Film Study: Tarik Cohen proved why it’s important to keep him on field

Thoughts and observations after watching film of the Bears’ 27-24 loss to the Lions in Week 11:

Cohen connections

Running back Tarik Cohen, who was on the field for only 13 snaps in the Bears’ Week 10 loss to the Packers, totaled 68 yards on 13 touches against the Lions. That included eight carries in the first half and a 15-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

The Bears’ use of Cohen had a positive impact on Jordan Howard, which makes their decision to barely play Cohen against the Packers even more egregious. Howard ran for 125 yards and a 12-yard touchdown on 15 carries against the Lions. Cohen was on the field for 31 offensive snaps — the same as Howard. But offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains also used them at the same time, with Cohen on the field for six of Howard’s 15 carries and Howard running for 74 yards on those plays.

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Howard’s 50-yard run doesn’t happen without the Lions fearing Cohen. That came on a draw play in which quarterback Mitch Trubisky faked a quick screen to Cohen in the slot, baiting the Lions’ linebackers out of position. Safety Glover Quin was quickly over the top of Cohen.

“When you turn on the film, you see it,” left guard Josh Sitton said. “I’ve never seen coverage rolled to a running back like that.”

More on Cohen

The Bears’ offensive game plan had looks ranging from read-option keepers for Trubisky to five-wide empty sets out of shotgun.

Howard and Cohen also were used out of the backfield in a pistol formation with Trubisky. Howard, who aligned next to Trubisky, had a four-yard run in the first quarter and a 12-yard run in the fourth quarter out of that formation — his first and last carries of the game. Cohen, who was behind Trubisky, was a decoy. Trubisky faked a swing pass to him on both plays.

Pass-rush problems

Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford was sacked three times, but for the second week in a row, the Bears’ pass rush was underwhelming. That included the first three quarters, when outside linebacker Leonard Floyd was healthy.

Sacks of Stafford by inside linebackers Nick Kwiatkoski and Christian Jones came on designed four-man pressures where an outside linebacker dropped into coverage on the opposite side.

Defensive lineman Mitch Unrein also sacked Stafford, but it was the result of coverage; the Bears rushed only three linemen and dropped eight into coverage.

Three third-down plays stand out.

First, the Bears’ standard four-man rush failed to reach Stafford on a 17-yard throw to receiver T.J. Jones on third-and-15 from the Lions’ 9 in the second quarter. They failed to reach him again on a 17-yard completion to receiver Marvin Jones on third-and-3 from the Lions’ 31 in the fourth quarter.

On third-and-9 from the Bears’ 28 in the fourth quarter, five rushers were sent after Stafford, including linebacker John Timu. But Stafford completed a 16-yard pass to receiver Golden Tate. Four plays later, Matt Prater made a 27-yard field goal to extend the Lions’ lead to 24-17.

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Email: ajahns@suntimes.com