 | Rock Bottom2002-10-30
(BearsTalk.com) Last year the Bears finished the season 13-3 and captured the last NFC Central Division crown. But most importantly, the Bears had their hunger back. This season, the Bears had unfinished business to attend to after being bounced by the Eagles in their first playoff game in seven years. Six games into the 2002 season, the team is in complete disarray and the finger-pointing has begun.
At the end of last season, the Bears had some glaring weaknesses that needed immediate attention. Blake Brockermeyer was not coming back, Tony Parrish was signed by the 49ers, and Walt Harris became a Colt. That meant that prior to the draft, the Bears lost three starters at three critical positions that needed filled by quality players. Then there was our need for a legitimate pass rusher on the defensive line, but in my opinion, our most pressing need was for a serious quarterback.
Our free agency signing period began by re-signing our own players. The highlight came as the Bears were able to re-sign Olin Kreutz despite the Dolphins offering him more money. But despite the positives on the Kreutz signing, Bears GM Jerry Angelo dropped the ball in more ways than one. From the `unchecked box` incident with some of our restricted free agents, to the matching of Kansas City`s offer for Warrick Holdman that will probably prohibit us from re-signing Rosey Colvin.
Then there was the draft day trade of Drew Bledsoe to the Buffalo Bills for a first-round pick in 2003. Much was made about Bledsoe`s cost to a team`s future, but what the Bills realized and some football fans do not, is that the window to win a championship is so small, that sometimes you bite the bullet for a player that has the ability to take your team over the top. The Bears were said to have been interested in Bledsoe, but Angelo opted to re-sign Jim Miller and sign the 38-year old Chris Chandler to back him up. Bledsoe is currently having an MVP season and his team sits a game back in their division. Would Bledsoe have solved the Bears current problems? No. But his skills would have taken the heat off of a defense that had several question marks, even before the rash of injuries.
In preseason, there were tell-tale signs that Bernard Robertson was not going to work at left tackle. His constant holding, and his illegal motion penalties carried over into the regular season until this past weekend when he was finally replaced by the fiery rookie out of Boston College; first-rounder Marc Colombo. Not only does Colombo play with attitude, but he`s a solid run-blocker and he`s learning how to protect the QB`s blind-side. But perhaps the most impressive thing that I noticed about Colombo`s first start, was his constant effort. It is so refreshing to watch a real tackle. Instead of James `Big Cat` Williams and his `two pops and hope the QB has released the ball` blocking we have become accustomed to; Colombo actually takes follows through his blocks and keeps battling whistle to whistle. What took the coaches six weeks to figure out what we knew in preseason is beyond me.
At strong safety we have the biggest liability on defense. Mike Green has not only failed to fill Tony Parrish`s shoes, he has been absolutely putrid. His coverage sucks, and like everyone else on defense this season, his tackling is simply pathetic. Strong safety has got to be one of the top three needs right now on this team. The Bears really miss Bobby Gray, who tore his ACL and is out for the season.
And for those of you delusional people that think that Alex Brown is a `stud,` I ask you to please refer me to any thing he has done this year? Our defensive line, with or without Alex Brown, is absolutely anemic.
Okay, okay, we have had some major injuries. But so have the Packers, who sit atop the division with a 6-1 record. But despite all the injuries, and questionable decisions, the one thing that needs pointed to most, is our coaching staff.
Last season, our 4-3 defense was made great by the play of the two big buddahs in the middle. But with the loss of Parrish and Harris in the secondary, teams began the season by thinking that they could pass on the Bears, but teams were also having success by running on the us. Then Ted Washington and Phillip Daniels went down. Washington was the guy who allowed Brian Urlacher to roam free, and Daniels was our outside run stopper. Here is where I fault our coaching staff. All through the preseason, Bryan Knight was everywhere, showing that he belongs in the NFL. The light should have gone on inside Greg Blache`s head, but it did not. Immediately, the Bears should have switched to a 3-4 scheme by moving Keith Traylor to nose tackle, and placed Knight and Colvin at bookend linebacker, and Holdman/Caldwell and Urlacher at inside linebacker. This would allow the defense to utilize more speed and create a much more ferocious pass rush, but most importantly you change your defense to suit your strengths. The Ravens did this exact thing. Why? Because Siragusa retired and Adams signed with the Raiders. This meant no more big bodies up front. Just put another feather in the cap of Ozzie Newsome who brought in once again; the right person.
Now that we`re all depressed, I won`t even discuss the offense.
Article by: Jeffrey Timms
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