What We Saw: Preseason Week 3

Some guys earned a spot on the roster while others will be looking for a new home shortly

Ben Brown
What We Saw 3 Years Ago
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Bears @ Titans

Final Score: Bears 27, Titans 24

Writer: Mike Miklius (@SIRL0INofBEEF on Twitter)

 

The Chicago Bears traveled to Tennessee for their respective final preseason games, and we finally got to see Justin Fields start a game. While the Titans were resting their studs (AJ Brown, Julio Jones, Derrick Henry, Ryan Tannehill), there was still plenty to see in this final tune-up before the regular season. Tennessee took the lead early, dominating time of possession in the first half. The Bears got the last laugh, though, as they pulled out a 27-24 win. Here’s what I saw today.

 

Chicago Bears

| Preseason Week 1 | Preseason Week 2 |

 

Quarterback

 

Justin Fields: 7/10, 54 yards, TD | 2 carries, 13 yards

Nick Foles: 10/13, 142 yards, 2 TD

 

The first series was pretty ugly for Chicago in this one. After a Damien Williams six-yard run to begin, he was stuffed on the next play and the O-line collapsed on third down–allowing the lone sack Justin Fields suffered. Fields was off-target on his first throw of the game, a pass to tight end Scooter Harrington, but then he looked locked in. There was a well-thrown sideline toss to Rodney Adams. Then, Fields hung in against the pressure to deliver a good pass to Riley Ridley. The best throw of the day, though, came right before the half. Fields led the 2-minute drill, and it ended with a big touchdown pass to tight end Jesper Horsted. Horsted was running down the sideline while Fields scrambled out of the pocket. He took a deep shot for his tight end, and put the ball up high–where only Horsted could get it. The result was a beautiful one-handed catch and a 14-10 halftime score.

 

 

Of Fields’ three incompletions, one was a Khalil Herbert drop and another was another near-miss when Rodney Adams only managed to get one foot in bounds. Justin Fields is giving us plenty of reason to be optimistic, and Andy Dalton will be on a short leash this year.

Nick Foles played well in the second half, looking sharp as he played the Titans’ backups. He isn’t going to be a factor for the Bears, but this tape could help him land on a new team. I would expect an injury somewhere to create the necessary market.

 

 

Running Back

 

Damien Williams: 5 carries, 11 yards

Khalil Herbert: 5 carries, 10 yards | 2 targets, 1 reception, 10 yards

Artavis Pierce: 8 carries, 27 yards

Ryan Nall: 1 carry, 2 yards

 

Damien Williams has been the go-to guy behind David Montgomery, and his role looks safe as the backup here. Williams again had a short day, and I imagine this was to make sure he hits week 1 healthy. I didn’t see much from him, and he will be un-exciting if David Montgomery were to miss time. Factor in a bad offensive line, and I’m looking to stay away from Williams this season.

Khalil Herbert, on the other hand, continues to interest me as a young player who flashes on both special teams and as a running back. I first saw Herbert in the game in the second, when he returned a kickoff 20 yards. On the next play, he made a nice spin and shrugged off the next contact for a solid gain. It was called back for holding, so it didn’t wind up in the box score. Herbert also saw two targets, though he made a bad drop on one of them. It looked like he started running before he had the ball, and it’s a shame: he had a lot of room to run if he had pulled it in. Despite the mistake, Herbert still impresses me with his play and I would love to see him supplant Williams at some point.

 

Wide Receiver/Tight End

 

Jesper Horsted: 5 targets, 5 receptions, 104 yards, 3 TD

Dazz Newsome: 2 targets, 1 reception, 19 yards

Jon’Vea Johnson: 3 targets, 3 receptions, 19 yards

Isaiah Coulter: 3 targets, 2 receptions, 17 yards

Rodney Adams: 4 targets, 3 receptions, 15 yards

Riley Ridley: 2 targets, 2 receptions, 12 yards

 

Well, Jesper Horsted was clearly the big winner today for the Bears. The biggest play was the touchdown connection with Justin Fields, so let’s talk a bit more about that one. Horsted ran down the sideline and stopped to look for a pass. Fields was still scrambling free of pressure, so Horsted ran deep and kept looking for a pass. He picked up double coverage, but never gave up as the ball came his way. Horsted turned, got up over the coverage, and pulled the ball in.

 

 

That wasn’t his only play though. He connected with Nick Foles for two more touchdowns–including the game-winner. On that play, he was running across the field when the ball came his way. This time, he only needed one hand as he pulled it down for a 54-yard touchdown.

 

 

 

This was the kind of day every player dreams of, and it should create a spot for Horsted on the final 53-man roster.

Rodney Adams was relatively quiet today, but he still flashed ability and showed. why he deserves his own spot in Chicago. My best play here was actually an incompletion: Justin Fields threw quick to Adams, and he got up to get his hands on it. Though he only landed one foot in bounds, it was still impressive to watch.

 

Tennessee Titans

| Preseason Week 1 | Preseason Week 2 |

 

Quarterback

 

Matt Barkley: 7/15, 126 yards, INT

Logan Woodside: 12/17, 100 yards, TD, INT | 1 carry, 12 yards

 

If this was a battle for the backup role, then we can call it: Logan Woodside. Matt Barkley started the game, but he didn’t show much that impressed me. Worst of all was his interception; Barkley somehow didn’t see a linebacker lying in wait, and his pass was quickly stolen. To make matters worse, the targeted receiver was double-covered and was in no position to make a catch. Barkley still made a couple of nice throws, but it wasn’t enough to convince me of anything.

Logan Woodside started a bit faster than his competition. He came into the game in the first, and he made an excellent throw early: staring down pressure, he hung in and delivered a strike. There was also a 12-yard scramble against an out-of-position defense. Really, the only mistake that jumped out to me wasn’t even Woodside’s fault. He was clobbered from behind when his protection broke down, and the result was an easy pick and score for the Bears’ defense. This looked like an audition, and I think Woodside got the part.

 

Running Back

 

Brian Hill: 14 carries, 63 yards | 3 targets, 2 receptions, 19 yards

Mekhi Sargent: 17 carries, 51 yards, TD | 1 target, 1 reception, 6 yards

Javian Hawkins: 10 carries, 49 yards, TD | 1 target, 1 reception, 7 yards

 

With Derrick Henry being a lock for basically all running back work, this was a battle for a backup role. Darrynton Evans is still sidelined with injury, so there was something to play for here. Mekhi Sargent and Javian Hawkins both impressed me, flashing at different points in the game. My loser in this competition was Brian Hill, who failed to show me anything special. I would guess Sargent and Hawkins battle it out for cleanup duties, but I don’t expect either to be any real factor this year.

 

 

 

Wide Receiver/Tight End

 

Khair Blansigame: 2 targets, 2 receptions, 56 yards

Cameron Batson: 4 targets, 4 receptions, 45 yards, TD

Dez Fitzpatrick: 2 targets, 1 reception, 28 yards

Mason Kinsey: 6 targets, 4 receptions, 24 yards

 

Cameron Batson was a big winner in the Titans receiver core, making some nice plays and possibly locking himself up a spot on the 53-man roster. Batson’s top play was a short gain where he showed off his route-running ability. He made a quick cut to the right and then another to the left to create space against coverage. The result was a diving catch. Batson also caught a touchdown from Logan Woodside.

 

 

— Mike Miklius (@SIRL0INofBEEF on Twitter)

Series Navigation
Introduction
Colts @ Lions
Eagles @ Jets
Steelers @ Panthers
Vikings @ Chiefs
Packers @ Bills
Ravens @ Washington
Bears @ Titans
Cardinals @ Saints
Buccaneers @ Texans
Rams @ Broncos
Chargers @ Seahawks
Jaguars @ Cowboys
Raiders @ 49ers
Dolphins @ Bengals
Patriots @ Giants
Browns @ Falcons

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