Cubs News: Matt Eberflus on his takeaways from victory over Titans

by Ariana Pensy - Correspondent - Mon Sep 09 07:46:09 GMT-05:00 2024

CHICAGO - For the second time in the Matt Eberflus era, the Chicago Bears have won their season opener.

While it was a defense and special teams victory, head coach Matt Eberflus is proud of the way his team operated throughout the game, particularly on special teams with the change in snapper and the coverage teams.

“I thought in the first half, the defense didn’t play the run as well as we’re used to. But I did think in the second half, we made some good adjustments and did a nice job that way. I thought kickoff cover did a nice job, really good job with setting the field. I know that’s a new situation for everybody. I thought the guys did a nice job of using technique, working really hard on that and made some really good tackles and you could see our hustle not only on the special teams on both our cover teams - the punt team and the kickoff - the extra effort (because) there was times where the first guy would miss, but you saw guys that were in pursuit being able to get there and we’re going to get some turnovers on those on those particular groups as well as we go forward. In terms of the offense, I told the guys this many weeks ago. We need to play well around (rookie quarterback) Caleb (Williams) and we got to continue to do that,” Eberflus said.

“So, we’re going to look at everything there in terms of the operation. I thought the operation was good. I know we had one delay. But again, he’s going to keep getting better every single week and as he does that, as a rookie quarterback because I think he’s the first guy to win since 2002 and won, I believe, and that’s because the team around him played better in the second half and we just need to keep doing that as he grows and develops because he is a talent. He’s smart as a whip and knows the offense and we just got to keep playing well around him as he grows and reinvests and improves and he’s going to learn a lot these first three or four games in terms of the NFL looks, the NFL speed and all the things that we have to do.”

Williams did not have the debut he was looking for. He only had 93 passing yards; during his two seasons as the starter for Southern California, the lowest number of passing yards he recorded was 180. So, having such low productivity is a very unfamiliar situation for the Heisman winner.

Despite the numbers, Eberflus is not concerned.

“When you start a rookie quarterback …, he’s going to have ups and downs and good moments and other moments. So, like I said, we have to just play well around him, make sure the operation’s clean, make sure we don’t turn the ball over and give people short fields and free plays and it’s okay to end the series with a kick. So, as long as we end it with a punt, end it with an extra point or a field goal and like I said, Cairo did an awesome job today of doing that and making his kicks. The operation was good. We have a new long snapper, short snapper."

"So, I thought that was really good operation for those guys,” Eberflus said. “He was calm, cool and collected the whole time. Never got frustrated. I always talk to him about the response that you have of just hanging in there because sometimes it can get rough on both sides. It can get rough. You just got to hang in there and you got (to) have that belief - belief in the man next to you, belief in your teammates. It’s not just about one guy and that’s what I saw at halftime and they exhibited that (in) the second half.”

Defensively, the unit proved in the second half they are still a dominant defense. Chicago’s defense had three turnovers in the fourth quarter, including a game-winning pick-six from cornerback Tyrique Stevenson and an interception from cornerback Jaylon Johnson to seal the victory for the Bears.

A player who might not draw as much attention is defensive end Darrell Taylor, who recorded eight tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble in his Chicago Bears debut.

“He is straight energy. He brings it every single day. I love his passion and he fits in right with our guys and it was great. He’s been great in the building,” Eberflus said. “What a great pro, taking advantage of everybody that we utilize in the building because we have a great staff in terms of performance, strength staff, everybody we have in the building. So, he’s been doing great and he fit right in and I had a short meeting with him, told him about us and how we operate and he loved it. So, it’s good that he’s here.”

The Bears will need everyone on their defense at their best next week on Sun. Sept. 15 when they face off against the Houston Texans (7:20 p.m. / NBC) who are loaded with offensive talent between their elite receiver trio in Stefon Diggs, Tank Dell and Nico Collins; star running in Joe Mixon and dynamic quarterback C.J. Stroud.