The offense is determined to sprint out of the starting gates in Sunday's home game against the Browns.
The Bears opened last weekend's contest in Green Bay by punting on their first three possessions and mustered only 71 yards in the first half while falling behind 14-3. It was only the second time this season they were held scoreless in the first period.
"Across the board on offense, you want to try to get going," said offensive coordinator Declan Doyle. "Whether that is us establishing pad level and get-off with cadence, or it's the quarterback finding completions early, pass catchers being able to get the ball in their hands and kind of get that feel, you really want to try to get your guys in rhythm early. That's why every team in the league puts these 'openers' together to get off on the right foot; you know what you're anticipating going into the game.
"It's important for us to start fast. In the previous game, we didn't, and it was a big reason why we ended up chasing there at the end. It's something that we're really focused on moving forward."
The Bears hope to start against the Browns the way they began the second half versus the Packers, when they scored on their first three possessions to tie the game 21-21.
"It's really just the preparation going in, making sure that we really have no stone unturned, and then everybody feels really good about whatever those plays that we call early, we go out and execute and get going," Doyle said. "We've talked about getting the first first down quite frequently in our locker room and with our offense. That's kind of the way you live. You've got to be really comfortable going into the game and feeling good about the plan."
Preparing for Garrett
Doyle acknowledged that it's a "very unique challenge" to simulate facing Browns star defensive end Myles Garrett in practice.
The 6-4, 272-pounder is a game-wrecker who leads the NFL with 20.0 sacks—7.0 more than anyone else in the league. Garrett also excels against the run.
"There are not a lot of guys like him," Doyle said. "You're trying to simulate it as best you can on scout teams … [but] those guys don't grow on trees. He's a guy that we're very aware of. You study a lot of tape during the week and just having a plan to handle him. The main thing is we maintain focus on that player throughout the game; we know where he is and have a plan for how to handle him."
Garrett likely will be frequently matched up against left tackle Ozzy Trapilo, a rookie second-round pick who has already faced some of the NFL's best pass rushers in the Raiders' Maxx Crosby, the Steelers' T.J. Watt and the Packers' Micah Parsons.
"He's a rookie, so he's watched these guys from afar for a long time," Doyle said. "The first thing is going in and feeling like you belong in the game, and he has performed well enough that he can feel confident going into the game. At the same point in time, [it's] understanding how to prep during the week; what he needs to be watching, his set pattern, what his plan is on third down and equally how he's going to handle the stuff on base downs. It's no different than a quarterback going through a game-plan process and understanding how he prepares during the week."
Ball hawks
It doesn't matter to defensive coordinator Dennis Allen that the Bears are facing a rookie quarterback in Shedeur Sanders; they will try to generate takeaways with the same fervor they do in every game.
"We're always looking for opportunities to take the ball away regardless of who's playing," Allen said. "We're looking for where those opportunities might present themselves. Let the game play out. Just like always, though, it really goes to studying the game plan, knowing what our assignments are and making sure we put ourselves in the right positions. And then when the picture becomes clear in terms of where those opportunities are, we have to take advantage of the opportunities we have."
No team has been more proficient at creating takeaways this season than the Bears, who lead the NFL with 27. Safety Kevin Byard III tops the league with six interceptions and cornerback Nahshon Wright leads the NFL with eight takeaways and three fumble recoveries and is tied for second with five interceptions.
Sanders has committed three turnovers in four starts, all on interceptions.
Injury update
There were no changes on the Bears injury report Thursday. For the second straight day, nickel back Kyler Gordon (groin) and running back Travis Homer (ankle) did not practice, while receivers Rome Odunze (foot) and Olamide Zaccheaus (hamstring) and cornerback Tyrique Stevenson (hip) were limited.
