LAKE FOREST, Ill. — On the third-and-10 from the Giants35 yard line, with 3:11 left in the first period. BearsReceiver Darnell MooneyAt quarterback, the left seam opened down. Justin FieldsHe received good protection from his offensive lines. But it became a 12-yard scramble, and a first-down.
So, what happened? Did Fields really miss Mooney for a potential wide-open touchdown in Sunday’s 20-12 loss?
It is not easy to answer. It’s a four-vertical play, one that’s familiar from last season, when Matt Nagy was coach. Mooney stated that he had this in mind. It was called “special.” In it, if you see Cover 2, which the Giants were in, you split up the seam. Mooney did it.
“That’s how it was last year,” Mooney said. “But we have the same name, the same play.”
Mooney was required to move more toward safety and over the middle under Luke Getsy as offensive coordinator. He didn’t do that.
“And that’s where (Fields) was looking for me at,” Mooney said.
But it’s still more complicated than that. Re-watching the film, it stood out as a miss for the Bears’ passing offense on a day that the protection from the offensive line was shaky and the receivers failed to quickly create separation. If an in play adjustment was made, there was a throw. Let’s take a closer look.
