Film Study: Nearly everyone missed tackles for the Bears vs. Pack

Thoughts and observations after watching the film of the Bears’ 30-27 loss to the Packers in Week 15.

Ugly tackling woes

It’s easy to point fingers at young linebackers Nick Kwiatkoski and John Timu for receiver-turned-running back Ty Montgomery’s 162 rushing yards on 16 carries.

As inside linebackers, Kwiatkoski and Timu must be the defense’s best tacklers. But they weren’t alone in their struggles on Sunday.

Every level of the Bears’ defense was responsible for Montgomery’s performance because every level missed tackles and failed.

Montgomery ran roughshod over the Bears for many reasons: bad technique and fundamentals, missed holes/assignments, the failure to set the edge/contain or simply losing the physical matchup with him.

Safety Adrian Amos, nickel back Demontre Hurst, defensive linemen Akiem Hicks and Cornelius Washington, cornerbacks Cre’Von LeBlanc and Tracy Porter, outside linebackers Pernell McPhee, Willie Young and Sam Acho missed tackles.

Montgomery and Christine Michael combined for 20 carries and 207 yards. There were 16 tackles were missed on those 20 carries. The Bears’ own review might reveal even more, considering they know exactly what their calls and assignments were.

But here are the three most egregious breakdowns:

Montgomery’s four-yard touchdown run: Porter failed to set the left edge, losing contain to Montgomery on his cut. Montgomery easily fought through Porter’s grasp.

Montgomery’s 61-yard run: Timu, McPhee and Amos each made contact. Amos badly missed in the open field. If Amos makes the tackle, Montgomery has a 15-yard gain at most.

Montgomery’s 26-yard run: Timu and Hurst missed a potential tackle for loss, while Hicks and Kwiatkoski overran the play, opening a cutback lane for the big gain.

“[Montgomery] definitely classifies as a big back,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. “He is 250 pounds and he is a beast. [He] breaks tackles but has a second gear to get going to get to work on a second level.”

Some good Cook’ing

The Bears had their obvious problems with receiver Jordy Nelson, but tight end Jared Cook was a mismatch problem, too. He was the Packers’ best receiving threat in the first half, making five catches for 77 yards.

All five catches of Cook’s catches went for first downs, including two on third-down plays during the Packers’ game-opening drive.

Cook’s 27-yard catch over Hurst on third-and-2 was the Packers’ first big play, but it came about after Kwiatkoski failed to sack quarterback Aaron Rodgers despite having a free run at him.

Cook’s 21-yard reception late in the second quarter was the result of a blown coverage. Kwiatkoski appeared to pass off Cook’s crossing route to Timu, who stuck with Montgomery coming out of the backfield.

One more question

Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s decision to play quarters coverage that resulted in LeBlanc being one-on-one against the Nelson has been throughly scrutinized.

But Fangio also scaled back his pressure of Rodgers. Only three rushers were sent. Outside linebacker Leonard Floyd, arguably the Bears’ pass rusher, was used as a spy for Rodgers.