. After being one of the best-rushing defenses in the league last year, the Bears are now the sixth-worst in yards per attempt. “It has to start with our speed. It has to start with our get off. This is a group that works extremely well together not only in the run game, but in protecting the quarterback and so, we have to create momentum against this group as run defenders and as pass rushers. We have to create it. We have to make sure we’re coming off the football. We have to recognize things pre-snap that may give us some information regarding what we’re likely to see. We have to be really connected to the situation,” Washington said. “So, they’ve seen a lot. We have a group that’s played a lot of football together. So, we have to make sure that how we work together really gives us a chance to work against this group and to be successful.” Another concern for the Chicago defense is explosive plays. While Detroit has generated many explosive plays with its run and pass games, the Bears have been allowing more explosive plays in the past few weeks, including a 69-yard completion against the Minnesota Vikings. “The situations that we’ve been in have not been due to lack of attention to detail, focus, effort. All those things are still present. We’ve got to make sure some of the detail things are there and that we don’t overcompensate for trying to make plays and all of a sudden, now we put ourselves off balance. Sometimes that happens,” Washington said. “Guys are so overzealous at trying to be the play through no fault of their own, they end up unintentionally compromising the overall structure and there’s a trickle down effect. We need 11 guys doing what they’re supposed to be doing and when we get that done and we’ve had that, we won’t have any issues with explosive plays.”
