Good coaches are just as hard to come by as good players. That’s a simple fact. If it weren’t the Chicago Bears wouldn’t have spent the past six years trying to find a replacement for Lovie Smith. The same goes for the defensive coordinator position. Only after hiring Vic Fangio in 2015 did things finally settle down on defense. Last year the unit returned to its rightful top 10 status.
Yet even now it feels like a lot of people are taking that man for granted. They don’t have a firm grasp of just how fortunate the Bears were to get him back after his contract expired this offseason. Of all the hires Matt Nagy made when he arrived, this one was the most important and people saw why in the preseason win over the Kansas City Chiefs.
To understand why context is needed. Prior to the game, Nagy made the bold and controversial decision to bench the Bears starters on both offense and defense. That meant Fangio was going into the game with his backup defensive unit. His opponent would be a Chiefs offense that featured three Pro Bowlers in Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, and Kareem Hunt. Not to mention a former top 10 pick in quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
On paper that Bears defense had no chance. Thanks in large part to Fangio’s efforts, that was not the case.
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Vic Fangio showed his prowess for adjustment and teaching
The game didn’t start well for the defense. Kansas City got the ball and drove quickly down the field for a touchdown, capped by a 29-yard catch and run by Hunt where he was uncovered. It was a rough blown assignment. People weren’t surprised. That was likely going to be the case all day.
They were wrong. Fangio began to showcase his prowess as a play caller on the next series. After driving into Bears territory, Mahomes was forced into an incompletion on 3rd and 7 to force a field goal attempt. That would set the tone for a day where the Chiefs starting offense would struggle on 3rd down.
Chiefs offensive starters are done after 34 plays. Bears backups held them to 10 points. They gained a healthy 6.3 yards per play but were 1-for-7 on third down.
— Rich Campbell (@Rich_Campbell) August 25, 2018
One thing about the Fangio defense is it’s malleable. That is to say, it has mastered the art of bend-but-don’t-break style. What does that mean? Quite simple. Offenses can gain plenty of yards in between the 20s. However, when they reach the red zone they are going to run into problems. This was the case all days for the Chiefs. They reached the red zone twice and were turned away both times.
No moment showed Fangio at his best more than early in the third quarter.
Play #1: The sack
The Chiefs got the ball to start the second half and quickly began driving down the field. Most of their starters were still in the game at this point. They reached the Chicago 2-yard line. Everything indicated they were going in to score. Then Fangio’s prowess began to show up. It started with a sack by Isaiah Irving on 2nd and 1. It was aided by good coverage that forced Mahomes to hold the ball, allowing the rush to get home.
Play #2: The rally
After a holding penalty on Chiefs left tackle Eric Fisher, it set up 3rd and 12. Here Fangio employed one of his favorite tactics. He rushed only three men while eight stood far back near the goal line to dissuade any idea of going for the end zone while keeping players near the first down marker. Kansas City ran a quick bubble screen to Hill. With his speed, it could’ve been an easy first down and almost was. Thankfully safety Deon Bush reacted fast enough to force him out of bounds before the sticks to set up 4th and 1.
Play #3: The stand
Kansas City decided to go for it. This is often where defenses give up the score due in large part to a missed assignment. Fangio’s influence as a teacher wouldn’t let that happen. The Bears played excellent coverage on the play. Mahome couldn’t find an open receiver. The pass rush flustered him but did a good job of keeping containment, not allowing him to scramble to the outside. At last, he was forced to throw it and it sailed harmlessly out the back of the end zone. A tremendous stand for the Bears.
The fact Fangio pulled it off without Akiem Hicks? Without Danny Trevathan, Leonard Floyd, Kyle Fuller, or Eddie Jackson? That’s a testament to his coaching ability and how much he can get players to buy into what he’s teaching. So yeah. Chicago is really lucky to have him and should be sure to thank the football gods at the next opportunity.
