Hightower on blocked field goal, successful onside kick vs. Vikings |
CHICAGO—When the Chicago Bears took on the Minnesota Vikings this past Sunday, special teams took center stage once again. Unlike Chicago’s matchup against the Green Bay Packers in the game prior, special teams were more of a mixed bag.
However, it still included a blocked field goal. “It’s operation, it’s protection and it’s execution and we didn’t have that on that play and that’s always going to start with me and I understand (offensive line) Braxton (Jones) taking the responsibility on that play. (Kicker) Cairo (Santos) also took full responsibility on that play and he’s working on things. Braxton’s working on things. The whole unit is working on things and we (are) looking forward to turning the page and getting that done,” special teams coordinator Richard Hightower said. “What I was happy about, as a coach, is that those guys showed resilient mindset that I asked them to show last week and they kept fighting and they gave the team a chance not only with that play at the end of the game, but several big plays on special teams in the fourth quarter to get us going and we’re going to build off of that.” After the second game in a row with a blocked field goal, Hightower decided to make an adjustment. Right tackle Darnell Wright was switched to the left side for Chicago’s ensuing field goal. That change proved crucial as the Bears made that 48-yarder to send the game into overtime. “We made an adjustment during the game. Obviously, we got to be better there with the first one, the first field goal. The extra point was good obviously to start the game, but the field goal, we got to be better there. We spent a lot of time and attention last week on that. We really did. But, at the end of the day, we didn’t get it done and you got to credit Minnesota on that play … We went on the sideline. We made adjustments. We made further adjustments than the adjustments that we already had made going into the game. So, that’s why you saw Darnell (on the left side) and credit to our guys. They made adjustments. They were able to take the adjustments,” Hightower said. “We made all our kicks from there, including a huge kick to send us into overtime at the end of the game with three seconds left. So, I was really proud of the guys resolve and resilience, especially in that moment (because) that was another 48-yarder for those guys and they got it done and it’s a credit to them and it doesn’t surprise me because I know what type of resilience and what type of resolve and what type of men that we have in our locker room. I was just happy to see it on display and Darnell didn’t blink.” That game-tying field goal was set up by another special teams feat - a successful onside kick. There have been incredibly few successful onside kicks. The new dynamic kickoff made it harder to have a successful onside kick as a team now has to declare when they are attempting an onside kick, eliminating the element of surprise that was available to teams in some situations previously. Hightower was incredibly proud of the execution of the onside kick, particularly because of all of the practice and preparation that went into it. “It happened exactly how we wanted it to happen and we’ve been working on that kick for two and a half years, for two days a week for two and a half years, and that one time we got a chance to do it, I was proud of those guys in that moment because they executed it and they never complained about doing it twice a week for two a half years and it takes that time and commitment and effort in order to have one successful play,” Hightower said. Hopefully, the Bears will not need an onside kick when they take on the Detroit Lions this coming Thanksgiving (11:30 a.m. / CBS). They are attempting to get their first win in over a month and a half. Beating Detroit would also give Chicago their first win in the division this season.
