Published: Sunday, November 29, 2009
Bears have several problems
MINNEAPOLIS — Jay Cutler and his league-high 18 interceptions are the face of the Chicago Bears’ disappointment.
But the quarterback isn’t the only reason the Bears head into today’s game at the Metrodome having lost three in a row and five of six since starting 3-1.
“They’re in the process of trying to re-establish their identity,” said Vikings receiver and former Bear Bernard Berrian. “They’re missing a couple of key players, (middle linebacker) Brian Urlacher being one of them. Everything starts with defense on that team. It’s kind of hard with Urlacher not out there.”
Urlacher was lost for the season because of a dislocated wrist in Week 1. The Bears have gone on to use five different starting linebacker combinations and rank 23rd against the run (122.3 yards per game). They’re also 29th in third-down defense (42.8 percent) and were torched for 45 and 41 points in losses at Cincinnati and Arizona, respectively.
On the other side of the ball, the Bears are out of sync, unbalanced and out of character with an offense that’s running the ball only 35.4 percent of the time. Chicago ranks 28th in rushing (89.3) behind a line that is struggling and a leading rusher, Matt Forte, who is averaging 3.3 yards per carry, lowest among the league’s top 35 rushers.
“They have Cutler there, so you know they want to establish the pass a little bit,” Berrian said. “But it’s still a Chicago team. It starts with the running game, and they haven’t been too successful.”
Vikings tight end Visanthe Shiancoe called today’s game a “must-win” for the Bears. He might be right, considering Chicago is two games out of the NFC wild-card race and on the brink of a meltdown that could lead to sweeping changes during the offseason. The team has denied reports that it is surveying its options if it were to fire coach Lovie Smith and general manager Jerry Angelo.
Cutler was supposed to help the Bears improve on last year’s 9-7 record, but his reckless style has had the opposite effect since the Bears acquired him from Denver for starting quarterback Kyle Orton, two first-round picks and a third-round pick. Of course, Cutler’s transition to a new offensive philosophy has been slowed by a young, inexperienced receiving corps and a stagnant running game.
“Any time you bring in anyone new, you think that it will be a process, and it is a process,” Smith said. “I think that before we all assume what we have done here that we let the season play out for all parties. The feeling that you are having now for a lot of teams, that feeling will be different at the end of the year.”
The Bears have had other issues as well. Such as:
n They’ve gotten nothing out of their top four draft picks this year.
n Defensive tackle Tommie Harris never lived up to his lucrative contract extension two years ago.
n Cornerback Nathan Vasher went to the Pro Bowl in 2006, got a fat contract befitting a top corner, battled injuries in 2007-08 and now plays backup safety in nickel situations.
n Devin Hester stopped being a magical return man when elevated to No. 1 receiver last year.
n The defense has struggled since Ron Rivera was fired as coordinator after the 2006 season.
n The team chose to trade Thomas Jones and anoint Cedric Benson as the featured running back after the 2006 season. Jones led the AFC in rushing last year with 1,312 yards and is on pace for 1,414 this year. Benson failed in Chicago, went to Cincinnati and has since succeeded.
The Bears are 1-3 against the Vikings since Super Bowl XLI. In those four games, the Vikings’ Adrian Peterson has rushed for 554 yards and eight touchdowns. Considering Peterson’s 999 yards rushing and the Bears’ current woes, today’s matchup seems tilted in the Vikings’ favor once again.
“You can’t let Adrian Peterson run the ball,” Bears defensive end Alex Brown told reporters this week. “We have to stop him, and then let’s see if (Brett) Favre can beat us. That’s what we have to do, and then see if we can make some plays on Favre when he throws it.”
But the quarterback isn’t the only reason the Bears head into today’s game at the Metrodome having lost three in a row and five of six since starting 3-1.
“They’re in the process of trying to re-establish their identity,” said Vikings receiver and former Bear Bernard Berrian. “They’re missing a couple of key players, (middle linebacker) Brian Urlacher being one of them. Everything starts with defense on that team. It’s kind of hard with Urlacher not out there.”
Urlacher was lost for the season because of a dislocated wrist in Week 1. The Bears have gone on to use five different starting linebacker combinations and rank 23rd against the run (122.3 yards per game). They’re also 29th in third-down defense (42.8 percent) and were torched for 45 and 41 points in losses at Cincinnati and Arizona, respectively.
On the other side of the ball, the Bears are out of sync, unbalanced and out of character with an offense that’s running the ball only 35.4 percent of the time. Chicago ranks 28th in rushing (89.3) behind a line that is struggling and a leading rusher, Matt Forte, who is averaging 3.3 yards per carry, lowest among the league’s top 35 rushers.
“They have Cutler there, so you know they want to establish the pass a little bit,” Berrian said. “But it’s still a Chicago team. It starts with the running game, and they haven’t been too successful.”
Vikings tight end Visanthe Shiancoe called today’s game a “must-win” for the Bears. He might be right, considering Chicago is two games out of the NFC wild-card race and on the brink of a meltdown that could lead to sweeping changes during the offseason. The team has denied reports that it is surveying its options if it were to fire coach Lovie Smith and general manager Jerry Angelo.
Cutler was supposed to help the Bears improve on last year’s 9-7 record, but his reckless style has had the opposite effect since the Bears acquired him from Denver for starting quarterback Kyle Orton, two first-round picks and a third-round pick. Of course, Cutler’s transition to a new offensive philosophy has been slowed by a young, inexperienced receiving corps and a stagnant running game.
“Any time you bring in anyone new, you think that it will be a process, and it is a process,” Smith said. “I think that before we all assume what we have done here that we let the season play out for all parties. The feeling that you are having now for a lot of teams, that feeling will be different at the end of the year.”
The Bears have had other issues as well. Such as:
n They’ve gotten nothing out of their top four draft picks this year.
n Defensive tackle Tommie Harris never lived up to his lucrative contract extension two years ago.
n Cornerback Nathan Vasher went to the Pro Bowl in 2006, got a fat contract befitting a top corner, battled injuries in 2007-08 and now plays backup safety in nickel situations.
n Devin Hester stopped being a magical return man when elevated to No. 1 receiver last year.
n The defense has struggled since Ron Rivera was fired as coordinator after the 2006 season.
n The team chose to trade Thomas Jones and anoint Cedric Benson as the featured running back after the 2006 season. Jones led the AFC in rushing last year with 1,312 yards and is on pace for 1,414 this year. Benson failed in Chicago, went to Cincinnati and has since succeeded.
The Bears are 1-3 against the Vikings since Super Bowl XLI. In those four games, the Vikings’ Adrian Peterson has rushed for 554 yards and eight touchdowns. Considering Peterson’s 999 yards rushing and the Bears’ current woes, today’s matchup seems tilted in the Vikings’ favor once again.
“You can’t let Adrian Peterson run the ball,” Bears defensive end Alex Brown told reporters this week. “We have to stop him, and then let’s see if (Brett) Favre can beat us. That’s what we have to do, and then see if we can make some plays on Favre when he throws it.”
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