Joniak's Journal: Bears Smart To Keep Kevin White Off Field
By Jeff Joniak--
(CBS) The Bears (5-8) visit the Vikings (8-5) on Sunday for a noon game. Here are my observations heading into the game.
First impression
Fans would love to see rookie receiver Kevin White on the field in the final three games. It's not going to happen, and I believe that's the smart decision. That decision is both medical and mental. The Bears on Tuesday chose to keep White on the reserve/physically-unable-to-perform list, closing his window to practice or to be activated to play.
We don't know all the medical facts or what the strength level in his left leg is at this point after suffering an offseason stress fracture. Being in shape is one matter, but being strong enough to create the balance in his lower body to withstand the forces of football is an entirely different matter.
Overcoming injuries mentally is also a considerable factor, and while White was hoping to get on the field and reclaim a portion of his rookie season, we don't know exactly where his trust is at in terms of the healing process and his confidence to run, to cut and to catch passes in live action. The Bears now treat White as an "extra" first-round pick in 2016.
Everything about White is positive: his personality, his character, his football character, his professionalism and his skill set. Bears general manager Ryan Pace is even more impressed with White after how he's handled the disappointment of the injury and not having the chance to contribute on Sundays. White's been attacking his rehab like a pro and working in the classroom diligently.
Second thought
Lamarr Houston and Willie Young are making a lot of noise at outside linebacker in the Bears' 3-4 defense. Many analysts wondered how these two players would acclimate to rushing the quarterback out of a two-point stance and occasionally dropping into coverage to deal with running backs, receivers and tight ends.
In addition, both were coming off season-ending injuries that complicated their evaluations. Now they are completely healthy. They're playing with enthusiasm. They're having fun. And it shows.
Houston and Young have combined for 10.5 sacks and in the last half-dozen games, they've really made an impact. In Sunday's loss to the Redskins, they combined for 18 tackles, six tackles for loss and two sacks. Young destroyed three-time Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams, also drawing two holding calls. That's a job well done.
Third degree
A Bears run defense that has given up four or more rushing yards on first down an NFL worst 49.5 percent of the time will be tested again by Vikings running back Adrian Peterson on Sunday in Minnesota. Though he often faces a stacked eight- or nine-man front, Peterson's registers excellent production on first down. The Vikings as a team are 10th in yards per carry on first down, earning 4.57 yards, on the second-most rushing attempts in the league with 221. Peterson's also back up to second in the league in yards after contact with 519 yards according to Stats Inc.
Where the Vikings have had issues offensively this season is inside their foes' 30-yard line and the red zone. They earn just 2.84 yards per carry inside the 30, and quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is ranked 31st in the league with a 60.5 rating when inside the 30. He's been sacked more than any quarterback inside the 30 and is completing only 42 percent of his passes in this range, while throwing six touchdowns. Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, for example, has thrown 13 touchdowns inside the 30 but has a quarterback rating in that regard that ranks 27th in the league.
Fourth & short
These two teams enter Week 15 with a combined 29 takeaways. Carolina leads the NFL with 33.
The Bears are looking for playmakers on defense. In the first 13 games, they've only had 14 takeaways, split evenly between fumbles and interceptions. Overall, they've created only 57 negative plays, which ranks 31st in the league. Chicago coach John Fox said the goal moving forward is to find enough defensive linemen and linebackers to allow for waves of pass rushers getting to the quarterback, where the strip sack creates the bulk of the NFL fumbles and force quarterbacks into poor decisions and bad throws that lead to interceptions.
Jeff Joniak is the play-by-play announcer for the Bears broadcasts on WBBM Newsradio 780. Follow him on Twitter @JeffJoniak.