Chicago Bears Sackwatch 2016: Week 5 vs Indianapolis Colts

First the good news, the Chicago Bears didn’t allow a single sack against the Indianapolis Colts.

Now the bad news...

Do you remember week three against the Dallas Cowboys when the Bears didn’t allow any sacks? Well, the NFL changed one play to a “team sack.” I know, Lame. It was that one play where Brian Hoyer escaped the pressure, only to trip on Bobby Massie’s feet. He fell to the ground and bobbled the ball away for the Cowboys to recover, but since he wasn’t technically tackled (because he didn’t have the ball in his hands) there was no sack allowed stat recorded at that time.

But the NFL had a change of heart and called it a team sack so I put in in the Sacks Happen category.

But even with that sack, the Bears are still looking pretty good in the overall Sackwatch.

Sackwatch after 5 games

2010 - 21 Martz
2011 - 18 Martz
2012 - 14 Tice
2013 - 9 Trestman
2014 - 12 Trestman
2015 - 11 Gase
2016 - 11 Loggains

Eleven sacks allowed so far this year places them tied for 13th and their 32 quarterback hits against places them 7th. Keep in mind some teams have already had their bye, so once the teams all play an equal amount of games, the Bears should drop a little. Chicago has a sacks allowed percentage of 5.6, which is just below the league average of 5.9%. So not bad considering they gave up 8 in the first two weeks of the season.

So with no sacks to look at this week, unless the NFL decides to stick it to me and the Bears again, I’ll take a look at the first sack of Jonathan Bullard’s career.

Third Quarter 6:36 - Jonathan Bullard with the effort sack

When the Chicago Bears drafted Jonathan Bullard in the 3rd round, many draft pundits claimed the Bears were getting a steal. He was outstanding against the run in college, and he has the first step quickness to develop into a consistent and quality pass rusher in the NFL. And speaking of first steps, you did see this back in preseason didn’t you?

He was the first guy to move among the Bears’ d-line on all three of these snap shots and in the GIF below, you’ll see him get off fairly quick as well.

But on to this sack, Bullard (lined up over Indy’s right guard) and outside linebacker Willie Young (in a 3 point stance to Bullard’s left) perform a T-E stunt. Bullard goes into his man talking an outside path, while Young goes forward then comes back behind Bullard to the A-Gap. The Colt right guard (#71 Denzelle Good) should pass Bullard off to the right tackle, then pick up the stunting Young, but he doesn’t recognize the stunt quick enough.

One reason for Good’s late reaction, is how tight Young stays to Bullard on his stunt. Young didn’t loop around, instead, he remained right in Bullard’s hip pocket before scraping back to the inside.

Indy’s right tackle tried to not only pick up Bullard, but once he realized Young was a free rusher, he tried to get back inside and make that block too. Bullard kept working up-field, then once his man left, he was free to clean up the play.

Miscommunications like this is probably why Andrew Luck has been sacked more than any other QB in the NFL.

Bullard had a couple nagging injuries, but hopefully they are all behind him, because the Bears need him to play up to his potential.

Here’s how I have the individual Sackwatch after five weeks.

Jay Cutler - 3
Bobbie Massie - 2
Cody Whitehair - 1.5
Brian Hoyer - 1
Logan Paulsen - 1
Charles Leno - 1
Sacks Happen - 1
Jeremy Langford - .5

What are your thoughts this week?