(3) Borgonzi has been pleased with how linebackers T.J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds have fed off each other in their first seasons with the Bears.
Edwards leads the defense with 143 tackles and two fumble recoveries and has compiled eight tackles-for-loss, 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble and seven pass breakups. Edmunds ranks second with 104 tackles and has produced five tackles-for-loss, seven pass breakups, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
Both linebackers have established career highs in interceptions, with Edmunds registering four and Edwards recording three.
“You could kind of see it from when they got here just how competitive they are,” Borgonzi said. “You could see it from OTAs to training camp, just how they attacked the day every day. This is going back from April and May when we first got together for the offseason.
“It’s been pretty consistent throughout the whole season, just their love and passion to play the game, and I think it carries over to Sunday; how they prepare really affects how they play on Sunday, and the way they prepare is unbelievable. It kind of rubs off on the rest of the group and it’s been such a positive impact not just for obviously the play on the field, but the guys around them as well.”
Borgonzi was asked whether he felt that Edwards should have been selected to the Pro Bowl. The linebackers chosen for the NFC squad were Fred Warner (49ers), Bobby Wagner (Seahawks), Micah Parsons (Cowboys), Danielle Hunter (Vikings) and Haason Reddick (Eagles).
“I’ll say this, if I had to go into a game, I would pick T.J, I’d pick our two guys,” Borgonzi said. “I think we have two of the better linebackers in the league. T.J. has put up really good numbers, although I’ll say this: It’s a competitive league and there’s a lot of good linebackers. His numbers are pretty impressive this year, what he’s been able to do with the interceptions, the amount of tackles he’s had and the TFLs. Hasn’t missed a game and he’s been productive every game he’s been in.”
*4) Hightower applauded the hustle and effort his players showed last Sunday in preventing the Falcons from returning a missed field goal for a touchdown. *
On the final play of the first half, Cairo Santos’ 55-yard field goal attempt came up short and was caught by Atlanta’s Dee Alford nine yards deep in the end zone.
Bringing the ball out, Alford ran to his right before reversing field to his left and picking up a convoy of blockers. He was eventually tackled by Robert Tonyan at the Bears’ 13 after a 96-yard return. Lucas Patrick was also in hot pursuit of the speedy defensive back.
“That is a special teams coach’s worst nightmare,” Hightower said. “My heart rate was as bad as you could have one …
“I just want to credit Atlanta. It was an opportunity for them to make a big play. But the real credit goes to the guys in our room. I just left the field goal meeting and I’ll tell you exactly what I told them: I appreciate the effort on that play. I appreciate the desire on that play. I appreciate each one of them fighting for each other to make that play what they made it, because no one quit on that play. Nobody gave up. Everybody understood what was at stake. They all know we have to cover.”
Hightower described the field goal attempt as a “monster kick,” i.e., one at the end of a half that has a smaller chance of being made and possibly could be returned.
“That’s a tough situation for seven or eight 300-pound men to be chasing the best athlete on the field,” Hightower said. “But that’s the risk/reward in monster kicks. I know they were tired as hell when they got in that locker room because I could see it. I also thought that moment brought our team together because that’s a situation we practiced every single week. I can’t say enough about the guys in our room recognizing the situation and fighting like hell for each other to get that guy down.”