The Sports Xchange

LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Allowing kickoff return touchdowns in successive games embarrassed the Chicago Bears’ coaching staff.

The general thinking is all the fluctuation at the bottom of the roster in a new regime had led to players on special teams who are either inexperienced or just don’t know the scheme well enough. Fox said they need to change this in a hurry after allowing kickoff returns for touchdowns in successive games.

“Really we’ve got young guys, whether they’re young or not because it’s all new,” he said. “Our special teams, offense and defense are all new systems to these football players. It’s not an excuse.”

Fox said he saw some special teams progress against Seattle.

“I thought our punt protection was pretty good,” he said. “We did partially block two punts. So it wasn’t all bad.

“I know it’s got to be some kind of a record to go back-to-back games with kickoff returns for touchdowns. I’m not really proud of that. But hopefully guys that were on those teams, on that coverage teams are looking and learning as we speak. And hopefully we can get that fixed.”

There was also a 64-yard punt return by Richard Sherman on a trick play the Bears themselves had once used under former coordinator Dave Toub.

Chicago used a few more starters on coverage units. Christian Jones got overwhelmed with a block on the TD kickoff return by Tyler Lockett that changed the game.