[CBFF] Argue about QBs, but Bears' star is 'D' (Mulligan)

[Victor Waldron]

Argue about QBs, but Bears' star is 'D'

August 20, 2006

BY MIKE MULLIGAN Staff Reporter

Given the state of the Bears' offense over the last 60 years or so,
it's difficult not to get caught up in Quarterback Mania. Just in case
anyone needs a reminder -- and the suspicion is that many do -- the
Bears' winning formula was on display Friday night at Soldier Field in
a 24-3 victory over the San Diego Chargers. It really had nothing to
do with the play of any of the team's quarterbacks.

The budding quarterback controversy was quieted for the time being,
with starter Rex Grossman completing 50 percent of his passes, even if
a bad interception caused his passer rating to dip from last week's
disastrous performance at San Francisco. Grossman was 7-for-14 for 83
yards but had just a 38.7 rating thanks to one ill-advised throw into
double coverage that was picked off in the end zone at the end of the
first half.

Veteran Brian Griese almost tripled Grossman's rating on just four
passes (two completed), including one to Justin Gage for a nine-yard
touchdown.

But the unmistakable message was that the Bears don't need a star at
quarterback -- they just need a component. Opportunistic defense,
sound special teams and enough offense not to get in the way can take
a team pretty far. It helped the Bears win 11 games last year.

Head coach Lovie Smith, who admits he holds his defense to a higher
standard than his offense, pointed out the obvious missed tackles and
failure to wrap up. But even the perfectionist Smith marveled at the
way the defense opened the game with a 62-yard touchdown on an
interception return by Brian Urlacher. Rashied Davis' 100-yard kickoff
return for another touchdown gave the Bears a 14-3 lead in the first
quarter, and they never looked back.

'Act like it's just you out there'

Defensive end Adewale Ogunleye says the Bears -- like most teams at
this point in the season -- are a work in progress. And while there
certainly were concerns about a run defense that has given up 284
yards over the first two preseason games, Ogunleye admitted it was
nice to see the defense adhere to the advice from coaches before the
game.

''You have to act like it's just you out there,'' Ogunleye said. ''We
have to play like it's just us out there on defense, like that is the
only way we're going to win.''

It didn't take Sir Anthony Hopkins to act that way last year when the
defense keyed a playoff run. Still, the focus has been on the Bears'
offense most of the preseason because that's the area that needs the
most work.

Will the quarterbacks improve? Griese looks primed for action after
directing the second team to three touchdowns in four possessions. It
might take a while longer for Grossman to reach top form, but make no
mistake: Grossman will get every opportunity to do so.

Just ask former New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms, who did the
CBS broadcast of the game Friday and whose son, Chris, became Tampa
Bay's starter after Griese went down with a knee injury last year.
Simms said he didn't talk much about the Bears quarterback battle on
the air Friday because he doesn't believe it's an issue.

''Rex is going to be the starter, and he'll be the starter until they
think he's a detriment to the team,'' Simms said. ''Quarterback
controversy and quarterback competitions -- they are just total
hogwash. You know who your starter is, and you go with it.

''If you ask me, the team is being built to do what Rex Grossman does.
If you have a defense and a running team and you throw it, why throw
it short? Make big plays. That's a way a lot of championship teams
have been built.''

Learning opportunities

What's obvious from Friday is that Grossman's lack of experience means
the Bears will have to live with rookie-caliber errors.

''He had one bad play in the half, really,'' offensive coordinator Ron
Turner said. ''He has to learn from it. He can't throw that ball.''

The Chargers were the perfect opponent for the Bears because they can
serve as a cautionary tale. A surprise playoff team in 2004, they
stumbled last year, losing five games by four or fewer points and
falling to 9-7, which wasn't good enough for the playoffs.

San Diego had a top offense featuring a great running back, LaDainian
Tomlinson; a solid starter in quarterback Drew Brees, who's now in New
Orleans; and a decent receiving corps led by excellent tight end
Antonio Gates.

The Bears don't have those kinds of weapons. In fact, with concerns in
their receiving corps, they might not have enough to win on offense.

That doesn't mean they should stop trying -- but not at the risk of
messing with their winning formula.