Kap & J. Hood
11/25 8 AM: Matt Eberflus
He was really good. I mean, there was a lot of good situations that we had. Breaking down the bears and the latest updates. All season. You know, there's some really good players on both sides. Can that person function with that match? You're listening to the Captain Jay good morning show on ESPN 1000 and also on YouTube, YouTube.com, ESPN Chicago. As we talk to the coach of the Chicago Bears, Manny Replus, and he's he's on the hotline. Car X, Tiger and Auto Hotline. Rattle, rattle, thunder, batter, boom, boom, boom. Don't worry, call the car X name. Good morning, coach. How are you? Good morning. Coach, after reviewing the film, what did you think of the team's performance? Yeah, so after watching the tape, I'm very, I was very pleased with the effort a team played with yesterday and also you could certainly feel the belief in the guys in the sideline at the end and that showed in the game review today. You know, we continue to do some really good things. You know, and grow as a football team, we just finish these games off and that's just, you know, the whole football team offense defensive kicking. You know, I thought the players and the coaching staff was extremely hard and are staying connected all through last week and we have to do that again this week on a short week. And then, you know, it's important that we balance the rest and preparation as we go into this Thursday game, you know, because, you know, being rested and being ready to go mentally, physically, you know, and everything and being ready in terms of preparation. It's going to be really big in terms of the success we have. You know, and then the last thing I would say is that the stand, stand firm and a belief in all of us as we look forward to playing this game here coming up in this short week and an injury update for you guys is really just Ryan Bates is the only thing we have. Right now, we came out healthy. This is a short week for us. So today we're working right now. The guys coming a little bit later. We'll have a walk through here on Monday, first and second down and then Tuesday. We'll work our first, second, third down, working into some two minute stuff at the end and then Wednesday, we'll work into our red zone day and then we'll travel over there and then play the game at 1230 on Thursday. Coach, could you take us through why the defense looks like it is having its share of struggles and the coverages look like guys are running with unfettered access in the middle of the field. This is your area of expertise. And when you put the tape on, what are you seeing that, oh my God, TJ Hopkinson or this guy or that guy. What does the tape tell you? Yeah, I was, you know, some of those bigger type boys, you know, we had guys in, you know, in the area, we just got to do a good job of finishing at the top of the route and breaking up the ball in terms of the one pass earlier in the game. You know, and we just got to do a really good job being out of details as coaches and players. What aspect of the defense concerns you most yesterday, 468 all-purpose yards. What happened, I talked about it, like the guys have to be, you know, having gap discipline and just being the defense we saw earlier in the season. So what aspect concerns you most? Yeah, really the biggest thing for me is 11-1, you know, so all of us working together and, you know, one of 11 do their job and we got to keep doing that and being out of the details. And again, that's rush, it's coverage, it's gap discipline with our run fits. And again, that's what the details are. And again, that's coaching, putting the guys in position to be successful. And then it's the execution piece of it. Coach, hoodie and I were talking about the blocked field goal for the second straight week. And then a couple of the Vikings players came out and said we saw on tape, there was an issue on the left side, but we assumed that would get cleaned up. And when it didn't, we went into the same exact area where the Packers were able to get the block. And then I believe you guys made an adjustment, moved Darnell right over to the left side. Is this a Cairo issue that he kicks the ball too low? Is this guys not getting the job done up front? Is it a coaching thing? What is it? Well, it comes down to a couple of things. You got to be firmer in there at number one. You can't allow penetration. I think that's always a big part of it. And we did a really good job of that after that. And we're going to continue to do a good job of that. And it's always about ball swing. You want to get the ball as high as possible. And Cairo didn't make a job of that at the end for sure. Well, you know, Cap, you and I talked about this whole thing, that you don't want it to be a trend or a tendency where people can be able to use that as a bullseye or a scarlet letter like, "Hey, you know, he's going to kick the ball low, so just be ready." I just think that it's all encompassing, right? I think it's, to me, it's blocking, but also the low kicking of Cairo. So, but you don't want that to be a trend, obviously, right? Is there something coach that can get addressed from a Cairo perspective where he tries to get more elevation or at his stage of his career? This is what it is that we want any distance. Yeah, I would just say, like you said, I think it's all encompassing, but I do believe, you know, if you look at that field goal to tie the game, which I love how Cairo came back. You know, end up having that onside kick, which was a great kick. I'll end up hitting those guys. And then also the field goal to tie at the end was really good operation. And, you know, that's the consistency we're looking for right there. And, again, he did a really good job of those two instances. Matt even loses the head coach for the Chicago Bears. He's with us here on the home of the Bears. ESPN 1000 on the cap and Jhood Morning Show. Coach, how can the communication be better from you and your staff on the sidelines? We're 11 games in and it's something that you shouldn't have to address all the time. But again, in a big spot, you don't know if you're going for a field goal or if you're going back out there to go for a fun fourth down. How could that be better? Yeah, we've been really good at that. You know, obviously our four thousands have been really good. We've communicated well on those. And again, I told you guys yesterday I did to be better in that moment. You know, that particular instance and I just got to do a Bears opportunity to the field role team in the offense. And that's really what it is. Again, we've been great at that all year. We've converted a bunch of fourth downs at critical moments and we'll continue to do that. Tell me if this statement is correct, Cap, because we discussed how as coaches, you want to be able to be two or three plays ahead in your head. Correct. Is that how that works for you, Coach, in which you see the play in front of you, but you know that there's a tendency that can go one way or the other. How far along are players in your head to say, hey, you know, if it doesn't go this way, we have to go in this direction? Yeah, that varies. I think it varies because situations change. You know, you can put like, hey, you're one, two or three plays ahead. You know, you'd like to be as far ahead as you can. But sometimes it changes based on what happens on the previous play. So it's important that you communicate well and, you know, during the course of the game. And I feel we've done that very well during the course of the year. Like I said, I need to do a better job with that one instance. Coach, I got to ask you about the challenge and then Mike Pereira comes on the TV screen. You're coaching. You can't see this. And he says, yeah, you can't use the boundary cam on a coach's challenge, but you can if it's a change of possession turnover or a scoring review because not every stadium has a boundary cam. A, were you aware of that? Because I certainly wasn't. And B, would that have played into your decision to challenge because we haven't been able to be successful on a challenge this year? Yeah, you know, certainly we look at a couple of things when we challenge. And again, I am aware of that in terms of the boundary camera. But I do believe that, you know, there's other cameras that we could use. And the reason I use that was because it's either because of points. It's either because of the ball or it's because of the instance yesterday. It was the explosive play. I mean, that was a huge explosive play of 69 yards. And I wanted to make sure that they were taking a look at it. The league's done a very good job of replay assist during the course of this year, more and more. And that's going to continue to grow the replay assist. But again, I knew I had to throw the flag there because that was an explosive play and a big play in the game. Coach, we know. Go ahead. Actually, but the way the defense, you know, loads up through the occasion there, did a nice job of stopping those guys and having them kick it. Coach, we know the success of the Lions this season, and that's an ex opponent on Thanksgiving. What stands out most about the Lions that concern you? Yeah, I would say the ability to run the ball and stop the run. They do a really good job with that. It starts right there. They're really good at both those on defense. The defense for them, you know, they haven't been scored upon in 12 quarters. They really use the run game well in terms of offense. And, you know, they're explosive on offense or, you know, they're obviously topping a lot of categories. And, you know, so they can really lean on one way or the other in terms of leaning on the run or leaning on the pass and they've done that through the course of the year. And they're hot team right now, right? So we're going to have a big challenge ahead of us. And our guys are excited about that challenge and we're excited about going into that environment and, you know, putting our best foot forward. Coach Caleb had an excellent day. I thought Jacksonville was maybe his best game of the season. And yesterday, the exception of a bad sack in overtime, he was incredible. 340 yards passing sets the Bears rookie yardage record and passing. The throw to the Andre Swift was just, I mean, I was just left shaking my head going. I can't believe we've got that guy. Why? First talk about him, but then why is the offense in two weeks under Thomas Brown looks so different? Yeah, you know, he really did a nice job of preparing during the course of this week. And, you know, really understanding the mindset, you know, in terms of the game plan, you know, in terms of like, you know, it's going to be a pressure team. They're going to give you various looks, you know, you have to be quick with the ball, you know, get the ball out when it's there. And if it's not a pressure, then you can go through your progressions. And he did a really nice job of that all week and then obviously during the game. And then the off schedule throws were, like you said, with the one to Swift was pretty amazing. And then some of those four down, you know, makes that he made, you know, in terms of throwing their own there, he scrambled for one. So, just a lot of good things in terms of what he's done, in terms of his preparation, in terms of his communication, in terms of, you know, being on the same page with the receivers. And I think that's a big part of his work he's putting in, you know, in terms of this during the course of the week, you know, and then setting ourselves up for success. And, you know, the big part of that is the offensive staff. Coach would often been a really good job of that, of working together with Thomas, you know, leading that charge. And the guys continue to do that and again, we're going to need this week too. Coach, with Thanksgiving coming on Thursday, what are you most thankful for? You know, most thankful for really the health of my family, the health of myself, you know, being able to bless to get up every single day, you know, and to lead this football team. And that's what I'm most thankful for. Coach, have a great Thanksgiving and good luck to be a yeoman challenge on Thursday. Yep, alright, thanks Gary. Thanks.
Chicago Bears Head Coach Matt Eberflus joined Kap & J Hood with the latest updates on the Bears, the 30-27 heartbreaking OT loss to the Vikings and their upcoming Thanksgiving matchup against the Lions.