Bears have two potential trouble spots the Vikings could attack to get after Caleb Williams without Brian Flores even blitzing
When the Chicago Bears take the field against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, my eyes will be on two offensive line positions to see how they hold up against Brian Flores’ pass rush.
The conversation between this “mental war” or “chess match” between Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson and quarterback Caleb Williams against Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores has focused too much on one area.
That area is the idea that Flores is a blitz-happy freak and you have to prepare for the blitz on every single snap. Flores is very exotic with the way he cooks up his blitz package, but I’m not so sure it’s going to be another 80+ blitz percent game plan this week.
For starters, Ben Johnson will have plays in place to attack the blitz and Caleb Williams’ escapability and speed gives Flores a real threat to be concerned about if he sends extra rushers. To me, I’m not worried about the blitz like a lot of other people are.
The closer we get to Sunday’s game, I’m more worried about what happens when Minnesota doesn’t blitz, and specifically how two spots on Chicago’s offensive line holds up.
Braxton Jones vs. Dallas Turner off the edge
Last week against the Green Bay Packers, Vikings edge rusher Dallas Turner recorded nine pressures and six QB hits according to PFF. Turner was a beast off the edge and showing he’s the consistent threat Minnesota knew he could be. Speed was his defining trait in Week 1. It took Turner 0.72 seconds to cross the line of scrimmage according to NGS.
“Dallas Turner’s breakout is one I’ve been talking about all offseason,” Tyler Forness of A to Z Sports Minnesota told me. “When they selected him 17th overall in the 2024 NFL Drat, the raw appeal was obvious, but he needed time to develop an NFL level body and a full pass rush repertoire. He’s done that and then some. His Week 1 performances with 10 pressures, seven of which were quick per NextGenStats wasn’t a fluke. He’s ready to have a massive year, and perfect for Brian Flores’ defense with his movement skills.”
Turner attacked from both ends of the defensive front in Week 1 but the matchup I’m most interested to watch is how he does against left tackle Braxton Jones. Jones usually struggles more against bull rushes than speed off the edge, so this could be a good matchup for him.
At the same time, Jones allowed two pressures with a 51.9 pass blocking grade in Week 1. The last time he faced Minnesota’s defense in the season opener last year, Jones allowed six pressures and two QB hits, but that was against Jonathan Greenard.
Garrett Bradbury vs. Big Citrus and the interior DL
The other player I’m watching closely for Chicago is Garrett Bradbury. Last week, Bradbury got bullied by rookie defensive tackle Lee Hunter and has always been susceptible to bigger/stronger nose tackles.
Just go back to how he played against Dexter Lawrence during the joint practice against the Cincinnati Bengals. The difference for someone like Lawrence and facing Minnesota’s defense is that Ben Johnson can game plan to help out Bradbury against Lawrence.
That won’t be the case on Sunday when the Bears have multiple threats to plan against while Bradbury goes up against Domonique “Big Citrus” Orange. And Orange is not the only interior defensive lineman Bradbury should be concerned about.
“Big Citrus was solid in his debut, including having a good rep in helping force the stop on the fourth and one quarterback sneak on Jordan Love. He’s got a bright future, but he’s not the nose tackle the Bears should be worried about,” Forness explained. “It’s Levi Drake Rodriguez. The former seventh-round pick and Prospect X has developed into a very good player who can hold up at the point of attack and has a motor that doesn’t quit. He thrives across the LOS, and had a sack against the Packers. He is going to be a force to be reckoned with on Sunday.”
Moral of the story is, Flores might not have to scheme up some high blitz package this week to get after Caleb Williams. Left tackle and center are clear trouble spots for this offensive line he can look to attack while dropping more defenders back in coverage.
If that happens, Jones and Bradbury will have to step up to keep Williams clean in the pocket while he diagnoses the coverage in front of him. If not, it’ll be a long day for Williams.
