Dennis Allen has been a tremendous addition for the Chicago Bears this year. His coaching is probably the only reason the defense hasn’t completely collapsed yet. Injuries have swarmed that side of the roster for months, with multiple starters missing a month or more of action. Despite that, Allen has managed to keep them effective by leading the league in takeaways. It would be so much worse if somebody less competent were in charge. However, even Allen isn’t immune to questionable decisions.
He saved a few of them for the game against the Packers in Green Bay on Sunday. Most of them were of the typical variety. He called the wrong coverages and blitzed when he shouldn’t have. This led to some explosive plays for Green Bay, including a crushing touchdown by Christian Watson. Yet Allen’s most unexpected move might’ve been before the game even began. According to Adam Jahns of CHGO, the Bears’ defensive coordinator had linebacker D’Marco Jackson calling the plays.
Linebacker T.J. Edwards played in his first game since Nov. 2 against the Cincinnati Bengals. He made four tackles in 33 snaps in Green Bay. Amen Ogbongbemiga spelled Edwards and played 12 snaps against the Packers.
D’Marco Jackson, though, played all 53 snaps and kept that green dot on his helmet as the signal caller of Dennis Allen’s defense.
“Wearing that green dot and communication, you just get more comfortable and comfortable the more you do something like that,” Jackson said.
Dennis Allen may have trusted Jackson too much.
One can understand the basic logic. The linebacker had spent two years in the coordinator’s defense in New Orleans. He knew the scheme pretty well. However, there was one problem. He didn’t actually play much during that time. Jackson was a reserve player who only got occasional snaps—going from that to running the entire thing for a full game feels more than a little ambitious. Meanwhile, Dennis Allen had Tremaine Edmunds, a much more proven veteran, back on the field. Or he could’ve shifted to Kevin Byard, another veteran who would’ve had a firmer grasp of what the Packers were doing offensively.
Entrusting Jackson with the calls and adjustments against a quality offensive operation like Green Bay was reckless. Sadly, the Bears paid the price. There isn’t anything they can do about it now, but Allen may want to think about a chance when the rematch takes place next week at Soldier Field. By then, Edwards will hopefully have his legs back under him and can assume the role. One can only hope Jackson can handle the job for another week against Cleveland on Sunday.
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