Saying that “the coverage will dictate where the ball goes,” offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains said Thursday the Bears won’t force the ball to star receiver Alshon Jeffery.
Jeffery’s six targets Sunday were half that of the unproven Cam Meredith.
He was single-covered — and open — on the Bears’ final offensive play, though quarterback Brian Hoyer, thinking he’d be doubled, didn’t look in Jeffery’s direction. He threw an incomplete pass toward Meredith instead.
“I think that’s the biggest thing—understanding we’re not going to sit back there, we’re not going to force the ball to Alshon,” Loggains said. “If they’re going to try to double Al and do those other things, then we’ll throw it to other people.”
Jeffery’s 31 targets are tied with Eddie Royal for second-most on the team — amazingly, Kevin White had 35 in three-and-a-half games — and 49th among NFL receivers.
“Alshon’s productive — when it’s one-on-one, the ball’s going to go to him,” Loggains said. “When they double team him, the ball’s going to go somewhere else.”
