1-10-CHI 2 (Q2, 4:14) (Shotgun) J.Clausen pass short left to M.Bennett to CHI 2 for no gain (R.Mathis).
After intercepting Matthew Stafford, the Bears are backed up deep in their own territory. They don’t want to risk a safety, so they get the ball out of Clausen’s hands quickly, having him throw to Bennett in the flat. At first, they ruled that Bennett gained 9 yards, but the play was challenged and overturned, ruling that Bennett was tackled for no gain.
2-10-CHI 2 (Q2, 3:32) J.Clausen pass short middle to M.Forte to CHI 8 for 6 yards (T.Whitehead).
I really don’t understand the decision by the Bears to throw the ball twice in a row from their own 2 yard line with a QB who hasn’t started a game in 3 years, but ultimately I’m trying to dissect Clausen’s play, not the playcalling. They even run play action. This puts Clausen in a really bad spot, with his initial read covered he has to tuck the ball down and step up in the pocket to avoid impending pressure. Fortunately for him, Matt Forte releases and Clausen is able to deliver him the ball when falling down. All-in-all, I think Clausen did a decent job considering the baffling playcall. Taking a safety would have been really bad, and he avoided that while also giving himself some space.
3-4-CHI 8 (Q2, 2:43) (Shotgun) J.Clausen pass incomplete short right to A.Jeffery.
On thrid down, Clausen targets Jeffery on a slant. It’s a tight window and a difficult throw, but Clausen is accurate, and Jeffery gets his hands on it. Clausen should also be commended for making a quick decision, because he’s facing pressure almost instantly as well. Jeffery doesn’t make the catch, but I can’t blame him for that because it’s a difficult catch to make and he takes a big hit instantly. Overall, it’s a good choice and a good throw by Clausen that turned into a difficult catch opportunity that Jeffery did not make. The Bears did get a first down on the play, however, because of an illegal hands to the face penalty.
3-2-CHI 21 (Q2, 2:00) (Shotgun) J.Clausen pass short left to M.Forte to CHI 31 for 10 yards (C.Vaughn).
The Bears are now in a two minute drill and it’s third and short. Clausen holds onto the ball and then checks down to Forte, who takes the pass and gets 10 yards out of it. He should be commended because the play netted a first down, but I don’t think Forte is his best choice. Jeffery is running a dig route over the middle of the field and has a bunch of space when Clausen begins is throw. It would have been a simple throw and would have netted more yardage. Forte isn’t a bad choice, but Jeffery is a better one.
1-10-CHI 31 (Q2, 1:35) (No Huddle, Shotgun) J.Clausen pass incomplete short left to M.Bennett [E.Ansah].
Clausen is facing pressure from his right, and I believe that this throw is just a throwaway. It sails over the heads of both Bennett and Ansah, who is covering him. Smart decision because it’s first down and this stops the clock.
2-10-CHI 31 (Q2, 1:33) (Shotgun) J.Clausen pass short right to J.Morgan pushed ob at CHI 35 for 4 yards (D.Slay).
The Bears are looking to move the ball down the field quickly at this point, and on this play they go with a quick out to Morgan to hope he can turn upfield and get yardage after the catch. Morgan is wide open, so he is a good choice, but Clausen throws the ball a bit later than he should have and Morgan is already against the sideline when he catches it. He has no room to turn upfield and just goes out of bounds after four yards. Clausen needs to get rid of the ball sooner here.
3-6-CHI 35 (Q2, 1:27) (Shotgun) J.Clausen pass short left to A.Jeffery to DET 47 for 18 yards (J.Ihedigbo).
This play is a solid choice by Clausen. Jeffery is open over the middle on a slant. The one complaint I have is that he throws it behind Jeffery so he has to break stride. Still, Jeffery was able to run after the catch and the play gained 18 yards, converting for first down, so I can’t complain too much.
1-10-DET 47 (Q2, 1:06) (No Huddle, Shotgun) J.Clausen pass incomplete deep right to A.Jeffery.
This is the first true downfield throw that Clausen has made all game, and I think it’s a very good one. Really, the reason this play fails is because Slay makes a great play and ends up draped over Jeffery, but it’s a very pretty throw. If Slay isn’t all over him, I think Jeffery would have made this catch. The throw might have been a bit far, and it drifted to the inside a little, but I really like it.
2-10-DET 47 (Q2, :59) (Shotgun) J.Clausen pass short right to M.Forte pushed ob at DET 48 for -1 yards (D.Levy).
The Bears try to run a screen on this play and it doesn not work. Fortunately for them, Forte is able to get out of bounds to stop the clock. Not really much to say about the throw, it’s pretty standard for a screen play.
3-11-DET 48 (Q2, :53) (Shotgun) J.Clausen pass short left to M.Wilson to DET 40 for 8 yards (R.Mathis) [G.Johnson].
To me, this throw shows a lack of awareness of here the first down markers are by Clausen. He’s throwing a comeback to Wilson, and throws to a spot where it’s impossible to get a first down. He doesn’t start his throwing motion until after Wilson makes his break. This is a timing route, and he should throw it as soon as he reaches the top of his drop, and let Wilson catch the ball as soon as he breaks. That would have allowed Clausen to deliver the ball past the first down marker, and would have allowed the Bears to move the chains. Instead, they were left with a 4th and 3.
1-10-DET 11 (Q2, :36) (Shotgun) J.Clausen pass short left to M.Forte for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
The Lions should have gotten the ball back and just run the clock out on the half, but Jeremy Ross muffed the punt, and the Bears recovered at the 10. On their first play, Clausen threw this swing pass to Forte, who was wide open and scored. It’s an easy decision for Clausen, but he had really nice touch on this ball, lofting it over the defender but right into Forte’s lap. Great throw.
2-6-CHI 36 (Q3, 8:04) (Shotgun) J.Clausen pass short right to A.Jeffery to CHI 45 for 9 yards (K.Van Noy).
It’s another screen play, to Jeffery again, and he takes it for a first down.
1-10-CHI 45 (Q3, 7:26) (Shotgun) J.Clausen pass short right to M.Wilson to DET 44 for 11 yards (D.Slay, G.Quin).
Clausen came out firing at the start of the second half. Here he throws a nice pass on a slant route to Wilson for a second consecutive first down.
2-1-DET 35 (Q3, 6:21) (Shotgun) J.Clausen pass short left to A.Jeffery to DET 26 for 9 yards (R.Mathis) [J.Ihedigbo].
Clausen makes another quick decision and hits Jeffery on a curl. I like the way he came out making quick, decisive throws at the start of the second half. He was also dealing with unblocked pressure off of the edge because Forte failed in blitz pickup, so making an accurate throw while about to get hit is a big positive.
2-14-DET 30 (Q3, 4:58) (Shotgun) E.Britton reported in as eligible. J.Clausen sacked at DET 39 for -9 yards (N.Suh).
Matt Forte was just horrendous in blitz pickup in this game. He whiffs on Suh rushing up the middle. Roberto Garza also messed up, letting Suh run right past him at the snap. Clausen tried to escape, but was brought down for a loss. This play isn’t his fault.
3-23-DET 39 (Q3, 4:28) (Shotgun) J.Clausen pass incomplete short right to M.Wilson.
It’s third and forever, and the Bears don’t have much hope of converting. They do have a chance to get into field goal range, and that’s what Clausen goes for. Wilson is running a deep out, and he is open. Clausen makes a great throw, but the Bears receiver drops yet another pass. The Bears should be lining up for a field goal attempt, but instead end up punting.
Leave A Comment