Pernell McPhee Lone Bright Spot for Chicago Bears in Week 3 Loss to Seattle
Published by Matt Eurich on September 27, 2015
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears showed signs of life on defense in the first half against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday afternoon, but the Bears dropped to 0-3 on the season after losing 26-0.
While the Bears did not do a whole lot of good things on either side of the football in Week 3, outside linebacker Pernell McPhee was the team’s lone bright spot against the Seahawks.
McPhee was a terror at times for Baltimore during his four years with the Ravens, but he was used primarily as a situational pass-rusher. He hit free agency this offseason, and the Bears signed the young outside linebacker to a five-year, $38.75 million contract in March.
At McPhee‘s introductory press conference, general manager Ryan Pace raved about the young pass-rusher’s potential and how he fit in the team’s new 3-4 defense.
“This is a player we targeted right from the onset,” Pace said. “He is a highly productive, disruptive and versatile defender. This guy not only brings the top physical talent but also the right mentality and makeup to improve our football team.”
McPhee lined up as the starter on the left side at outside linebacker in the regular-season opener against the Green Bay Packers, and he recorded six total tackles. He did not record a sack but did finish the game with three quarterback hurries.
The former Mississippi State standout rushed primarily off the left side against the Packers in Week 1, but he moved around a lot more in Week 2 against the Arizona Cardinals.
McPhee finished Chicago’s Week 2 loss to Arizona with three tackles, three quarterback hits and four quarterback hurries. He rushed from the outside and inside in Week 2 but came up short on a couple of chances to bring down Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer.
After failing to record a sack in the first two games of the year, McPhee notched two against Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson on Sunday afternoon. In total, McPhee finished the game with seven tackles, two sacks, two tackles for loss and four quarterback hits.
At times, the young pass-rusher looked nearly unstoppable off the edge, per 670 The Score radio host Laurence Holmes:
McPhee‘s first sack of the game came in the third quarter. The Seahawks used tight end Jimmy Graham on the outside as a blocker, but McPhee was able to dip his shoulder to the outside before easily getting past Graham for his first sack of the season.
On the very next play, McPhee lined up opposite right tackle Garry Gilliam. The young pass-rusher worked a bit too far up the field, which allowed Wilson to step up in the pocket. Protection broke down around Wilson, and McPhee was able to capitalize by bringing Wilson down for his second straight sack.
In addition to being a force against the pass, McPhee also made plays against the run.
Seattle began the game without All-Pro running back Marshawn Lynch, but he eventually made his way out onto the field in the middle of the first quarter, according to the Chicago Tribune’s Rich Campbell:
Lynch recorded 13 yards on his first two carries of the game but came up short on a 3rd-and-1 later in the drive largely because of a play McPhee made in the backfield, according to The Spiegel and Goff Show’s Matt Spiegel:
Chicago’s defense struggled as a whole in the second half and gave up a total of 371 yards on the day, but McPhee was one of the team’s most consistent contributors all afternoon.
Beyond McPhee, defensive end Jarvis Jenkins also had a solid day on defense.
The former Clemson product recorded 10 tackles, two sacks and one tackle for loss. He also made plays against the run, but McPhee‘s performance stood out because of how he played in the team’s previous two games.
McPhee started off the season a little shaky in the first half against Green Bay, but he has been the team’s best player on defense over the course of the first three games.
If he can continue to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks like he did on Sunday afternoon against Seattle, he has a chance to solidify himself as a building block on the Bears defense for years to come.
Statistical information courtesy of ESPN.com unless otherwise noted. Contract information courtesy of Spotrac.
Matt Eurich is a Chicago Bears featured columnist for Bleacher Report and a member of the Pro Football Writers of America.
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