Film Study: Communication errors doom Bears on two-point try

The Bears are 4-6 after falling in another winnable game. This week’s “Film Study” examines the Bears’ failed two-point conversion, Broncos quarterback Brock Osweiler’s performance and a missing screen game.

A mass miscue

The Bears’ failed two-point conversion was a packaged play in which quarterback Jay Cutler had pass-run options. It’s also the same one the Bears ran successfully for two points in their 22-19 win in San Diego.

There are differences, however. The Broncos had one more defender than the Chargers — seven instead of six — at or near the line of scrimmage when Cutler made his audible.

The Broncos also were aligned differently. Left tackle Charles Leno Jr. was uncovered in San Diego, but on Sunday, Broncos linebacker Shaquil Barrett was over him and safety T.J. Ward was left unblocked to Leno’s left.

With Martellus Bennett sticking with his route and Leno facing Barrett, Ward had a free run at running back Jeremy Langford and made the tackle.

But there’s more

It also was obvious that there was a miscommunication across the offensive line. In San Diego, center Matt Slauson, right guard Patrick Omameh and right tackle Kyle Long drove off the ball at the snap.

That didn’t happen against the Broncos with rookie Hroniss Grasu back at center and Slauson at left guard.

“On that play, we just didn’t do a very good job communicating and executing,” Slauson said.

No stoppin’ Brock

The Broncos’ play-action game was a factor. Four of the Broncos’ 10 longest plays featured play fakes, including a screen to tight end Vernon Davis.

But three of quarterback Brock Osweiler’s longest completions came on straight drop-backs. His 48-yard score to star receiver Demaryius Thomas was an example.

Cornerback Tracy Porter said Thomas was wide open after miscommunication between him and Kyle Fuller about their alignments against the Broncos’ bunch set.

Thomas was “lost in the shuffle,” Porter said, then he quickly sidestepped safety Chris Prosinski’s tackle attempt at the Bears’ 25-yard line and scored.

“That one’s on me,” Porter said. “That should have been a play that I should have made.”

Osweiler was sacked five times, but his pocket awareness stood out. He frequently climbed the pocket. The Bears’ best pass rushers complimented him for it afterward

No screen game

A variety of screen plays have been a staple of the offense under coordinator Adam Gase. But they were noticeably missing against the Broncos.

The absence of Alshon Jeffery could have been a reason, but you also must factor in the speed and aggressiveness of the Broncos’ defense.

Two screens stand out. In the second quarter, there was an incompletion to tight end Zach Miller on a third-and-5 from the Broncos’ 19. In the fourth, Langford gained three yards on first-and-goal from the Broncos’ 7 with Miller and Long leading the way. Linebacker Brandon Marshall beat Miller and pushed Langford out of bounds.

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Email: ajahns@suntimes.com