Film Study: Mike Glennon's mobility, pocket presence worth watching

Film Study: Mike Glennon’s mobility, pocket presence worth watching

By Adam L. Jahns

Bears quarterback Mike Glennon walks off the field Sunday. (AP)

Thoughts and observations after watching the film of the Bears’ 23-17 loss to the Falcons in Week 1:

Mike must win

Quarterback Mike Glennon shouldn’t be complimented for not being the primary reason the Bears lost. If the Bears are going to be in tight games — and they should be all season — he needs to be why they win.

Fans should expect more from Glennon because the Bears do. They paid him handsomely to be their starting quarterback.

That said, Glennon’s ability to create offense will be worth monitoring against the Buccaneers in Week 2. He didn’t do that well enough against the Falcons.

All quarterbacks face pressure, but the Falcons’ four sacks raise questions about Glennon’s mobility, pocket awareness and the speed of his decision-making:

* Linebacker Vic Beasley sacked Glennon on third-and-eight in the first quarter, but Glennon had a wide-open lane ahead of him to scramble.

* Linebacker Brooks Reed sacked Glennon on first-and-10 in the second quarter, but it came on Glennon’s only called rollout of the game.

* Cornerback Brian Poole sacked Glennon on a blitz in the third quarter, but Glennon didn’t identify it beforehand or locate his hot read. (Tight end Zach Miller and running back Tarik Cohen were open.) Remember, Glennon’s experience is one reason he’s playing ahead of Mitch Trubisky.

* Reed’s sack of Glennon that sealed the Falcons’ victory came around right tackle Bobby Massie, but replays showed there was room for Glennon to step up or move to his right. He also had time to make a quick throw.

On the play before Poole’s sack, linebacker De’Vondre Campbell nearly had a sack by reaching around left tackle Charles Leno Jr. The pocket was secure, and Glennon could have stepped up and had time.

One more on Mike

Glennon amassed 163 passing yards in the fourth quarter, but the Falcons played soft coverage and conceded throws underneath on the Bears’ final drive. He completed only one pass in the third quarter, but receiver Kevin White did have a drop.

Tackling problem

Falcons tight end Austin Hooper’s big day was the result of two busted coverages and poor tackling.

Hooper’s 88-yard touchdown stands out, but his 40-yard gain later in the fourth quarter was just as egregious because it came on third-and-10 from the Falcons’ 25. It extended a drive that turned into a field goal, which forced the Bears to score a touchdown in the final minutes.

The Bears blitzed on the play, sending six rushers, including nickel back Bryce Callahan. Hooper chipped outside linebacker Leonard Floyd before running uncovered into the left flat. Hooper then turned his short reception into a big gain by stiff-arming cornerback Kyle Fuller and running though safety Eddie Jackson.

Fuller also failed to tackle running back Tevin Coleman on his 20-yard reception after a short throw over the middle in the third quarter.